** Vintage Mandolins 3 **:TheAcousticMusicCompanyforMandolins

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Lebeda F5 premium mandola with McIntyre feather pickup USED~Great condition 2002 F5 dola from Jiri Lebeda. If you like your mandolas with a very dark sound this is the one. I have done a lot of mandola playing recently and find it even harder than with the mandolin to choose my favourite sound!! Some dolas have the darkness with some brightness at the top end, others just sound like they are deeper than the notes suggest, this is one of those, it growls and grumbles like no other. All the Lebeda mandolas I've had have sounded like this, I had an A4 master for many years and have often regretted selling it, I might just keep this one... With hardshel case.~Great condition 2002 F5 dola from Jiri Lebeda. If you like your mandolas with a very dark sound this is the one. I have done a lot of mandola playing recently and find it even harder than with the mandolin to choose my favourite sound!! Some dolas have the darkness with some brightness at the top end, others just sound like they are deeper than the notes suggest, this is one of those, it growls and grumbles like no other. All the Lebeda mandolas I've had have sounded like this, I had an A4 master for many years and have often regretted selling it, I might just keep this one... With hardshel case.~Lebeda F5 premium mandola USED|68|~4325~11994~lebeda_mandolin~

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Lebeda F5 premium mandola with McIntyre feather pickuop - Back~~~~4325~11992~~

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Lebeda MA4 Master Mandola~Jiri built this beautiful mandola for me in 2002. Its one of the best mandolas I've ever heard, if I didn't have too many already it would be staying with me. Solid spruce top, solid flamed maple back and sides, flamed maple, top, back, fretboard and headstock bindings and an abalone rosette. With heavy duty gigbag.~Jiri built this beautiful mandola for me in 2002. Its one of the best mandolas I've ever heard, if I didn't have too many already it would be staying with me. Solid spruce top, solid flamed maple back and sides, flamed maple, top, back, fretboard and headstock bindings and an abalone rosette. With heavy duty gigbag.~Lebeda MA4 Master Mandola|68|~4325~13256~lebeda_mandolin~

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Martin~Martin~~~4325~8097~~

Martin T18 Tiple 1945~A nice example of a war-time Martin Tipple, 17" scale to give an idea of the size, with (Viola) hard case. Tuned like a Uke (GCEA or ADF#B) with the middle strings from the middle two courses (outside two courses are pairs, middle two are threes) an octave below, and the lowest course tuned in octaves.. The sound is reminiscent of a harpsichord, as you'd except lots of overtones and a wonderful richness and complexity.~A nice example of a war-time Martin Tipple, 17" scale to give an idea of the size, with (Viola) hard case. Tuned like a Uke (GCEA or ADF#B) with the middle strings from the middle two courses (outside two courses are pairs, middle two are threes) an octave below, and the lowest course tuned in octaves.. The sound is reminiscent of a harpsichord, as you'd except lots of overtones and a wonderful richness and complexity.~Martin T18 Tiple 1945|102|~4325~13109~martin_mandolin~

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Old Wave~Old Wave~~~4325~12242~~

Old Wave A4 Spruce/Rosewood - USED~Simon Mayor's Evaluation
Rosewood looks seductively attractive on this mandolin. An initial tickling of the strings gives me plenty of sustain. I find myself playing baroque music on it and it’s delicate, almost harpsichordal quality is well suited. I know immediately that this is going to be an easy mandolin to linger on, its response is reassuringly fast. This would be good in a studio but I’d shy from taking it out on a concert. The sound is delicate rather than powerful, but rosewood can sometimes take time to come to life. I probably won't get the chance, but I'd be interested to hear this in a couple of years.

I decided to test them out on some relatives, not musicians or even particularly interested in mandolin music. When asked, they protested that they weren’t experts and what did they know about mandolins, but I assured them that this was precisely why I wanted their opinion. To my surprise, they immediately went for the rosewood model; it sounded “deeper”. I asked them for more adjectives and they came up with “richer” and “better”.

Dan Beimborn's Evaluation
Here's a very sweet-sounding instrument, soft tonally and responsive to delicate light picking. Many Irish & Scottish players will use this sort of mandolin on mike, as you get a very sweet note from it and it encourages a soft, even picking style that can produce a mellow rolling sound.

Acoustically this one won't peel the paint off the walls, but I could see using this one as a lead instrument on-mike. The tone reminded me of several Sobell mandolins I've tried over the years. I've always been a bit of a sucker for the smell of rosewood too, I kept sniffing it in between tunes!

Only out of the shop for a month, the owner decided he was an f hole man. Was £1595 new.~~Old Wave A4 Spruce/Rosewood|1356|~4325~12991~~

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Old Wave A4 Spruce/Rosewood - Close~~~~4325~12990~~

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Old Wave Mandolin/mandola 10 string - USED~My obsession with 10 string mandolin family instruments has strucken gold here! You have the sweetest bassiest 'dola and clearest pretiest mandolin all in one, heaven. It doesn't look bad either with black spruce top, tortoiseshell binding and flamed maple back and sides. Comes with Mac Intyre feather pickup and hardshell case.~My obsession with 10 string mandolin family instruments has strucken gold here! You have the sweetest bassiest 'dola and clearest pretiest mandolin all in one, heaven. It doesn't look bad either with black spruce top, tortoiseshell binding and flamed maple back and sides. Comes with Mac Intyre feather pickup and hardshell case.~M Old Wave Mandolin/mandola 10 string|78|~4325~12240~morris_mandolin~

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Ozark~Ozark~~~4325~12453~~

Ozark 2255 - USED~Excellent condition blonde 2255~Excellent condition blonde 2255~Ozark 2255 - USED|78|~4325~12452~morris_mandolin~

Ozark 2255 sunburst with Fishman bridge pickup~Great condition sunburst 2255 with case.~Great condition sunburst 2255 with case.~Ozark 2255 sunburst with Fishman bridge pickup|78|~4325~13008~morris_mandolin~

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Rigel G110~Rigel~~~4325~10283~~

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Rigel G110 resophonc~Wha d' y say about this! There are not many of these around, grab it while you can! Its in as new condition, its loud and resophonicy!! It’s a tough business describing sound (awwww poor me). I'm not even going to try with this one. With Rigel rectangular case.~Wha d' y say about this! There are not many of these around, grab it while you can! Its in as new condition, its loud and resophonicy!! It’s a tough business describing sound (awwww poor me). I'm not even going to try with this one. With Rigel rectangular case.~Rigel G110 resophonc|59|~4325~10282~unknown_mandolin~

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Rigel Q200 mandola - Used~I had my eyes on one of these when Ted Eschliman of Jazz Mando first worked with Pete langdell on it, I couldn’t afford it at the time but its eventually found its way here. It has an amazing brassy kind of tone, the deep growl of a dola but with amazing focus, no stray tones whizzing about. If you are thinking of coming to see it let me know because its in no mans land at the moment, or to be less obtuse, on my wall (when I'm not playing it) at home, therefore at any moment it might get marked sold...~I had my eyes on one of these when Ted Eschliman of Jazz Mando first worked with Pete langdell on it, I couldn’t afford it at the time but its eventually found its way here. It has an amazing brassy kind of tone, the deep growl of a dola but with amazing focus, no stray tones whizzing about. If you are thinking of coming to see it let me know because its in no mans land at the moment, or to be less obtuse, on my wall (when I'm not playing it) at home, therefore at any moment it might get marked sold...~Rigel Q200 mandola USED|59|~4325~12438~unknown_mandolin~

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Rigel CT-110 Blue - SOLD~This beauty used to be Ted Eschliman's, from jazzmando. Since Rigel's demise I managed to prise it away from him as he wants to move onto new projects. It is in excellent condition and has the classic CT-110 sound, but Ted has palyed it in... There is an amazing depth and richness to the tone, complex but well defined... its very hard to describe the tone of such a fantastic mandolin, if I didn't have too many (including two Rigels) it would be on my wall not the shop wall. My nomal photo set-up didn't work for this loverly blue so appologies if these shots look a bit strange. With original hardshel case.~This beauty used to be Ted Eschliman's, from jazzmando. Since Rigel's demise I managed to prise it away from him as he wants to move onto new projects. It is in excellent condition and has the classic CT-110 sound, but Ted has palyed it in... There is an amazing depth and richness to the tone, complex but well defined... its very hard to describe the tone of such a fantastic mandolin, if I didn't have too many (including two Rigels) it would be on my wall not the shop wall. My nomal photo set-up didn't work for this loverly blue so appologies if these shots look a bit strange. With original hardshel case.~Rigel CT-110 Blue - SOLD|59|~4325~11022~unknown_mandolin~

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Rigel CT-110 - Back~~~~4325~11024~~

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Rigel R200 10 string mandola/mandolin - SOLD~See Rigel page for description.~From Rigel's first batch of mandolas based on the renowned R100 I had this one customised to a 10 string mandola or short cittern. As a fan of five course instruments I've always wanted to combine a mandolin and mandola in this way. Tuned CGDAE with a 16" (mandola) scale length you get both instruments in one. This gives you the melody playing of a mandolin and a mandola but with an added fifth the chords are much fuller. It can even be used to to acompany solo singing. And its a Rigel, Peter Mix suggested a nice tobbaco sunburst but I thought as its a fairly radical instrument a radical coulr was called for so I chose a dark emerald green. I have to admit I had my doubts and nearly changed my mind but it looks phenomenenal. It sounds amazing to, great resonance sweat trebbles and rich bases. Sorry, this one is NOT FOR SALE, but if anyone is interested they are welcome to come and play it and we'll order one to your specifications. Comes with beautiful tweed hardshell case.~Rigel R200 10 string mandola/mandolin|85|~4325~10298~rigel_mandolin~

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Rigel Jethro - USED~I played one of the first Rigel Jethros in a tasty blue in LA in early 2004. The sound has haunted me ever since, its taken until now for me to be able to afford to get one in. It was well worth the wait. Its Rigel's first model with binding but still made with solid carved rims. With its asymmetrical two point body in gorgeous dark cherry sunburst, block MoP fretboard inlays, gold fittings and a beautifully flamed maple back its stunning to look at. Now for the sound... if you thrash it with some chords the sound comes in big fat chunks, lots of volume and cut with rich, warm, dark and deep resonant bass tones. The mids are warm and complex, the trebles sweet and clear with great projection. With a lighter touch it responds like only a Rigel does, great balance and projection from the open G to the high D at the 22nd fret, with Pete Langdell’s fantastic pickup onboard there a few such versatile and playable mandolins around, bliss!!!

Its back, in the same condition, a year older, and £900 cheaper… grab it before I do..~I played one of the first Rigel Jethros in a tasty blue in LA in early 2004. The sound has haunted me ever since, its taken until now for me to be able to afford to get one in. It was well worth the wait. Its Rigel's first model with binding but still made with solid carved rims. With its asymmetrical two point body in gorgeous dark cherry sunburst, block MoP fretboard inlays, gold fittings and a beautifully flamed maple back its stunning to look at.
Now for the sound... if you thrash it with some chords the sound comes in big fat chunks, lots of volume and cut with rich, warm, dark and deep resonant bass tones. The mids are warm and complex, the trebles sweet and clear with great projection. With a lighter touch it responds like only a Rigel does, great balance and projection from the open G to the high D at the 22nd fret, with Pete Langdell’s fantastic pickup onboard there a few such versatile and playable mandolins around, bliss!!!~Rigel Jethro - SOLD|107|~4325~13220~~

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Rigel G5 USED~Used Rigel prices haven't stared to raise yet.. There was only 17 of these incredible and unique mandolins made before Rigel's star tragically waned. This one is in as new condition 20% less than we sold them new and it has all the killer tone described in my original description, take a look. With original case.~Used Rigel prices haven't stared to raise yet.. There was only 17 of these incredible and unique mandolins made before Rigel's star tragically waned. This one is in as new condition 20% less than we sold them new and it has all the killer tone described in my original description, take a look. With original case.~Rigel R200 10 string mandola/mandolin|85|~4325~11901~rigel_mandolin~

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Shippey~Shippey~~~4325~13000~~

Shippey A style cedar/mahogany~Cedar/Mahogany carved top and back A style mandolin from Paul Shippey. It’s a beautifully made mandolin with rich tones, a bluegrass (oval)/folk crossover sound, a very versatile mandolin. With hard case.~Cedar/Mahogany carved top and back A style mandolin from Paul Shippey. It’s a beautifully made mandolin with rich tones, a bluegrass (oval)/folk crossover sound, a very versatile mandolin. With hard case.~Shippey A style cedar/mahogany|59|~4325~12999~unknown_mandolin~

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Suziki~Suzuki~~~4325~10911~~

Suzuki Mandocello MC-825~Budget cello to get started on those teeth rattling low Cs, in very good condition with original case.~Budget cello to get started on those teeth rattling low Cs, in very good condition with original case.~Suzuki Mandocello MC-825|59|~4325~10910~unknown_mandolin~

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Vanden~Vanden~~~4325~8319~~

Vanden A4 red/brown sunburst~We are selling this beauty for Simon Mayor (see photo of Simon playing it). Its from the early 1980s with Fishman bridge pickup and fibreboard case in spruce and flamed maple. Mike is considered by many to be one of the world's top bluegrassstyle mandolin makers (probably the only one from the UK with such a reputation in the USA). Its in good condition with the usual playing wear, a few nicks and marks on the top and back. It has a fantastic rich and complex tone, deep and warm bass with full and vibrant mids and clear, sweet trebles.~We are selling this beauty for Simon Mayor (see photo of Simon playing it). Its from the early 1980s with Fishman bridge pickup and fibreboard case in spruce and flamed maple. Mike is considered by many to be one of the world's top bluegrassstyle mandolin makers (probably the only one from the UK with such a reputation in the USA). Its in good condition with the usual playing wear, a few nicks and marks on the top and back. It has a fantastic rich and complex tone, deep and warm bass with full and vibrant mids and clear, sweet trebles.~Vanden A4 red/brown sunburst|105|~4325~12165~~

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Vanden A4 tobacco sunburst - SOLD~This Vanden A4 in spruce an beautiful flamed maple is also being sold for Simon Mayor, see photo of him playing it. Its from the mid 1980s and shows some play wear, marks and small dings hear and there and some varnish wear on the back of the neck(see photo) where Simon has worn through! It is a bit deeper and has longer sustain than the red/brown A4 but otherwise its similar in tone. It comes with a wooden rectangular case.~This Vanden A4 in spruce an beautiful flamed maple is also being sold for Simon Mayor, see photo of him playing it. Its from the mid 1980s and shows some play wear, marks and small dings hear and there and some varnish wear on the back of the neck(see photo) where Simon has worn through! It is a bit deeper and has longer sustain than the red/brown A4 but otherwise its similar in tone. It comes with a wooden rectangular case.~Vanden A4 tobacco sunburst - SOLD|105|~4325~12171~~

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Vanden F5 1980 - SOLD~One of Mike's earlier mandolins in great condition, its got strong bass and clear sweet trebles. With heavy-duty gigbag. The colour on the two pictures doesn't match, it is the same mandolin! The picture of the back is the closest to the true colour.~One of Mike's earlier mandolins in great condition, its got strong bass and clear sweet trebles. With heavy-duty gigbag. The colour on the two pictures doesn't match, it is the same mandolin! The picture of the back is the closest to the true colour.~Vanden F5 1980|105|~4325~10004~~

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Vanden F5 1998 with pickup - SOLD~Mike Vanden is the only UK bluegrass mandolin maker that I know of that is highly sought after in the US. This is an example of why. Its beautifully made with very nice flamed maple back and sides and that bluegrass tone, bark, chop and bite. With Mike's own pickup it sounds as good plugged in.~Mike Vanden is the only UK bluegrass mandolin maker that I know of that is highly sought after in the US. This is an example of why. Its beautifully made with very nice flamed maple back and sides and that bluegrass tone, bark, chop and bite. With Mike's own pickup it sounds as good plugged in.~Vanden F5 1998 with pickup - SOLD|105|~4325~8766~~

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Vega~Vega~~~4325~9606~~

Vega Cylinderback - SOLD~This is a georgeous 1920s cylinerback with mahogany back and sides. Its in excellent condition with original case in great condition, with key!!! The sound of these unique instruments is fantastric, great bass (that's why the cylider is there to increase the volume of the sound chamber) but amazing balance and projection. There's not a lot of these around and fewer in this condition, a true collectors item that is also a great player.~This is a georgeous 1920s cylinerback with mahogany back and sides. Its in excellent condition with original case in great condition, with key!!! The sound of these unique instruments is fantastric, great bass (that's why the cylider is there to increase the volume of the sound chamber) but amazing balance and projection. There's not a lot of these around and fewer in this condition, a true collectors item that is also a great player.~MV Vega Cylinderback - SOLD|105|~4325~9605~~

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Vega Model 203 cylinderback maple/sunburst 1920~We've had a few cylinerbacks before but this is the first maple back and the only one I've seen with original sunburst. Bluegrassers look the other way... It has that typical wonderful mandola sounding solid bass, you can feel it rolling around that cylinder (I guess that's what its there for!!!), rich mids and sweet trebles. In excellent condition with minor playing wear, no splits cracks or other issues. With cheap fiberboard case.~We've had a few cylinerbacks before but this is the first maple back and the only one I've seen with original sunburst. Bluegrassers look the other way... It has that typical wonderful mandola sounding solid bass, you can feel it rolling around that cylinder (I guess that's what its there for!!!), rich mids and sweet trebles. In excellent condition with minor playing wear, no splits cracks or other issues. With cheap fiberboard case.~MV Vega Cylinderback - SOLD|105|~4325~11075~~

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Vega Cylinderback 10 string mandolin/mandola - SOLD~Vega cylinderback mandolins are hard to find, mandolas very hard to find, there are very few mandolin/mandolas. With a 15" scale length, in-between mandolin and mandola, it is tuned CGDAE, so you have a mandolin and mandola all in one, great for chords as you get an extra note giving a fuller sound. Why more instruments aren't made in this format is a mystery to me. The cylinder back increases the volume of the sound chamber, this increases the bass response and resonance giving a throaty sound without loosing the mandolin sound at the top end. Its in fantastic condition, there’s a small (1/8") ding on the bass point and a professionally repaired short split on the back. The case appears to be original, my only doubt is that its in such great condition, but as they haven't made them like this since the 1920s I can only assume its the real McCoy.~Vega cylinderback mandolins are hard to find, mandolas very hard to find, there are very few mandolin/mandolas. With a 15" scale length, in-between mandolin and mandola, it is tuned CGDAE, so you have a mandolin and mandola all in one, great for chords as you get an extra note giving a fuller sound. Why more instruments aren't made in this format is a mystery to me. The cylinder back increases the volume of the sound chamber, this increases the bass response and resonance giving a throaty sound without loosing the mandolin sound at the top end. Its in fantastic condition, there’s a small (1/8") ding on the bass point and a professionally repaired short split on the back. The case appears to be original, my only doubt is that its in such great condition, but as they haven't made them like this since the 1920s I can only assume its the real McCoy.~MV Vega Cylinderback 10 string mandolin/mandola|105|~4325~4278~~

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Weyman/Wurlitzer~Weyman/Wurlitzer~~~4325~10278~~

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Weyman/Wurlitzer lute mandolin~This was made for Wurlitzer for their catalogue and shop sales by Weyman of Philidelphia, probaly in the 1920s. Weyman called their mandolins mando lutes. Thanks to Dan Beimborn and Paul Brett for information on this little gem. I think the back is figured walnut though Dan is convinced its Koa. Its a very beautliful mandolin and a great player for folk and classical.~This was made for Wurlitzer for their catalogue and shop sales by Weyman of Philidelphia, probaly in the 1920s. Weyman called their mandolins mando lutes. Thanks to Dan Beimborn and Paul Brett for information on this little gem. I think the back is figured walnut though Dan is convinced its Koa. Its a very beautliful mandolin and a great player for folk and classical.~Weyman/Wurlitzer lute mandolin|59|~4325~10277~unknown_mandolin~

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