John Alvey Turner Home. History. Inventory. Accessories. Strings. Contact Us. Mandolins Mandolins

Barnes & Mullins

Banjolin

c.1900’s, 4 string built by J. Abbott with slotted & carved phd, mahogany neck has minor heel repair, thick ebony fbd, 13 ¾” scale, enormous 12” spunover rim with nickel plating in super shiny original condition, big sound too, VGC

£275

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Daley

“A Standard”

NEW, f-hole, A-5 style longneck, brown sunburst, hand carved spruce top and maple b/s/n, ebony fbd & bdg,  pearl ‘Daley’ in phd, another powerhouse player from Brit ex-Gibson mandolin production head, HC.     

£1,750

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Eastman 805D

new 'old stock' c.2006, custom order offset 2 point body in style of Lyon & Healey, f-holes, natural finish, carved spruce top/maple back, sides & neck with outstanding 'flame', triple bound body/neck/phd, ebony fbd with abalone dot markers, ebony veneer front & back of phd, gold 'Schallers' & cast tpce, scooped fbd extension, powerful sound with great carry and focus across the range, deluxe rect. HC, EXC.

£950

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Eastman 815 Vintage

NEW, hand carved in China, F-5 model, super flamey maple back/sides/neck, spruce top, 1930's style sunburst, ebony fbd & phd front/back, irridescent green abalone position dots, triple bound top/back/fbd/phd, gold ptd Schallers & cast tpce, belting bluegrass sound, Travelite case

£975

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Gibson A

“Snakehead”

c.1922, dk brown stain, carved spruce top/birch b/s, ebony fbd,  truss rod, replacement adjustable bridge, louder and with more projection than earlier A models but still full rich tone, OHC, VGC

£1,975

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Gibson A-0

c.1929, oval hole, carved spruce top/figured maple b/s, dk brown stain, white 'Gibson' logo, rather better than standard spec as it has truss rod and bound top/sounhole, unbelievable original condition, almost factory fresh ! strong sound and easy action, EC+, HC

£1,350

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Gibson A-50

c.1942, f-holes, sunburst, carved spruce top/figured maple back & sides, mahogany neck, Brazilian rosewood fbd, missing pgd, replaced bridge/tuner buttons/tailpiece cover, pearl 'Gibson' logo & diamond in phd, bound body & fbd, some honest playwear but no cracks, repairs or refinish, HC, VGC

£1,350

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Gibson A

c.1920, dk brown stain, carved spruce top/birch b/s, ebony fbd,  newer adjustable bridge, no pgd, some playwear but no cracks or repairs, typical powerful tone, ideal for folk or American old-timey, HC, VGC

£975

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Gibson F-4


c.1922, oval hole artist model from Gibson's legendary 'Loar' period, shaded red mahogany stain, carved spruce top, outstanding flamed maple b/s, mahogany truss rod neck, ebony fbd, single bound body/neck/phd, pearl flowerpot & 'The Gibson' in phd, adjustable bridge, original tuners replaced with earlier style inlaid 'Handel' tuners, best sounding F-4 out of the dozen or so I've owned, EC, OHC

£5,500

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Gilchrist F-5


c.1981, red sunburst, X-braced carved spruce top and flamed maple b/s/n, S-holes, triple top & side bound body/neck/phd, 24 fret radiused ebony fbd with 'scooped' extension, pearl nut, abalone fern and 'Gilchrist phd inlay, 'Gilchrist' engraved 'flip-top' tpce, engraved pearl button tuners, rare early model with some touch up to playwear (by Gilchrist), rich and powerful tone as expected from one of the top modern mando-luthiers, VGC, HC

£12,500

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Harmony

“Monterey”

c.1960s, 'A model' style, f-holes, faux grained red sunburst, arched laminated construction, replaced tailpiece, no cracks or repairs and surprisingly good sound for this US made budget model. GB, VGC

£275

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John Grey

Banjo Mandolin

c.1930's, open back, mahogany, ebony fbd, raised tonering, 'John Grey' phd plaque, nice quality, plays like a mandolin - sounds like a banjo, VGC, OSC

£175

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Levin

c.1950’s, flatback, sunburst, spruce top, walnut b/s, adjustable bridge, plenty of playwear but no cracks, easy player with strong sound for folk and old timey, VGC, GB

£375

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Louis Patenotte

c.1920’s, weird & wonderful patent French design that is a copy of the Gelas ‘double top’ style, 2 overlapping spruce tops, European sycamore b/s/n, all original with no repairs or issues, strong sweet tone for folk or classical music, VGC, GB.

£325

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Lyon & Healy (Unmarked!)

c.1900, rosewood bowlback, spruce top with fancy marquetry banding, t'shell pgd with ivoroid inlay, ebony fbd, period replaced tuners, excellent quality classical instrument with surprisingly strong sound, HC, VGC.

£475

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Lyon & Healy Style C

c.1919, oval hole 'A' style, natural finish carved spruce top, brown stained flamed maple b/s, mahogany neck, 24 fret ebony fbd, bound body, 'Art Deco' style headstock carving, unique vulcanised rubber pickguard and neck centre strip, patent tailpiece with engraved cover and compensated string damping device inside, earlier and more desirable 13 3/4" scale length as per Gibson (later changed to 13" like bowlback mandos), beautiful example, highly rated by classical players, from the family of the original owner who entertained passengers on the Lake Ontario pleasure boats in the 1920's, EC, OHC


If you want to hear an L & H mando being superbly played in the classical style, try this offering from Youtube (he's playing a top of the range style A): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHfQTzDnz9s

£1,950

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Martin Style E

c.1926, amazingly rare (only 62 made) and beautiful, top of the line mandolin equivalent to the Style 45 guitars, Brazilian rosewood back/sides/phd veneer, bent spruce top, mahogany neck with volute, ebony fbd, ivory bridge, engraved tailpiece and tuner covers, floral pearl designs in fbd & phd, body top/sides/back trimmed with exquisite abalone banding and ivoroid binding, no cracks or repairs and actually plays and sounds great, OHC, EC.

£3,950

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Martin Style A

c.1928, bent spruce top, mahogany b/s/n, ebony fbd & bdg, flush inlaid pgd, fine original condition with bright ringing tone, ideal for folk or American old-timey, OHC, EC

£875

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Rafaele Calace


1963 (label signed & dated), high grade classical roundback, 29 rosewood ribs, spruce top with inlaid faux t'shell pgd & armrest, engraved floral mop designs in pgd & phd, extended ebony fbd with wide mop block inlays, one tiny repaired top crack next to fbd on treble side otherwise in beautiful original condition, a professional concert instrument with sweet but strong tone from one of Italy's foremost makers, orig.HC, EC

£1,750


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SIM DALEY MANDOLINS


The “finest mandolins in the world” are made by a former Cornish fisherman in Nashville, TN, USA - and now you can obtain them from John Alvey Turner!


Just one model - the “A Standard” as described below- is available initially, contact us for prices and further details and also see Sim’s website www.simdaley.com.

Abbreviations


Features

b/s = back and sides : btn = button : inl = inlaid

fbd = fingerboard : pgd = pickguard : phd = peghead : pce = piece

tpce = tailpiece : t’shell = tortoiseshell

mop = mother of pearl : aba = abalone : adj = adjustable

HC = newer hard case : OHC = original hard case

OSC = original soft or semi-hard case : GB = gig bag


Condition

Mint/as new = all original unplayed condition

EC (Excellent Condition) = all original, no repairs/refinish unless noted, some playwear

VGC  (Very Good Condition) = basically all original, may have minor repairs/refinish but no other issues unless noted, moderate playwear

GC (Good Condition) = generally sound, possibly some repairs/refinish, may need work as noted, moderate to heavy playwear

PC (Poor Condition) =  Issues and work required as noted

WE BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE all fretted instruments - guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, Hawaiians, resophonics - in fact, anything cool, interesting or unusual!


Worldwide courier delivery can be arranged at cost.

Eastman MD 615 Mandola

c2004, Chinese-made H-5 style (like a bigger F-5 mandolin), f-hole, hand carved spruce top/figured maple b/s finished in classic dk brown,  fully bound,  OHC, EC

£850

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Mandolas