As a person who actually owned and played a tiple, I felt I had an obligation to post something--though I have posted everything I have to say about the tiple three times, at least(which is true about nearly everything else at mudcat, as well)--the instrument looks pretty new, which doesn't surprise me--Martin tiples have a fairly short life expectancy, owing to the stress that those ten high strung strings place on the bridge.

If Gibson had made them, more would have survived, because they would have anchored the strings with a tailpiece--then the poor devils would have had a fighting chance.

As I have said before, sooner or later, those ten tight strings are going to rip the bridge right out, and, likely as not, take some of the top with it. I've seen it happen. Damn near lost an eye.