Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000

Subject: Bill Monroe's mandolins for sale
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 01:32 PM

Currently Ebay is running a large collection of Bill Monroe's possesions. So along with his mandolin collection { but not THE Loar mandolin } you can get his gold watch, his front porch bench or some of his suits and blue jeans { but why? }.

Look for his mandolins under some of the following numbers -

598763803
598763741
598763765
598763782
598763717
598763717

Now where is that Secret Santa thread ??

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolins for sale
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 01:41 PM

Here's the start of his (auctions).

Steve

Subject: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 05:32 AM

I found this in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. I have heard discussions of changes of policy at the Country Music Hall of Fame, focusing more on current stars than the history of the music. This sounds like one of them. I would have thought that his mandolin would have been a centerpiece for the historical exhibits at the Hall of Fame, but I guess not.

Bill Monroe fans were entertained Saturday in Nashville, Tenn., by the bark of an auctioneer rather than by the chirp of the late bluegrass legend's mandolin. Some 100 items from Monroe's estate were auctioned off at the Country Music Hall of Fame, including his pearl inlaid Gibson mandolin and his 50th anniversary Grand Ole Opry ring. The mandolin fetched $22,000, and the ring brought $6,500. While a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the purpose of the two-day affair was mainly to offload Monroe memorabilia that would otherwise get lost or ruined in storage. It also provided a chance for fans to remember a man widely regarded as the father of a uniquely American style of music. "Fans of his have been waiting for this for years," said James Monroe, Monroe's son and sole heir. Monroe, who died at 84 in 1996, is credited with earning bluegrass music wide popularity and giving the mandolin a new role as a lead instrument in country, pop and rock.

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Cappuccino
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 05:39 AM

Blimey. Mine cost a hundred pounds...

... bit of a difference in the playing, of course.

- Ian B

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 05:48 AM

But wait! Wasn't there a story going 'round a while back that Bill Monroe once sent his mandolin off to Gibson for some refinishing work and when it came back the jobe was done so poorly that he scraped out the Gibson logo on the peg head? I remember seeing an old photo where it looks as though the Gibson logo is missing and there is a gouge like mark on the head.

I guess I would consider THAT mandolin as the historically important one since it was the one he played in the early days of Blue Grass.

Anyone know if what I mentioned is true?

CB

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 05:53 AM

Yes, true. But along the way, Bill and Gibson made up, and they had the mandolin in for a refurbishing, including restoring the logo ~~ all at Gibson's expense. I am assuming this is the mandolin in question. I would think the article would say if it were another instrument altogether, but I have no definitive information on that. No doubt there will be more info later.

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 05:58 AM

Thanks for the clarification Dale.

CB

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 07:20 AM

This isn't The mandolin. This is one of Monroe's backups. THE mandolin (Gibson F-5 Master model, serial number 73987, 1923, signed by Lloyd Loar, played daily for at least fifty years) was sold a year ago to a foundation for huge price.

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 07:41 AM

Right THE Mandolin went for $1.125 million!

See here

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Banjer
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 08:07 AM

I think the $1 million plus price was paid by The Bill Monroe Foundation in Rosine KY. I have had occasion to e-mail Campbell Mercer, executive director of the BMF. I believe in one of his updates or e-mails he mentioned that the foundation had raised the funds to buy the instrument. They have also restored the original Monroe homestead in Rosine and there are plans for a State Park to be built around the house and grounds. There is also to be a museum on the site.

Subject: RE: Bill Monroe's mandolin sold for $22,000
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 11:42 AM

To those of us who are REALLY obsessed with old 73987, it's up there with the Holy Grail. Next in line? Scruggs' Mastertone. I think (don't know for sure) that the Scruggs family is probably in a lot better shape fiscally than the Monroe clan, so maybe the Scruggs banjo won't have to be sold when Earl passes.

Rick