Summary
Signed and dated by Lloyd Loar September 18, 1924
Mandolin, Style F5
Serial Number 76081
Factory order number unknown
The instrument has a Virzi tone producer, but the serial number is unknown
Description
virzi removed, probably refinished by Gibson
From anonymous:
This instrument was purchased new in 1924-25 by a man named Adolf, whose last name is unknown to me. It originally had a Virzi that was buzzing due to a loose foot and was taken out of the mandolin the only way possible, in pieces.
There was and is a piece of one foot still glued to the top of the mandolin and the rest of it was put into a Ziploc bag and there it stayed until I found it in a drawer and the owner subsequently gave it to me.
I put every splinter of that thing back together the same way Gibson did Bill Monroe’s mandolin, piece by tiny piece and there wasn’t a piece missing when I finished except part of one foot that remained intact to the top of 76081. I kept it for years and used to stump people with it by asking them what it was. Buck White said at first glance it looked like a coaster then upon closer inspection said laughingly, “oh, why that’s a Virzi tone reducer”.
During this ownership is when I got to play it regularly and believe me I did so at every opportunity for 7+ years which ended in 1992. According to Gruhn, it had been at least partially refinished by Gibson in his estimation. I believe it was the wrong colors for a 24, it has too much red in it.
