this firm appraises my mail/photo
based on Staten Islandhttp://www.mandowebcom.where Joni Mitchell went to Staten Island to buy herself a mandolin.
Mandolin Brothers, Ltd. is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on American vintage fretted instruments. We are recommended by major manufacturers, including Gibson and Martin, as a premiere source of accurate valuations. We appraise numerous collections, including those of the CF Martin Museum and the estate of the the late CF Martin III.Mandolin Brothers can appraise your instrument either by personal inspection or by mail. If you prefer a personal inspection, you may bring the instrument in or ship it to us. If you wish to bring it in, you can find travel directions here.Here's how to obtain a written appraisal: You could try sending email photos but if you do there are some conditions: please send no more than 2 photos total, each a low resolution .jpg photo showing the full front, tip to bottom, and the full back, tip to bottom. Try to keep the size of each photo file to around 150 Kbs or less. Or, if it's easier, take regular photos of your guitar, banjo or mandolin. When mailing the regular photos you can enclose a check in US dollars or money order.Our fee is $35 for a photographic appraisal, plus postage if it needs to be sent by Postal Service to foreign locations. For in-house appraisals where a "complete forensic analysis" is required, the fee can range from $35 for a flattop guitar or mandolin to $150 -$300 for the likes of a prewar flathead Mastertone or a Gibson 1959 Les Paul where every square inch of the instrument, inside and out, needs to be examined.We minimally need to see one photo of the full front, tip to bottom, and one of the back, tip to bottom. Sending 2 small .jpg files by email is fine, sending us a bunch of 35mm photos is good, and some people have sent us color print-outs of their digital shots (by regular mail) and that seems okay too. Provide us your full home address; provide us all your various telephone numbers (so that we can send you a letterhead copy of the appraisal by regular mail). You can either phone in your credit card number or (if sending photos by mail) enclose a personal check, bank check or money order for $35 US per item to be appraised, which is our very nominal fee for a written appraisal.Enclose, too, a brief note explaining: What's the brand, model or style name or number? What's the year in which made (if known)? What's the serial number? Provide a report of condition, noting: cosmetic condition (finish, plating, signs of use and wear), structural condition -- discuss repairs needed now or performed in the past, such as: Is the neck straight, are the frets high, round and level, any buzzing on the frets when played? Are there any seam separations or cracks, if there are cracks have they been glued, is the neck fully in contact with the body at the neck heel? Is the bridge saddle high with plenty of adjustment room to lower it? Originality (any replaced or missing finish or components), playability (when tuned to pitch is it easy to press the strings down to the fret in every fret position)? The type of carrying case: (original hard shell case, chipboard, newer hard shell, gigbag, or some other case, or no case)? Overall: What is "the worst thing" you can say about the condition?For more information, drop us an email from here. You may also call us at 718-981-3226, 718-981-8585 or fax us 24 hours a day at 718-816-4416. We will be glad to help in any way we can.
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GreggW
(view)
based on Staten Islandhttp://www.mandowebcom.where Joni Mitchell went to Staten Island to buy herself a mandolin.
Mandolin Brothers, Ltd. is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on American vintage fretted instruments. We are recommended by major manufacturers, including Gibson and Martin, as a premiere source of accurate valuations. We appraise numerous collections, including those of the CF Martin Museum and the estate of the the late CF Martin III.Mandolin Brothers can appraise your instrument either by personal inspection or by mail. If you prefer a personal inspection, you may bring the instrument in or ship it to us. If you wish to bring it in, you can find travel directions here.Here's how to obtain a written appraisal: You could try sending email photos but if you do there are some conditions: please send no more than 2 photos total, each a low resolution .jpg photo showing the full front, tip to bottom, and the full back, tip to bottom. Try to keep the size of each photo file to around 150 Kbs or less. Or, if it's easier, take regular photos of your guitar, banjo or mandolin. When mailing the regular photos you can enclose a check in US dollars or money order.Our fee is $35 for a photographic appraisal, plus postage if it needs to be sent by Postal Service to foreign locations. For in-house appraisals where a "complete forensic analysis" is required, the fee can range from $35 for a flattop guitar or mandolin to $150 -$300 for the likes of a prewar flathead Mastertone or a Gibson 1959 Les Paul where every square inch of the instrument, inside and out, needs to be examined.We minimally need to see one photo of the full front, tip to bottom, and one of the back, tip to bottom. Sending 2 small .jpg files by email is fine, sending us a bunch of 35mm photos is good, and some people have sent us color print-outs of their digital shots (by regular mail) and that seems okay too. Provide us your full home address; provide us all your various telephone numbers (so that we can send you a letterhead copy of the appraisal by regular mail). You can either phone in your credit card number or (if sending photos by mail) enclose a personal check, bank check or money order for $35 US per item to be appraised, which is our very nominal fee for a written appraisal.Enclose, too, a brief note explaining: What's the brand, model or style name or number? What's the year in which made (if known)? What's the serial number? Provide a report of condition, noting: cosmetic condition (finish, plating, signs of use and wear), structural condition -- discuss repairs needed now or performed in the past, such as: Is the neck straight, are the frets high, round and level, any buzzing on the frets when played? Are there any seam separations or cracks, if there are cracks have they been glued, is the neck fully in contact with the body at the neck heel? Is the bridge saddle high with plenty of adjustment room to lower it? Originality (any replaced or missing finish or components), playability (when tuned to pitch is it easy to press the strings down to the fret in every fret position)? The type of carrying case: (original hard shell case, chipboard, newer hard shell, gigbag, or some other case, or no case)? Overall: What is "the worst thing" you can say about the condition?For more information, drop us an email from here. You may also call us at 718-981-3226, 718-981-8585 or fax us 24 hours a day at 718-816-4416. We will be glad to help in any way we can.
