1921 Bacon Professional Mandolin - Rare!

Up for sale is a very rare and great sounding Bacon Professional model mandolin from 1921. It has a beautiful sunburst spruce top and birch back and sides. I’ve owned a lot of vintage Gibson oval hole mandolins, including many snakeheads, and to my ear, this one beats them all! It has that classic, warm sound, but with more cut than most Gibsons. It is nice and loud, too! It is honestly a joy to play. I would put this one up against any oval sound hole mandolins with confidence.

When I got the mandolin, it was in great shape but the action was high. Expert luthier Kerry Char verified the neck joint was secure and adjusted the angle of the fingerboard to optimize the action using a shim under the fingerboard. It plays buttery smooth now and is structurally good to go. The top and back arch looks great with not even a hint of top sinkage. The beautifully carved recureves on the top and back tell me whoever Bacon hired to make these instruments had many years of experience under their belt.

Condition-wise, it has all of its original finish and looks great! It has play wear on the bass side of the top, but otherwise is pretty clean… just nicks and dings here and there. It has its original pickguard, tuners, bridge and ornate tailpiece. The original guarantee label is still in great shape and shows the signature and endorsement of William Place, Jr. Although the badge is now missing from the back of the headstock, an inprint still remains informing us the instrument was originally ordered from Sieberling and Lucas Music Co in Portland, Oregon. It also comes in a period, purple-lined chipboard case that’s in great shape.

These high-end Bacon mandolins do not come up for sale often; grab this one while you can. I’ll probably regret selling it, but another instrument is calling my name. I’m asking $2,600. A 48-hour approval period is allowed but if returned, buyer must return instrument in same condition as when I shipped it and must pay for return shipping. I have more pictures available upon request.