Dyer Symphony Harp Mandolin, Style 20, Serial #105
Entry level instrument at a bargain basement price!
SOLD

I offer up here for sale - and very inexpensively - my personal Dyer harp mandolin (I upgraded).

For those new to harp mandolins - no, it has no extra strings.  They were named such due to the hollow-arm design, which emulated the harp guitars.  Only a very few rare Knutsens have recently been found with extra strings.

This is a Style 20, the plainest of the four known Dyer harp mandolin styles.  It is serial number 105, which almost certainly means it was the fifth Dyer harp mandolin family instrument built.  Unfortunately, we still can't say exactly when that was!  Refer to Bob Hartman's book for the latest theories on dating these.

In fact, I got this instrument from Bob, himself.  He had it restored (very well) in Chicago, and it plays fine.  The portion above the soundhole was pretty caved in and damaged, as can be seen in the photos.  Note also the heavy playing wear throughout the top.

Tone?  Nothing special.  Frankly, I've only heard one great Dyer mandolin, and that is Bob's own rebuilt one.  No others have sounded as good as the Knutsens I've played.  And of course, archtop "bluegrass" mandolin players should know that flattops are a very different animal (not "worse," just different).  This one actually sounds better and louder than the Style 35 I just got.

So there you have it.  An extremely low price for a Larson brothers harp mandolin, due to the plain model, condition and non-sensational tone.  $4000-25,000 is normal range for any of the others (and you rarely get an accurate tone appraisal, do you?)...
- Gregg Miner, the "harp guitar pope"

Specifications: 

• Original label
• All original, except for repairs, and reproduction tailpiece
• Spruce top
• Mahogany back, sides and neck
• Inlaid pickguard
• 13" scale
• Dimensions: 9" lower bout, 2-1/2" depth at tail block, ~23-5/8" total length
• No case

  Price: $1,550 (Paypal)
  (cash or check discount price $1,495)

  SOLD

  Shipping not included

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CDs & DVDs by Stephen Bennett, John Doan, Muriel Anderson, Andy McKee, Stacy Hobbs, Tom Shinness, Dan LaVoie, James Kline, Larry Berwald, Bill Dutcher, Gregg Miner, Pasquale Taraffo
To learn more about harp guitars, please visit Harpguitars.net
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