Gibson A3
borrowed heavily from George Gruhn and Walter Carter
A-3 Mandolin
Available: 1902 to 1922
1902 - Symmetrical teardrop body, bound oval soundhole with 2 wood inlaid rings, pickguard inlaid into top, single bound top and back, bound ebony fingerboard, dot inlays, large rounded paddle peghead, asterisk peghead inlay, golden top finish, reddish back and sides.
1908 - Elevated pickguard, smaller non-paddle peghead, ornamental curlicue peghead inlay.
1918 - Wide white soundhole ring between 2 black-white-black rings, ivoroid pickguard, ivory top finish.
1922 - (pictured)
A-3 discontinued 1922.
By Dan Beimborn
