Advert in Classifieds no. 103453 says it is a 1924 snakehead A-4 but the photo is definitely a paddle head. Wrong photo?
Advert in Classifieds no. 103453 says it is a 1924 snakehead A-4 but the photo is definitely a paddle head. Wrong photo?
Jammin' south of the river
'20 Gibson A-2
Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
Penny Whistle
My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616
I have seen instruments come up from time to time with paddle heads in the snakehead period and vice versa (a 1928 snakehead for an example)....Part of Gibson's lack of consistency and use of what's there?
Also I was talking to a Gibson expert on this subject a few days ago and he was pointing out that Gibson was quite willing to make custom instruments in those days so some of the "odd" instruments we see are likely just a customer's desire for a specific detail.
The ad doesn't use the word "snakehead" although the price does seem to imply it.
Len B.
Clearwater, FL
The specs mention it:
I looked in the Archives and there are a few paddleheads Loar era ovals. Usually they would be from '22 or '23 tho. I wonder if this is actually earlier than '24. Here's one.Headstock Shape: Snake Head
It does sound like the specs are Loar era nonetheless, with a nut width of 1-1/6".
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
My '22 is a paddle head with the wide neck. Has the truss rod and does not sound at all like the '18 I had before. I specifically wanted this year as it still had the wide neck and truss rod.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
The specs mention it: Headstock Shape: Snake Head
Ah, thanks Jim. I missed that.
Len B.
Clearwater, FL
The photo may or may not be wrong, but the price sure is, either way.
"The paths of experimentation twist and turn through mountains of miscalculations, and often lose themselves in error and darkness!"
--Leslie Daniel, "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."
Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1...SV2qtug/videos
Snakehead A-4s right now are listed at most vintage dealers for somewhere between $6000-7000. Whether they sell for that much is something else but all the ones I have seen eventually do sell and I doubt it is for a fraction of the price. Not sure if the paddlehead reduces the retail price but the seller is selling for less, so maybe.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
The snakehead A4s and the A2Z got WAY overpriced for awhile. You can find them in the $4,500-5,500 range, especially from private sellers.
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
They are moving pretty good in some of the brick and mortar stores over here..
Retrofret just sold a nice virzi A-4 snake @ 7.2K I believe..
they have another nice one thats now on hold that was @ 7K ..
T.R. Crandall had one that sold a little while back for 7+K or so ...? ...
So it really is depending on alot of factors...condition,virzi or non,maple vs birch back, or (rare) flame maple back..
and of course the most important thing...how it sounds in your hands.
This guy seem seems to like em..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyOv5VdOKpk
Remember we don't know exactly what the instrument sold for....they were asking $xxxxx and it sold...they don't tell you for what.
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