Helping a friend with Gibson A info

[Drew Egerton]

Hello everyone!
I have a friend with a mandolin that is interested in selling and has asked me if I can help him find out what it would be worth. I admittedly know very little about Gibson A style mandolins as my interests are mostly in the F styles.

He says it is a Gibson A-1 and has this information: Patent Feb 1, 98 - Mar 30, 06
#12612

He also provided these photos.
I'd appreciate any additional info you can provide to help. I have NFI in the sale, just want to help him out. If there's any other information or photos that would help out I can go back and ask him. Thanks for the input!

[mrmando]

Ask him to look inside for the factory order number. It's usually stamped on the neck block. May need a flashlight.

[mrmando]

Shipping date would be 1911 according to Spann's Guide. Looks all original and in good shape in the photos. People don't much like those canvas end-loading cases, unfortunately. This is probably worth around $900; a period-correct hardshell case would add some value.

[Drew Egerton]

Martin,

Thanks for the input. I found the 1911 info as well from the archive site with some similar serial numbers, but I know Gibson's serial numbers don't ALWAYS make sense!

I've seen a number of 'similar' mandolins listed for closer to $1500 but I know that small changes can make big differences in the price and listings don't usually go for their best price as well.


Any additional input from others would be appreciated. Thanks!

[mrmando]

$1500 is a guitar-shop price; it includes the shop's commission and overhead. And it would still be exorbitant for any Gibson A without a period hardshell case.

Lots of people try to conduct private sales of instruments at guitar-shop prices, but they don't often succeed. A couple of very similar Gibson mandolins have been haunting my local Craigslist for years for this very reason.

[lflngpicker]

Drew, Your post caught my eye. I am not an expert so I am responding but not providing any expertise.

There is a 1913 A for sale at Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/2093696-gibson-a-model-1913-natural-antique

This is very close to the mandolin I received as an inherited instrument from my mother-in-law 35 years ago. This is the mandolin that got me started. Yours is in better cosmetic shape than mine. I would never let ours go for less than $1100 and I do not have the period correct HSC. If if plays, the neck is straight (as is ours) and if the tone is equally nice, your friend has something of value, but more importantly, a very nice mandolin to play! Thanks for posting.