This mandolin has been in our family a while but no one now plays it. I would like to know how old it is, if it looks to be in good condition, possible value and any other observations.
This mandolin has been in our family a while but no one now plays it. I would like to know how old it is, if it looks to be in good condition, possible value and any other observations.
Last edited by LostRoads; Apr-08-2017 at 8:32pm. Reason: added 3 photos
Looks to be an A-4 that has been refinished and has all the hardware replaced. Might play nice but neither of those things are good for the value.
Phil
I don't know. Everything looks wrong to me, aside from the refinish: the inlays, the fleur-de-lis, the rosette. It looks like a Japanese or Korean knock-off from maybe the 1970s. This photos are kinda small. It might help to post larger ones so we can see detail. I can't tell if that Gibson logo on the peghead is even an inlay or not.
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
In the least, it was refinshed, re-rosetted or re-topped and the fretboard had added inlays or it was replaced altogether. I am still guessing a "lawsuit" model from the far east in the glorious era when these were popular, 1970s or so.
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
This should have had a label inside with serial no. on it. If not it should have the FON stamped on the inside up at the neck block. Give us these numbers and we can date it for you. You will need a strong flashlight to see the number stamped on the upper block inside. Works best in a dark closet. With no truss rod it is pre 1921 A-4 model but with refinish, new fingerboard, new tuners and new tailpiece cover.
Replaced bridge as well, of course.
Is that soundhole rosette correct? Shouldn't it be a ring of Ivoroid between two rings of herringbone purling?
The photo makes the center ring look like Pearloid, which would probably be later, if installed by the factory...(?)
Awful lot of anomalies, IMHO.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
That is what I said, Allen! I hope that OP LostRoads did not get lost on his roads and comes back with some decent pictures and maybe a serial number. I still think this is a verboten "Gibson" copy from the terrible Lawsuit Seventies. Yes a lot of anemones...er...anomalies.
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
If you can, please post a photo of the label as well as larger photos like the ones you already posted.
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 label inside says it is a Gibson A4 number 48764 I will try to
attach more photos, hope they are better.
More photos of the A4 serial number 48764 (hard to read label but I'm 99% sure)
It is definitely an inlay please look at the new photos
It has definitely been reworked. From the SN# we can say made around 1918. Non-original rosette, fretboard inlay, bridge, tuners and tailpiece cover (I think). Otherwise, the top has been refinished but the rest could be original including. I guess I would wonder why the rosette would need to be replaced. Someone wanted to fancy up the fretboard, for sure.
Here's an all-original A4 from that same year for comparison (from the Archive):
Note the rosette.
Last edited by Jim Garber; Apr-12-2017 at 3:42pm.
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
Smells like one of the "thanks for sending it back to us" overhaul projects from the '70's to me.
That was the norm back then, refinish, replace FB, etc., make it looks like we just made it. Sad but true.
There wasn't anyone there with much appreciation for the caliber of workmanship from the old days. "Spray it, buff it, throw it back"
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Can't be sure, but it looks like the neck might have been re-profiled as well.
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