Re: Vintage Gibson A4
I sincerely hope you weren't intentionally misinformed about this mandolin's identity. It is not an A-4, and it clearly states A-1 on the label. (It actually says "a-1," which seems odd.) For comparison, here is my 1916 A-4, SN #25366, on the right (my 1916 H-2 mandola is on the left). Note the extra frets on the fingerboard and the fleur-de-lis inlay on the headstock. Also, Martin is quite right to point out the refinish; it looks a bit off, though some of that may be the lighting. The Mandolin Archive would put this serial number as late 1915 - early 1916. The FON would indeed be a better way to plumb the murky depths of Gibson record-keeping.
That said, if she sounds good, that says a lot. That's always the bottom line, regardless of expense.
And, welcome to the Café!
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
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