Why are old Gibson snakeheads worth so much more?

[BradKlein]

Your results may vary, but I'm in the camp who believes, on average, that the snakehead period at Gibson produced mandolins with significantly different sound - tone if you will. Certainly departing from the teens era instruments. And also from most of the ones that followed. Eventually, it seems like the company completely lost the ability to even approach it's glory days, but let's leave those out of the discussion.

I've never heard anyone seriously suggest that the difference in tone was DUE TO the headstock design. It's just the most obvious visual sign of that era in Gibson's history. As for BETTER - I don't use that adjective around here. Matt Umanov once told me that no matter what an instrument sounded like, eventually someone will come in to the store and it will ring their bell.

For me, the snakeheads I've played have been a bit punchier on average, favored the high mids that help a mandolin 'cut' in an ensemble, and that's been true even of the several A-Jr models which have no truss rod. The other features of the era have been discussed in this thread, and are well known, and some made it into the 'post-Loar' era. I happen to like

Make of it what you will, but I don't think mine is an uncommon opinion among those who like vintage Gibsons. And I don't know that I can comment on what's the 'best deal'. I used to say the Gibson A-Jr snakeheads were a good bet for the sound that I like, but they now go for $2K-ish so I can't call them a 'bargain'.

Anyway, I'll close with two thoughts. The variety of tone and physical traits - and the fact that they made SO MANY from the teens through the '20s, is what makes shopping for a vintage Gibson A model so fun, you just have to find the one you like the best. And the other point - you may have to put on a new fingerboard if you want to play in tune. That's just the way it goes with SOME in that era.

[nick delmore]

He was to the Loar era Snakehead as Bill Monroe was to the F-5. Andy's black A-2z was as iconic, imo. It took some getting used to seeing him playing other kinds of mandolins. I hope the Snakehead is doing well in it's retirement.

[Verne Andru]

Do the Snake and Paddle heads have the same internal bracing?

[BradKlein]

Do the Snake and Paddle heads have the same internal bracing?

I don't know that the single small lateral brace below the sound hole changed much in the years before, during, or after the Loar period. That's one detail that I THINK remained about the same throughout. Now as for the carving of the tops...

[rcc56]

Do the Snake and Paddle heads have the same internal bracing?

I've worked on A's built from 1908 to 1932. For that period, the answer is yes.

A 1939 F-4 that I worked on had no brace, and no sign that it ever had a brace. Surprisingly enough, the instrument was stable, but I wouldn't recommend building one that way. All the other oval hole F's I've worked on [c. 1909 to 1929] had the usual brace in the usual place.

[mrmando]

Last Friday's gig. Still sounding delicious after 98 years ...

[mrmando]

whoops, duplicate

[tiltman]

Classy gig, Mrmando!

(my band played a Grange Hall on Saturday night...)



Kirk

[FLATROCK HILL]

Classy gig, Mrmando!

I was thinking the same thing... No chicken wire in that joint!

[mrmando]

Yeah, this gig was a private party with champagne and a nice catered spread, and a view of downtown Seattle from the 39th floor. But we'll take those grange hall gigs too.

My church does a weekly soup-kitchen-type meal on Wednesday nights. Sometimes when Ken (my guitarist) and I need to rehearse something, we'll book ourselves at the soup kitchen and entertain people there for free.

[mrmando]

Boy, oh boy, this was a bargain. Sorry I missed it.
https://offerup.com/item/detail/1510760871

[journeybear]

No kidding! I don't need one, nor really want one, but I'd find room for a beauty like this.

[Jim Garber]

That one looks as good as the one I bought recently for considerably less money. Still,I am happy I got mine.

[mrmando]

That one looks as good as the one I bought recently for considerably less money. Still,I am happy I got mine.

You got yours for less than $2,200? How could you resist?

Glad to know there are still bargains to be had.

[Jim Garber]

You got yours for less than $2,200? How could you resist?

Glad to know there are still bargains to be had.

Bad wording! Sorry.

It should have read “That one looks as good as the one I bought recently, but this one was offered for considerably less money than the one I bought.”

Is that better?

[Steve 2E]

Boy, oh boy, this was a bargain. Sorry I missed it.

I guess it's not a bargain anymore, but it's still available.

https://reverb.com/item/64156818-gib...-1925-sunburst

[mrmando]

I guess it's not a bargain anymore, but it's still available.

https://reverb.com/item/64156818-gib...-1925-sunburst

Yep, that's most likely the same one, and you can hardly blame Guitar Maniacs for picking it up and flipping it. I think $4K is still below market, even with what looks like the beginning of a seam separation.

[Jim Garber]

Yep, that's most likely the same one, and you can hardly blame Guitar Maniacs for picking it up and flipping it. I think $4K is still below market, even with what looks like the beginning of a seam separation.

Yes, still below market or shall we call it retail asking price. I wonder how long it will last in that listing.

I paid considerably more than that but I would consider still within the range of reasonable retail asking price. However, I asked for dispensation from the vintage instrument pope however:

• mine just landed on the market on consignment and I had first crack at it
• it was exactly what I was looking for
• it was in equally immaculate condition to the A-4 in discussion
• I knew what others in lesser condition were going for (more than I paid)
• it was a reliable and venerable store I have bought from in the past
• mine has the chocolate flavored tuner buttons (a + in my eyes) and a Virzi (+ or - depends on who you talk to)

[journeybear]

I guess it's not a bargain anymore, but it's still available.

Ouch! Yeah, as I surmised - the previous seller didn't know what he had. Oh well ...

[mrmando]

I'm not sure Guitar Maniacs know what they have, either. I mean, there are late-20s paddlehead A4s on Reverb for the same amount Guitar Maniacs wants for a snakehead.

[Jim Garber]

I'm not sure Guitar Maniacs know what they have, either. I mean, there are late-20s paddlehead A4s on Reverb for the same amount Guitar Maniacs wants for a snakehead.

I have a feeling that when MandoManiacs get hold of it it will reach the going retail asking price, much like this one in the classifieds: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/197998#197998

[rcc56]

Since that one's been on the market for a couple of years, I would be reluctant to call it the "going retail price."

[BradKlein]

This A2Z in the classifieds for $3700 might be a better point of comparison, in spite of the differences in finish.

[mrmando]

$7200 does seem a bit much for a snakehead A4 with no pickguard and a hole gouged in the back of the headstock. I don't know why the seller says the back is maple; looks more like birch.

[mrmando]

This A2Z in the classifieds for $3700 might be a better point of comparison, in spite of the differences in finish.

Differences in hyphen placement can make an A2Z hard to search for!
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/198032#198032