Gibson serial number help!

[pw5470]

Hello, I know nothing about mandolins, but a co worker has one that she got from her great uncle that passed away. He has quite a few old guitars and the came across a Gibson mandolin. I tried finding some info. about the serial number but couldn't nail anything down.

The serial number says Style A-21661.

Can anyone tell me the year this was made and any possible idea about is value? I attached a picture of it as well. Looks to be in fair condition. Does not have the case for it though.

Thank you!

[pw5470]

Sorry, don't think the picture worked. Here is a link to it on photobucket.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...0/P3170060.jpg

[bradeinhorn]

1915 # i think - tuners look to be replacements and maybe taipiece too.. nice one. how does it sound?

[pw5470]

Thanks for the reply! I was thinking 1915 but couldn't tell for sure.

She said it sounded good. She doesn't play so she probably just strummed it a little bit.

Any idea on the value, even if the tuners and tailpiece had been replaced?

[bradeinhorn]

hard to say - the cases usually tack on another 100-200 bucks. somewhere between probably 800 and 1100? ballpark.

[pw5470]

Sounds good, thanks again for the help!

[Darryl Wolfe]

It may not be, but it has appearances of being refinished from the picture you posted. Usually, the top would be quite a bit darker. This will devalue it some if it has. Is it really left-handed or is the picture posted backwards

[Ray(T)]

If it is a lefty, its the first one I've seen with a back to front label!

Pity about the tuners but it does seem to have the original bridge.

[pw5470]

I'm pretty sure the picture was posted backwards. The owner was right handed, and all of the other guitars he had were right handed.

No idea if it was refinished or not, haven't seen it in person yet.

Thanks!

[Darryl Wolfe]

I, like RayT color balanced the photo and you can see that the label is spelled backwards, so it is right handed