Description

Another great Gibson mandolin from the golden era of the 19teens.  We did some set up work and worked glue into the cracks on the side around the tailpiece, just to make sure that the repair that was done before was solid. It may have gotten hot at one time, as the back by the neck block seems to have shifted a little. Where the binding flares into the body, you can feel (and see in the photos) a little edge, where the back and sides don’t quite match up. Everything is nice and solid, however.  The original pickguard’s outer foot “floats.” Either it is warped a little over time, or it doesn’t quite sit right with the bridge.  The bridge is a modern replacement, with height adjusting wheels.  The bridge does lean a little forward, but is solid. There is plenty of room to take the action up or down with the wheels, if desired. The center strip of the neck on the back of the headstock, looks like someone tried chiseling it out, and took some of the top off as well, then put some type of filler in, which has shrunk over time. The tailpiece cover is missing. The nut has been changed. The headstock face has some decent scratching. The body has a few dings and scratches, but nothing bad. This mandolin sounds and plays great! It’s a true gem, as the A3s weren’t produced in large numbers. It is in overall very good condition. It comes with a modern hard case.

• Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan c.1919
• Solid spruce top (Ivory white finish)
• Solid maple back and sides
• Maple 3-piece neck
• 14″ scale length
• 1 1/4″ nut width
• Hard case