1923 Gibson A-4 "Snakehead" Carved-Top Mandolin

Gibson's Lloyd Loar-era "snakehead" A-style mandolins are among the most-desired of the type as they incorporate Loar's ideas of a modern instrument while not being the unfathomably-expensive F-5-style instrument of the same time. Compared to the models of this style made just a few years prior, one gets an adjustable bridge, a headstock shape designed to keep the string path free and clean of obstacles, and more attention paid to consistency of the build.

It's a classy-looking instrrument and now, post-repairs, it plays like an absolute champ and has a punchy, cutting voice.

It was in for repairs, however, and all them got dealt with! Tim made some beautiful cauls to support the neck and endblock area and then prepped and clamped a nasty loose seam (which had expanded over 1/8" past the sides) and block at the endblock. He then leveled and dressed the frets and set it all up.

Thoughts? It's a dead-rotten charmer!