1918 Gibson Alrite Flatback Mandolin

Overview: I've owned several Alrites and sold plenty more over the years and each one has been a blast. They're familiar territory if you're used to playing old Gibson round-hole A-model instruments but the "pancake" flat top and back design gives them a bit more of a midsy pop or slap to the sound that's almost more reminiscent of 1930s Kalamazoo flatback instruments or later, '30s and '40s, Gibson F-hole mandolins. It's chipper and on the woodier side but also cuts well. They hang-out decently in a jam.

Interesting features: While the neck cut and look is all Gibson, the fancy purfling around the top edge and soundhole are super-reminiscent of Chicago builds like the nicer-grade Larson Brothers, Regal, or Harmony instruments from the same era. The "pancake" body shape is its own Gibson thing, though. No one else made an instrument quite like these at the time and they have a great look that's instantly recognizable. These feature V or tonebar bracing which means that their tops always sag a little in the middle but they sound less woofy or overcomplicated like many concurrent ladder-braced flatbacks.

Repairs included: Sarah leveled and dressed the frets, Tim reglued some back braces that were loosening-up, reglued some open seams, fit a new adjustable bridge, and I did the final setup on it. It's playing spot-on and is ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/32"
• Neck shape: medium full V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 29/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/64"
• Body width: 9 3/8"
• Body depth: 1 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: tonebar/ladder hybrid
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10 lights
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: quite low/narrow

Condition notes: It's in rather good shape for an Alrite -- many of these have been played under the table! There are no cracks anywhere that I can find and the finish, while worn here and there from average light scratching and use, looks great. While the original bridge is missing, everything else is there -- the pickguard, nut, tuners, and other hardware is all extant. Our replacement bridge makes keeping action set correctly a breeze, too. The frets are very low, just like on all old Gibson mandolins from this period, and pretty narrow. A player used to modern frets will want this one refretted.

It comes with: It actually has its original hard case.

Consignor tag: DDOM