1916 Gibson A Mandolin (Updated)

Update 2025: I worked-on and sold this instrument back in 2022 and at the same time fit a K&K pickup for the owner. It was then used to good effect for a couple years. Late in 2024 the owner dropped it on stage (an unlucky mishap) and the top got a bad set of cracks down the treble side which also dislodged the main brace. I repaired this for the owner at the time and reinforced the damage area with cleats and some "layered bracing" to give the top some extra structure. Post-new-repairs it's holding-up nicely almost a year-on and sounds just as good as it did before the damage. I've just taken it back in trade so it's back here for sale. Now back to some slightly-updated description from my 2022 post on this one...

Overview: Here's a handsome Gibson A-1 mandolin. It has a sweet, round tone, good cut, and of course the usual classic Gibson handling which feels like "home base" to many of us mando-players. 

Also, like most of us, it has some stories to tell. Some time ago (I'm guessing the early '70s) it was refinished and gained both '60s Kluson-style tuners and an extra brace installed under the bridge on the top. This is really common to find on teens-era Gibson mandolins because the carved tops are often cut just a little too thin at the factory and so they begin to collapse over time when "modern" string gauges are applied over decades. This guy's holding-up nicely with 36w-10 gauges and sounds roughly the same as models without the extra bracing. Everyone who's picked it up has remarked on how good it sounds, and I agree. It's got that old Gibson A magic.

Repairs included: My (previous) work was light on it, but suffice to say, it's now playing quick and easy and it has the bonus of a newer adjustable ebony bridge, too. The original one-piece bridge is in the case, though, but an adjustable one sure makes it a lot easier to keep your setup correct as the seasons change. My (more current) repairs including adding cleating to the top to reinforce the crack repairs and, at some point, installing a K&K (passive) pickup with an endpin jack.

• Weight: 2 lbs 0 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 59/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 17/64"
• Body width: 10"
• Body depth: 1 7/8"
• Top wood: solid, carved spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder (with additional non-original brace below the bridge)
• Bridge: adjustable ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/low

Condition notes: Aside from the refinish and swapped tuners and bridge, it is original. It may just be "oversprayed" over the original coloration, too, but I'm guessing it as entirely touched-up when the job was done as it has '60s or '70s-style faded finish at the neck which is more common to factory-refinish Gibsons of the era that I've handled. Per the description above you know the rest -- it has some big, trauma-cracks in the top that have disrupted the respray clearcoat and I cleaned them up as much as I could during repairs but I'm afraid they're pretty obvious.

It comes with: It has a good hard case and a K&K acoustic pickup installed.

Consignor tag: JW