1920 Gibson A Carved-Top Mandolin

Overview: A local customer dropped this off for consignment. It's a nice one and it's in the dark, nut-brown color that I like best on these. It has that typical woody, open, warmer sound that most folks are looking for in these old Gibson As -- perfect for folk, old time, or Celtic uses. The factory order number at the neckblock appears to be either too faded to read or nonexistent -- but the Mandolin Archive serial numbers helped date it to right around 1920. This one has a 3-piece top.

Repairs included: Tim repaired and cleated a longer separation of one of the top seams (on the treble side, effectively a long hairline crack), reglued the brace wing in the same area, cleaned-up some older seam repairs on the back edge, fit a new ebony adjustable bridge, and set it up. Max gave it a level and dress of the frets. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 1 lb 13 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium full V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 29/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/8"
• Body width: 10"
• Body depth: 1 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder
• 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: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/small

Condition notes: There's weather-checking and crazing to the finish. The bridge is non-original but it's otherwise original throughout. The back/side seams have a little overlap as the side has shrunk at a different rate than the top and sides (this is very common with these guys) and the back appears to be entirely reglued to the sides at some point.

It comes with: It has an original hard case.

Consignor tag: RGRS