Gibson Style H-1 Carved Top Mandola (1918)
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Item # 10551
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Gibson Style H-1 Model Carved Top Mandola (1918), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 48206, natural varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a lovely 100+ year old example of the "pre-Loar" Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, still in very nice original condition with a lot of life left in it over a century on. It was made in 1918, a banner year for Gibson who were apparently not much affected by the World War then raging to its conclusion. The typical period features include the dark but very thin "Sheraton Brown" varnish finish top, a raised celluloid pickguard and the standard Gibson-engraved tailpiece and solid carved ebony compensated bridge without individual saddle inserts. The top is spruce with a pronounced grain, the back and sides birch and the neck Honduras mahogany with a heavy ebony fingerboard.
The "browntop" mandolin family instruments of the late 'teens may not be the prettiest of the old "paddlehead" Gibsons but they are often the best sounding. This one is an excellent centennial survivor, a very playable mandola with a very low, comfortable action and deep, ringing tone. It remains an enduring testament to the exceptional work of the original Kalamazoo, Michigan Gibson factory.
Overall length is 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm.), 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm.) width, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 3/4 in. (400 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This Mandola shows some generally light wear for its age and is an excellent player, with a great warm sound and a very comfortable action. The VERY thin top finish has its share of dings, scrapes and checking, but less pick scratching than many. The back has an isolated area of scratching but is otherwise quite clean, as are the sides. A small amount of varnish is worn off the back of the neck in the lower positions.
Structurally this is an excellent instrument, with no cracks or repairs and none of the common separations to the back/side seams. The original hardware is intact except the oft-missing pickguard is a well-done repro using the original clamp; the tuners, tailpiece and carved ebony bridge are all original, clean and intact. The tailpiece cover is still shiny with a few random scratches. The label is fully intact and legible.
This mandola was recently correctly refretted, the neck is in excellent shape and the instrument is set up ready for another 100 years of service. This H-1 is a lovely survivor of the mandolin orchestra era and an instrument with a lot of potential still to be explored, a truly fine player housed in a very clean original HSC. Excellent - Condition.
This is a lovely 100+ year old example of the "pre-Loar" Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, still in very nice original condition with a lot of life left in it over a century on. It was made in 1918, a banner year for Gibson who were apparently not much affected by the World War then raging to its conclusion. The typical period features include the dark but very thin "Sheraton Brown" varnish finish top, a raised celluloid pickguard and the standard Gibson-engraved tailpiece and solid carved ebony compensated bridge without individual saddle inserts. The top is spruce with a pronounced grain, the back and sides birch and the neck Honduras mahogany with a heavy ebony fingerboard.
The "browntop" mandolin family instruments of the late 'teens may not be the prettiest of the old "paddlehead" Gibsons but they are often the best sounding. This one is an excellent centennial survivor, a very playable mandola with a very low, comfortable action and deep, ringing tone. It remains an enduring testament to the exceptional work of the original Kalamazoo, Michigan Gibson factory.
Overall length is 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm.), 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm.) width, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 3/4 in. (400 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This Mandola shows some generally light wear for its age and is an excellent player, with a great warm sound and a very comfortable action. The VERY thin top finish has its share of dings, scrapes and checking, but less pick scratching than many. The back has an isolated area of scratching but is otherwise quite clean, as are the sides. A small amount of varnish is worn off the back of the neck in the lower positions.
Structurally this is an excellent instrument, with no cracks or repairs and none of the common separations to the back/side seams. The original hardware is intact except the oft-missing pickguard is a well-done repro using the original clamp; the tuners, tailpiece and carved ebony bridge are all original, clean and intact. The tailpiece cover is still shiny with a few random scratches. The label is fully intact and legible.
This mandola was recently correctly refretted, the neck is in excellent shape and the instrument is set up ready for another 100 years of service. This H-1 is a lovely survivor of the mandolin orchestra era and an instrument with a lot of potential still to be explored, a truly fine player housed in a very clean original HSC. Excellent - Condition.