Gibson H-2 Carved Top Mandola (1914)
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Item # 11173
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Gibson H-2 Model Carved Top Mandola (1914), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 24329, sunburst top, dark cherry stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a lovely almost 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-2 Mandola, still in very nice original condition with an excellent sound. The H-2 was the "middle grade" mandola from Kalamazoo, itself the middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Mandolas from any era are fairly scarce, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still not common finds well over a century on. The H-2 is distinguished from the lower-priced but structurally identical H-1 by several decorative elements, notably the headstock face with "The Gibson" and a Fleur-de-llys inlaid in pearl, double half-herringbone soundhole ring and the beautiful inlaid tuner buttons.
Based on the serial and factory order numbers this H-2 was made late in in 1913 and sold in the first quarter of 1914. Typical period features include a red sunburst varnish finish top over lightly stained back and sides, a raised celluloid pickguard, the tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover and solid carved ebony compensated bridge with individual saddle inserts. The tuners are the distinctive strips with inlaid buttons made by the Louis Handel company in New York and used on the higher-end Gibsons of this period. The top is tight-grained spruce, the back and sides birch and the neck Honduras mahogany with a heavy ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example, ready for another century at least.
Overall length is 28 in. (71.1 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 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 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This Mandola remains nicely original and complete with some general wear and only minor maintenance repairs. The all-original finish shows chips, dings and scrapes overall but really it is pretty well preserved for its age. The red sunburst on the top has a more subtle shading than many, with a less even but still quite attractive patina. There is very fine checking most notably on the top, which has the heaviest dings and scratches and a spot worn to the wood on the edge in the standard armwear area. The finish on the back of the neck is fairly heavily worn down, and actually is quite comfortable to play.
There are no visible crack repairs, the back and side seams look to have been resealed in spots but there are no obvious scars from the process. Some of the fretboard binding may have been replaced with the correct grained ivoriod, but if so it was long ago. The beautiful original inlaid Handel tuners are still intact and work well. The original tailpiece and cover are present and accounted for, as is the oft-missing pickguard and clamp. The original bridge was lowered a bit on the top and re-slotted, probably long ago. The frets appear original, they have been recrowned and this is an excellent player, a fine sounding Mandola with a fairly well-rounded tone. It still lived in a nice original HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a lovely almost 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-2 Mandola, still in very nice original condition with an excellent sound. The H-2 was the "middle grade" mandola from Kalamazoo, itself the middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Mandolas from any era are fairly scarce, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still not common finds well over a century on. The H-2 is distinguished from the lower-priced but structurally identical H-1 by several decorative elements, notably the headstock face with "The Gibson" and a Fleur-de-llys inlaid in pearl, double half-herringbone soundhole ring and the beautiful inlaid tuner buttons.
Based on the serial and factory order numbers this H-2 was made late in in 1913 and sold in the first quarter of 1914. Typical period features include a red sunburst varnish finish top over lightly stained back and sides, a raised celluloid pickguard, the tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover and solid carved ebony compensated bridge with individual saddle inserts. The tuners are the distinctive strips with inlaid buttons made by the Louis Handel company in New York and used on the higher-end Gibsons of this period. The top is tight-grained spruce, the back and sides birch and the neck Honduras mahogany with a heavy ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example, ready for another century at least.
Overall length is 28 in. (71.1 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 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 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This Mandola remains nicely original and complete with some general wear and only minor maintenance repairs. The all-original finish shows chips, dings and scrapes overall but really it is pretty well preserved for its age. The red sunburst on the top has a more subtle shading than many, with a less even but still quite attractive patina. There is very fine checking most notably on the top, which has the heaviest dings and scratches and a spot worn to the wood on the edge in the standard armwear area. The finish on the back of the neck is fairly heavily worn down, and actually is quite comfortable to play.
There are no visible crack repairs, the back and side seams look to have been resealed in spots but there are no obvious scars from the process. Some of the fretboard binding may have been replaced with the correct grained ivoriod, but if so it was long ago. The beautiful original inlaid Handel tuners are still intact and work well. The original tailpiece and cover are present and accounted for, as is the oft-missing pickguard and clamp. The original bridge was lowered a bit on the top and re-slotted, probably long ago. The frets appear original, they have been recrowned and this is an excellent player, a fine sounding Mandola with a fairly well-rounded tone. It still lived in a nice original HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.