Gibson Style H-1 Carved Top Mandola (1915)
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Gibson Style H-1 Model Carved Top Mandola (1915), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 30624, natural varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a very nice just-about 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing some internal repair but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was Gibson's "basic" mandola, the lower priced of three models of this middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Compared to mandolins, mandolas from any era are fairly rare, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still a fairly scarce item well over a century on. The H-1 lacks the decorative elements of the higher priced H-2 but is structurally the same. The headstock face has no ornament except the "The Gibson" inlaid in pearl, and the top has two half-herringbone soundhole rings.
This H-1 was made in 1915, by which point Gibson's carved-top mandolin family instruments were indisputably the most influential in the world. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover, elevated tortoise celluloid pickguard and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top is carved from spruce, over birch back and sides. The neck is Honduras mahogany fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example ready for another century at least.
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 is a very nice player, not too heavily worn even after almost 110 years on the planet. The thin varnish finish has fine checking overall and shows typical wear with chips, dings and scrapes, with the back of the neck worn to the wood over some of its length. The back may have been oversprayed long ago as it shows heavier checking (and also some deeper scratches and scrapes). Both the back and sides appear to be a period finish, or at least many decades old. The top finish is fully original and has a nice amber patina showing scuffing, dings and scrapes but less pick wear than many so really pretty well preserved for its age.
There are no visible crack repairs, it is possible the back/side seams have been resealed but there are no scars from the process. Two slim longitudinal braces were added to the top behind the single original cross brace; while we can't say for sure this is a factory repair to a sinking top the pieces look very much like Gibson work, and appear to have been in place for a long time. If this is old factory work, it would explain the possible overspray on the back and sides, as they would have removed the back to do this work. If not then someone did a superb expert job crafting and fitting them with minimal disturbance to the instrument.
The hardware is original except for the bridge, including the celluloid pickguard and clamp, tuners and tailpiece/cover. The adjustable ebony bridge is a replica of the 1920s Gibson style, not period correct but much more functional from a player's standpoint than the original solid ebony piece. The frets are original with some light wear and the nut has been replaced. The instrument is an excellent player and a fine sounding Mandola, brighter than some (possibly due to the slightly stiffened top) but with a powerful and well-rounded tone. It lives in the original hard case, a bit worn but still fully functional. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a very nice just-about 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing some internal repair but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was Gibson's "basic" mandola, the lower priced of three models of this middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Compared to mandolins, mandolas from any era are fairly rare, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still a fairly scarce item well over a century on. The H-1 lacks the decorative elements of the higher priced H-2 but is structurally the same. The headstock face has no ornament except the "The Gibson" inlaid in pearl, and the top has two half-herringbone soundhole rings.
This H-1 was made in 1915, by which point Gibson's carved-top mandolin family instruments were indisputably the most influential in the world. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover, elevated tortoise celluloid pickguard and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top is carved from spruce, over birch back and sides. The neck is Honduras mahogany fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example ready for another century at least.
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 is a very nice player, not too heavily worn even after almost 110 years on the planet. The thin varnish finish has fine checking overall and shows typical wear with chips, dings and scrapes, with the back of the neck worn to the wood over some of its length. The back may have been oversprayed long ago as it shows heavier checking (and also some deeper scratches and scrapes). Both the back and sides appear to be a period finish, or at least many decades old. The top finish is fully original and has a nice amber patina showing scuffing, dings and scrapes but less pick wear than many so really pretty well preserved for its age.
There are no visible crack repairs, it is possible the back/side seams have been resealed but there are no scars from the process. Two slim longitudinal braces were added to the top behind the single original cross brace; while we can't say for sure this is a factory repair to a sinking top the pieces look very much like Gibson work, and appear to have been in place for a long time. If this is old factory work, it would explain the possible overspray on the back and sides, as they would have removed the back to do this work. If not then someone did a superb expert job crafting and fitting them with minimal disturbance to the instrument.
The hardware is original except for the bridge, including the celluloid pickguard and clamp, tuners and tailpiece/cover. The adjustable ebony bridge is a replica of the 1920s Gibson style, not period correct but much more functional from a player's standpoint than the original solid ebony piece. The frets are original with some light wear and the nut has been replaced. The instrument is an excellent player and a fine sounding Mandola, brighter than some (possibly due to the slightly stiffened top) but with a powerful and well-rounded tone. It lives in the original hard case, a bit worn but still fully functional. Overall Excellent - Condition.