Gibson Style H-1 Carved Top Mandola (1913)
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Item # 8983
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Gibson Style H-1 Model Carved Top Mandola (1913), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 23476, natural varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black chipboard case.
This is a lovely just-about 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing some repair but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was the "basic" mandola, 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 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 double half-herringbone soundhole rings.
This H-1 was made in 1913, a banner year for Gibson who were just then codifying the improvements that made their carved-top mandolin family instruments indisputably the best in the world. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a raised celluloid pickguard, the tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top has some interesting wavy grained spruce, over birch back and sides and the neck Honduras mahogany is fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example, worn in a bit and 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 fine player, with some careful restoration. It remains original and complete with the exception of the pickguard, which is a well-done reproduction using the original clamp and a modern 1920s Gibson style repro adjustable Ebony bridge by Cumberland Acoustic. The tuners and tailpiece remain original. The thin varnish finish has typical 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 top finish 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 some of the back and side seams have been resealed but there are no scars from the process. Most of the neck binding has been replaced with the era-correct style grained ivoriod, a close but not perfect not perfect match for the remaining original piece. The repro celluloid pickguard looks quote good and shows a bit of wear, the adjustable ebony bridge is not period correct but much more functional from a player's standpoint than the original solid ebony piece. The instrument has been neatly refretted with appropriate wire just a bit bigger than the original (very thin!) 1913 standard; this is an excellent player and a fine sounding Mandola, mellower than some with a sweet and well-rounded tone. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a lovely just-about 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing some repair but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was the "basic" mandola, 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 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 double half-herringbone soundhole rings.
This H-1 was made in 1913, a banner year for Gibson who were just then codifying the improvements that made their carved-top mandolin family instruments indisputably the best in the world. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a raised celluloid pickguard, the tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top has some interesting wavy grained spruce, over birch back and sides and the neck Honduras mahogany is fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. This is a lovely sounding and fine playing example, worn in a bit and 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 fine player, with some careful restoration. It remains original and complete with the exception of the pickguard, which is a well-done reproduction using the original clamp and a modern 1920s Gibson style repro adjustable Ebony bridge by Cumberland Acoustic. The tuners and tailpiece remain original. The thin varnish finish has typical 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 top finish 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 some of the back and side seams have been resealed but there are no scars from the process. Most of the neck binding has been replaced with the era-correct style grained ivoriod, a close but not perfect not perfect match for the remaining original piece. The repro celluloid pickguard looks quote good and shows a bit of wear, the adjustable ebony bridge is not period correct but much more functional from a player's standpoint than the original solid ebony piece. The instrument has been neatly refretted with appropriate wire just a bit bigger than the original (very thin!) 1913 standard; this is an excellent player and a fine sounding Mandola, mellower than some with a sweet and well-rounded tone. Overall Very Good + Condition.