Gibson Style A-0 Carved Top Mandolin (1930)
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Item # 9835
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Gibson Style A-0 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1930), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 86766, brown stain finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Overall length is 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) width, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
The A-0 is a very simple mandolin, similar the A-Junior which was a standard in the 1020's. It has no ornament except a silver "The Gibson" headstock logo, but is still built to the same standards as the company's higher end instruments. The finish is a plain brown stain overall, and the fittings are basic including a carved one-piece bridge (likely leftover stock from the early '20s!) and simple "clamshell" tailpiece. In 1930 the depression was just starting, so inexpensive instruments would be even more important to Gibson's bottom line. Mandolins were fading from fashion in 1930, so these are much rarer than examples from the 1910's.
This mandolin has seen a decent amount of use over the last 90 years but remains a fine player with a lively sound. It has general finish wear overall, with the varnish on the back of the neck showing some loss and a belt buckle spot worn through on the back. Overall there are numerous small dings and scrapes but the top remains relatively clean with no large areas of pickwear. All hardware is original and complete, including the celluloid pickguard which shows no signs of deterioration. The original frets show some noticeable wear but still play well, and the mandolin sounds great with a full range ringing tone. Includes a modern HSC -- it would originally have been housed in a chipboard case likely long gone. Overall Very Good + Condition.
Overall length is 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) width, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
The A-0 is a very simple mandolin, similar the A-Junior which was a standard in the 1020's. It has no ornament except a silver "The Gibson" headstock logo, but is still built to the same standards as the company's higher end instruments. The finish is a plain brown stain overall, and the fittings are basic including a carved one-piece bridge (likely leftover stock from the early '20s!) and simple "clamshell" tailpiece. In 1930 the depression was just starting, so inexpensive instruments would be even more important to Gibson's bottom line. Mandolins were fading from fashion in 1930, so these are much rarer than examples from the 1910's.
This mandolin has seen a decent amount of use over the last 90 years but remains a fine player with a lively sound. It has general finish wear overall, with the varnish on the back of the neck showing some loss and a belt buckle spot worn through on the back. Overall there are numerous small dings and scrapes but the top remains relatively clean with no large areas of pickwear. All hardware is original and complete, including the celluloid pickguard which shows no signs of deterioration. The original frets show some noticeable wear but still play well, and the mandolin sounds great with a full range ringing tone. Includes a modern HSC -- it would originally have been housed in a chipboard case likely long gone. Overall Very Good + Condition.