Gibson A-00 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1939), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The A-00 was Gibson's least expensive carved top mandolin in the later Depression years leading up to WWII. A stylistic match to the well-loved L-00 guitar, the A-00 was introduced in 1933 and remained in the company's line until all mandolin production stopped during the war. The design is no frills but still typically Gibson, with a sunburst top and brown finished back, sides, and neck. The logo is the familiar white silkscreen "Gibson" script also seen on its brother guitar.
With an f-hole top, standard rosewood adjustable bridge, and clamshell tailpiece, the A-00 is a fully professional quality mandolin which we feel is often somewhat underrated as a player. The sound is somewhere between an earlier oval-hole Gibson and a standard f-style mandolin, with a good chop and volume but without the extreme brightness some Florentines are prone to. This is a very nice-playing A-00 from the model's heyday around 1939; generally well-preserved with a particularly powerful sound for this model.
Overall length is 25 1/4 in. (64.1 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) width, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 7/8 in. (352 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
Nice original condition; complete but original pickguard has some celluloid decomposition so is included but not mounted. One long top crack on either side of the treble f-hole well repaired. Some light play wear but overall a very nice prewar mandolin, including a beautiful original case. Overall Excellent Condition.
