{"product_id":"gibson-a-2-carved-top-mandolin-1921-12912","title":"Gibson A-2 Carved Top Mandolin (1921)","description":"Gibson A-2 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1921), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 64513, brown varnish finish, birch body, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a nice playing and sounding example of a just \"pre-Loar\" Gibson mandolin. This A-2 is a late example with a batch of older features soon to be superseded; the late 1910s style \"Sheraton Brown\" top finish top and wider \"paddle\" headstock, the old pre-truss rod neck and the carved one-piece ebony bridge. The pickguard mounting is a transitional piece combining the newer metal bracket shaft with the old-style clamp. This version of the A-2 was replaced the next year by the whimsically named \"A-2z\" model, which had the new \"snakehead\" design and was slightly fancier all around.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe A-2 was a midline mandolin in Gibson's line listing for $55 in 1921. It did not offer a lot of actual playing advantage over the less expensive Style A and A-Junior models, which sold mostly to students, just a bit more trim. The top and back are single bound, the soundhole is ornamented with two thin 3-ply inlaid wood rings and a bound edge. You also got a \"The Gibson\" pearl logo on the headstock face. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a very nice sounding and playing mandolin offering a bright but woody tone and plenty of volume. While these \"brown-top\" mandolins from the early 1920s may not be the flashiest looking of Gibson's 8-string offerings, they are often better sounding than their earlier predecessors, setting the stage for the \"snakeheads' to come.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 25 5\/8 in. (65.1 cm.), 10 1\/4 in. (26 cm.) wide, and 1 3\/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1\/4 in. (32 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eConsidering it is now 105 years old this is a nicely preserved mandolin showing some wear and maintenance repairs but no major alterations. The original finish shows mostly minor scuffs, scratches and dings, most notably to the top above the soundhole. There is less pick to the top than many, just some rather random scratches and dings. The sides have some light polish-out to the finish; this is likely related to some of the top and back seams being resealed as its very common with these. There is some fairly minor rub wear to the back of the neck down to the wood on both sides in the first position.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe mandolin is all original except for a set of nicely correct modern repro tuners; the bridge, tailpiece and cover, pickguard and bracket all remaining as they left Kalamazoo shortly after Warren G. Harding entered the White House. The original thin-wire frets have been lightly polished out and this is an very nice playing and sounding instrument, complete in the original HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51618984132748,"sku":"12912","price":2950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_35ad9854-6b51-4313-b4a3-9beb6eb687bd.jpg?v=1785013686","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-a-2-carved-top-mandolin-1921-12912","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}