Gibson A-3 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1914), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 28176, natural top, cherry stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a nice player's example of one of the Gibson Company's more obscure mandolins, the early Style A-3. This high-midline model was never a big seller and went through a couple of variations in the 1910s; it is mostly identified with the striking "Antique Ivory" finish used only on this model between 1918 and 1922. This is an earlier A-3 dating to late 1914 with a more standard "puimpkin" top finish, distinguished from the models under it by a double-half herringbone soundhole ring and a dainty pearl geegaw on the headstock under the pearl script "The Gibson" logo.
The top and back are single bound with a wide ivoroid. The elevated pickguard is tortoise Celluloid with the 1910s bracket anchor. The ebony fingerboard is single bound, with pearl dot inlay. The bridge is later (but vintage looking) two-piece adjustable unit, all else is original including the tuners and tailpiece with the engraved cover. This is not the cleanest of these we have had but a good playing and sounding example of this relatively rare early Gibson mandolin.
Overall length is 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm.), 10 1/4 in. (26 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 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This nearly 110 year old mandolin shows the effects of decent amount of use but remains a fine sounding instrument. There is general finish wear overall, with some later work but no heavy overspray. The thin varnish top finish remains original with small dings, scrapes and dents but showing less pickwear than many. Most of the varnish gone from the back of the neck up well into the heel area, evidence of a lot of play time. For some reason the headstock shows an unusually large amount of dings, scrapes and scratching on the face, but the varnish remains original. The back and sides look to have been French polished some time back losing much of their original tinting and patina in the process but without any thick finishing added over the original.
The fingerboard has likely been refretted long ago; the frets are very small (period Gibson style wire) but in good playable shape. The bone nut has been replaced. Despite the wear the instrument is very solid with no visible crack repairs. The hardware remains original except the adjustable bridge, which even so appears fairly old. Whoever owned this mandolin got a quite a bit of use out of it, perhaps one reason it sounds as good as it does today with a very low action but maintaining a powerful ringing tone. It still resides in a surprisingly decently preserved OHSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
