{"product_id":"gibson-cromwell-gm-4-arch-top-mandolin-1935-13372","title":"Gibson Cromwell GM-4 Arch Top Mandolin (1935)","description":"Cromwell GM-4 Model Arch Top Mandolin, made by Gibson (1935), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 45A-30, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, maple back and sides, spruce top, mahagony neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 1935 \"Cromwell\" GM-4 is a Depression-era arch top, F-hole mandolin built by Gibson for sale under that brand for distribution by various different wholesalers. The \"Cromwell' brand was introduced in 1935 and used up through the end of the decade on a variety of \"house brand\" instruments sold by large jobbers such as Continental, Jenkins, Grossman and others. The budget-oriented \"Cromwells\" were just cosmetic variations on Kalamazoo brand models. This Cromwell GM-4 mandolin generally sold in the $20.00 range in the later 1930s, making it one of the least expensive instruments Gibson ever offered. For all that it is quite attractive and functional, a very playable F-hole arched top mandolin more affordable than any Gibson-branded model.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis economy was achieved because the top and back are \"Arco-Arched\", Gibson's term for wood pressed into shape instead of carved. The solid spruce top is heavily X-braced and reinforced from the underside, while the mahogany back has one sturdy cross brace straight across the middle for support. The finish is dark mahogany with an attractive sunburst on the top, more Gibson-like in appearance than many Kalamazoos. The top and back edges are bound in ivory Celluloid, while the fingerboard has a distinctive center line inlay and large dots. The fittings are typical 1930s Gibson, with an elevated pickguard made of \"firestripe\" Celluloid, a rosewood adjustable bridge, a generic \"clamshell\" tailpiece and very early openback Kluson strip tuners. The FON (Factory Order Number) ink-stamped in this one indicates it was built early in 1935, probably one of the earliest Cromwell branded examples made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is an nice playing mandolin and sounds quite good, with a bright and peppy tone surprisingly close to the lower end Gibson F-hole models of the period. While it lacks a carved top or adjustable truss rod, it is still built to Gibson's quality standards out of the same materials as the full-line instruments. It may be one of the best bargains Gibson offered in a depression-era mandolin, and remains so today!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 25 3\/4 in. (65.4 cm.), 10 1\/8 in. (25.7 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 1\/8 in. (5.4 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.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis mandolin is in very nice original condition, complete and unaltered with some fairly light wear overall. The original lacquer finish shows some typical checking, scuffs, dings, and dents but no really heavy wear. There are no notable repairs; the top shows a just a bit of sinkage around the bass side F-hole; many of these have a lot more deflection in this zone. We checked it over and the instrument is completely solid and actually a very good little player.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll the original hardware is intact with some general wear including the strip tuners, original bridge, pickguard, and even the tailpiece cover, so often lost along the way. The original frets have hardly any wear and this is a very good-playing example of this fairly rare 1930s Gibson-made instrument, an interesting variation on the Kalamazoo standard. This good-sounding authentic pre-war solid-wood mandolin remains a bargain, just like it was 90 years ago. The original heavy chipboard case is included. Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51705169150092,"sku":"13372","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_d51c65c4-c14f-4961-a56c-ff542901da0e.jpg?v=1785366176","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-cromwell-gm-4-arch-top-mandolin-1935-13372","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}