Up for sale, a 1919 Gibson Style A-4 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original canvas case. This Style A-4 mandolin was produced during what most consider to be the very first year of the Lloyd Loar era of Gibson production (although it’s unlikely Loar himself was actually working on any instruments this early for Gibson, even though he had already signed a contract with the company), crafted at the Parsons Street factory in Kalamazoo, MI. The A-4 was the top-tier iteration of the Style A at the time of production, boasting premium cosmetic appointments including ivoroid binding/soundhole rosette and a fleur-de-lis headstock inlay.

Tonewoods include a hand-carved graduated spruce top, “air-seasoned” maple rims and back, Honduran mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. Tonally, this Gibson is chiming and immediate, with a woody chop and great natural breadth when notes ring out. There’s an overall smoothness to the sound that is emblematic of few other mandolins beyond the finest Pre-War oval soundhole Gibsons, with plenty of projection on tap, easily holding its own in ensemble situations. This Style A-4 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-40 strings and ideal action.

Neck Specs:

Wood: Honduran mahogany
Shape: V, measuring .940” 1st fret, 1.060” 5th fret
Fretboard: Ebony, grained ivoroid binding, pearl dot inlay
Frets: “Ovaled narrow” (slender), light wear on frets 1-5
Scale Length: 14”
Nut: 1 3/16”, bone
Tuners: Open-gear strips (nickel-plated), onyx-ivoroid buttons

Body Specs:

Wood: Carved spruce, “air-seasoned” maple
Hardware: Compensated ebony bridge, White copper (nickel-plated) “The Gibson” clamp tailpiece
Plastics: “Pat. Mar. 30. ‘09” tortoise pickguard
Marquetry: Oblong grained ivoroid soundhole rosette with two-tone purfling, grained ivoroid binding
Serialization: FON on heel block and stamp on “Guaranteed” white oval label both date to 1919

There are three small professionally-addressed splits central to the treble-side rim. Well-kept over the last century, cosmetic wear on the Dark Mahogany Sunburst varnish finish is largely limited to pick scuffing across the soundhole, with just a handful of tiny nicks and scratches on the back and perimeter. The varnish on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

An era-correct canvas case is included.