Gibson A-4 Mandolin Sunburst, 1918 [USED]

This Gibson Gibson A-4 Mandolin sports a Sunburst finish and is still sounding and playing great after over a century of use. The top is carved Spruce, the back carved, bookmatched Maple. The sides are Maple, the body blocks and neck are Mahogany, with Brazilian Rosewood for the bound fingerboard. Ebony is used for the bridge. The position markers and headstock The Gibson logo and fleur-de-lys decorations are Mother of Pearl.

Over the years, this 1918 Gibson A-4 Mandolin has had necessary repairs. A split back seam was re-glued and cleated. The top finish is worn from many years of play and the back finish is quite worn. The tuners and pickguard have been replaced. The fingerboard shows natural wear in the low position; the frets have been dressed and it plays well. As it's been played for decades, its voice is fully developed, full, rich and sparkling with plenty of projection.

The original arched top hard shell case is included.

Orville Gibson patented the arched top and back design, applied to both guitars and mandolins, in 1898. The patent was then sold to a group of businessmen in 1902 and the The Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co., Ltd was born.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a Gibson A-4 mandolin very much like this one, dating to 1917. The following year, the tuner buttons lost their decoration and the sunburst top finish became standard as with the 1918 model in this posting.

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here

DETAILS: 

• Instrument Model: A-4 Mandolin
• Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
• Instrument year:  1918
• Instrument Finish: Sunburst
• Instrument Class: Vintage
• Instrument serial number: Not legible, dated to 1918 at Kalamazoo MI
• Country of Origin: USA
• Instrument Condition: Good
• Left / Right-handed: Right Handed
• CITIES Documentation Required: No
• Case included: Yes
• Case original: Yes
• Case Type: Hard Shell Case
• Instrument Weight Imperial:   2.156
• Instrument Weight Metric:  .98kgs
• Scale Length Imperial:  13.9 ins
• Scale Length Metric:   353mm
• Nut Width Imperial: 1.235 ins
• Nut Width Metric:  31.37mm
  
• Items in Case: N/A
• Consigment Item: Yes
  
• Product ID: 190048
  

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here