Description
1917 Gibson A4 Mandolin:
Exc Condition / SN: 59043
1-3/16″ Width at nut
Original hard case and original key
This 1917 Gibson A4 has Birch back and sides with an Adirondack Spruce top. Paddle peghead with “The Gibson” pearl inlay at the top, and a fleur d’ lis pearl inlay in the center. Original 4-on-a-plate open-back tuners with Handel engraved and inlaid tuner buttons. Looks to be the original nut. Probably original frets with some wear in the fingerboard and on the frets up to the 5th fret. The neck is bound with ivoroid binding and the fingerboard double-cut extension goes out over the soundhole. The fingerboard has large red dot position markers on the bass side of the fingerboard binding.
This is a typical Cherry sunburst, where the back and sides are stained red and the top is a graduated red into a burgundy brown red with an Amber orange red in the center of the top. Elaborate soundhole rosette. The oval hole is bound on the inside with ivoroid. It has a space between the soundhole binding and the rosette. Major soundhole rosette ring is an outer and inner strip of wooden marquetry that looks a bit like houndstooth dark and light wood with a broad section of ivoroid in the center. Original bridge is intact and in good shape. Original tailpiece is intact and in good shape. Looks to be original Ebony endpin. The Birch back is in fabulous shape. The original case is in great shape.
This 1917 Gibson A4 mandolin is in great shape but it has a few things to mention. It is missing the pickguard. Light nicks and scratches around the instrument. Hand wear through the finish on the neck. Peghead is in good shape, and frets have a little wear but are overall in good playing shape. Comes with the original hard case with the original key.
