Description
Exc condition • SN: #404060
Oval Soundhole • 1-1/8″ Nut
This 1966 Gibson A-5 is a lovely mandolin that is known for it’s quirky solid “Mickey Mouse ear”. This is solid round wood ornamentation where normally there might be some sort of a “scroll” or a “point”. Why, this model beats all tradition for a mandolin named “A-5”, as normally an “A” mandolin will be a pure teardrop shape, with no points or scroll. You could call this a unique model for Gibson, with its two points, and the Faux scroll and an oval sound hole, instead of F-holes. Also, the peghead is an F-style shape with cresting wave on bass side and full scroll on treble side.
The neck has pearl Gibson script logo inlaid at top with a stylized pearl fleur d’ Lis inlaid in the center. Between that and the original nut, is the truss-rod access and cover. The tuners are 4-on-a-plate open-back tuners in great original shape.
The fingerboard is flat and has a traditional double-cut extension. It is inlaid with small and large pearl dot inlays. The fingerboard is bound with grained ivoroid. The neck profile is a modified V.
The body is also bound with ivoroid around the top and back edges. The top shows off a typical tobacco sunburst that is in great shape except for a blemish near the tailpiece – this looks like ome stain that penetrated the lacquer, perhaps from a badly tanned leather strap. Original pickguard, bridge and tailpiece. The oval soundhole is bound on the inside edge and has an elaborate 11-ply rosette.
The figured Maple 2-pc back is in great shape.
This is a very good mandolin. Of all the A-5’s I’ve seen in last 40 years, this one is in the most original condition AND has the best tone…
…and, it comes with it’s original hard case.
