Sale!

1970’s R.L. Givens A-5 – SOLD

$3,150.00

This is a great playing and sounding mandolin that is a bargain because the cosmetics aren’t perfect.

 

 

Out of stock

Description

VG+ condition  •  Early example
1-1/4″ width at nut  •  New Frets

This 1970’s R.L. Givens A-5 sounds very goods There is no serial number or label inside the mandolin. The neck shows signs of being removed, repaired, and then re-installed. Currently the mandolin just got a professional fret job, with fingerboard milled and all new frets.

Traditionally built with Flamed Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce top. The mandolin is fully bound, with single cream binding around peghead and fingerboard; Top and back of body show 3-ply cream binding. Peghead overlay has an elaborate floral inlay with initials, “RLG” in center. Bone nut. Gabon Ebony flat fingerboard with large pearl dot inlays.

Tuners are nickel Gotoh. Two-piece tailpiece that appears to be brass. Neck is 2-pc with thin Ebony stringer along the center. The profile is rounded “V”. Back is two-pc bookmatched.

This mandolin is a real contender! It is fully wide open and has a great “wooden bell” sound.  And… it comes with its original shaped hard case. This mandolin has plenty of finish checking, and the old neck repair is a little rough, but the symmetry is great and it plays and sounds just like the $4500 – $5000 examples.
So – we’ve priced it low so its harder to resist…