Gibson Model A (1899?)

Orville Gibson Model A (1899?)

59-5488 Orville Gibson A-Model Mandolin, black finish face, late l9th century, not serial numbered, exc-, original hard shell case. This mandolin has the "O.H. Gibson" label (it was made pre-company). It features highly colored abalone soundhole rosette, bound fingerboard, crown tailpiece cover, short one-piece ebony bridge. The headstock of this mandolin is set back at a deep angle - this was one of Mr. Gibson's experiments. Interestingly, the hard shell case, which looks like it was fabricated by pirates (!) out of wood and metal, has a corresponding angled headstock area -- one of the strangest things we have ever seen. The tuners are unusual, having a beautifully floral engraved metal front plate to cover their mechanisms, and is the first Gibson we've seen whose tuners are side-mounted, not straight through the peghead (banjo style) as other early examples are.

When Orville Gibson, the founder of the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company, was working in Kalamazoo, Michigan between l894 and l902 (at which time the company was sold to investors) folks would come to him and order instruments, which he made himself. We can just imagine this colorful person, standing behind the counter in overalls, speaking to his customers about color, kind of woods, neck shape, decoration, and type of carrying case desired, just as we do with our customers. I can imagine somebody going to see Orville Gibson working in his workshop much like the way John Monteleone works today, with no apprentices, perhaps standing in back of a counter, with shop apron on, asking the purchaser what special appointments or neck shape, if any, he or she would like on the mandolin, taking a deposit, stating a proposed completion date, and making up a time payment form. We do not know the exact year this mandolin was ordered, but we guess that it was made l898 to 1900.

The label reads "The Gibson Mandolins and Guitars are acknowledged by leading Artists as World Beaters. Every instrument warranted. Correct scale, easy to play, beautiful model, powerful tone. Originated and patented February lst, l898 by O.H. Gibson, Kalamazoo, Mich." Orville's formidable visage atop his unique lyre mandolin is centered on the paper label.

This largely original condition mandolin is the prototypical "pan-back" -- meaning it has a deeply carved back, out of what appears to be solid mahogany. The convex top is carved of solid spruce. This was the seminal mandolin, which later evolved, became shallower and lighter, eventually becoming the models A- through A-4 in the first decade. This was (and remains) a major advance over the bowl-back mandolins of the time, and introduced violin carving principles to the plucked stringed instrument, which was Orville Gibson's most significant contribution to the American fretted instrument. Every detail is exquisite, and, certainly, it is epiphanic to hold this and contemplate its place in the plectral pantheon. The instrument is quite clean except for one area of normal playing wear (through the finish) at four o'clock on the fancy abalone inlaid oval soundhole rosette an area the size of the first joint of one's thumb. One tiny rectangular piece of abalone inlay is missing from the side of the peghead above the metal tuner plate on the bass side of the headstock (easily replaceable). There is a crack in what appears to be a pear wood fingerboard (a minor repair is needed, one which is not at all serious), it shows minute, delicate, uniform finish checking overall, shows a few light dings, and some of the actual ivory tuning buttons have hairline cracks. The top and fingerboard are bound in ivoroid and each pearl fingerboard dot marker has a corresponding inlaid dark celluloid side dot. The top of the peghead is unusually carved with an indent at center reminiscent of John D'Angelico's finial (which would not be seen for another 50 years) and displays a tiny scroll on either side. The long Orville period "crown" tailpiece cover looks nearly new, shiny and gleaming, with "The Gibson" engraved and no floral pattern, while the bridge is a simple, intonated one-piece ebony construction.

With its bizarre but thoroughly functional hard shell case, which could use the re-attaching of some of its hinges and latches, this mandolin is available to a sophisticated buyer who wishes to own an important piece of American musical history. IT WAS $29,500. NOW ON SALE for $25,775

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