Gibson A-1 (1915)

Gibson A-1 (1915)

83-2711 Gibson December 1915 Style A-1 mandolin, 25105, pumpkin top, exc+ condition, 100% original and remarkably clean, OH. Every once in a while a mandolin comes to our door which makes us reconsider every cynical thing we ever said about how people don't take care of the things that are precious to them. This mandolin is everything an A-1 can be - it has it all: good looks, good health, lots of energy and a sense of humor. Not much hair. The original interior Gibson label is gleaming white and the hand-inscribed style, model and serial number are not the least bit faded by exposure to sunlight or oxygen. Below this label there is, glued in, a rectangular paper label, put there by the original retail seller, which reads (typed, no less, on one of the oldest typewriters you ever saw), "ARTEMUS HIGGS, AGENT, 1916 Barr st (sic)., Ft. Wayne, Ind. Cash or Payments. Phone 6468 Blue." We can see them winding the crank on the side of the phone and asking the operator, who sits on her high wooden stool with a fresh glass of lemonade setting in front of the hard-wired console, for "6468 Blue." By the way, if you ever need an alias (to check into a motel or whatever) you cannot go wrong with the name "Artimus (Call me Artie) Higgs."

The elevated tortoise colored celluloid finger rest is perfect, and bears the '09 patent stamp with the '11 patent stamp on the clamp. The engraved "The Gibson" nickel tailpiece cover is shined and smooth, the vertical ebony bridge with the four adjustable intonating saddles has the little round hole in its base to accept the pointed metal dowel which acts as a finger rest support. The bound fingerboard is blackest ebony with large pearl dots, "The Gibson" is inlaid at an angle into the ebony peghead overlay, the tuners are original grained ivoroid button, four-in-a-line. Even the soundhole is bound in ivoroid. The rosette is two rings of white-black wood marquetry. Yes, there is light finish checking and it shows the most minor signs of use, but trying to find a cleaner, or better sounding, example would be difficult indeed. **$ 1748

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