Gibson A-4 (1920)

Description

At the time, the A-4 was one of the best mandolins Gibson made, and even over 100 years later, it still stands toe-to-toe with some of the finest eight-strings currently in production. This 1920 A-4 has a rich, responsive, and full-bodied sound, thanks not only to premium cuts of spruce, maple, and mahogany, but also to decades of playing in. The round soundhole gives the A-4 the classic Gibson sound - a long sustain and some very present lows and mids, making it a great tool for Celtic music and Americana. Visually, it sports a dark cherry sunburst top, a deep red stain on the back and sides, and vintage appointments like ivoroid inlays, half-rope binding, and script inlays on the headstock that help it stand apart from the pack. It even features the original celluloid pickguard.

This instrument arrived in our store in very good condition, especially considering its age. Like any instrument of this vintage, there is a decent amount of wear on all planes, especially picking wear on the top, and some finish wear on the back of the neck around first position. Finish checking is lighter than typical, and there are no cracks anywhere on the mandolin. The bridge was replaced at some point with an adjustable one that fits the pickguard extension, but all other parts appear to be original. Included in the price is the original hard-shell case.