Summary
1923 (Loar Period) manufacture date (traditional estimates)
1923 shipment date, according to Spann's Guide to Gibson
Mandolin, Style A
Serial 73612
Factory Order number: 11883
Description
Another Loar era instrument with that great sound. This is an early production snakehead with the brown top finish. Excellent overall condition showing some pickwear on the top. All finish and hardware is original including the tuners, but the pickguard is missing. Has the truss rod. Althought the book does not list it as a feature, many of these brown top snakeheads originally came with tortoise back binding as well as the usual white ivoriod top binding. The back binding was crumbing when I got the mandolin, so it was replaced by luthier Ward Elliott, who did a magnificent job of matching the fit of the existing binding. Great playability and sound - the classic round hole Gibson punch and volume. Would be a very fine session instrument. Excellent for Irish, Celtic, and old time music. Comes with the original hardshell case with "Ernie"
Categories
Categories this instrument is a member of
- Tortoise back binding
- Sheraton Brown finish
- Snakehead peghead shape
- Truss rod