Summary
Signed by Lloyd Loar March 31, 1924 manufacture date (traditional estimates)
1924 shipment date, according to Spann's Guide to Gibson
Mandola, Style H5
Serial 7649x
Factory order number unknown
there is no Virzi in this instrument
Description
DB:
Very Dark finish. Unusual wingus attached to the tops of the back of the tuner plates (strap attachment?). Body binding white, peghead ivoroid.
Serial is 76495 or 76499(see photo).. the last digit would need to be either 5 or 9 to fit in with other known information.
Elderly:
EC, used continuousy by the previous owner from the 1930's through the 1990's, this is signed and dated by Lloyd Loar on Mar 31, 1924, triple top-bound body and headstock, pearl and abalone fern and "The Gibson" inlays in headstock, pearl button tuners, "The Gibson" tailpiece cover (Loar-style), adjustable ebony bridge (stamped "PAT'D JAN. 18 21"), sunburst finish flamed maple neck and body, carved spruce top and flamed maple back, extremely rare (there are only 18 other Loar H-5 mandolas accounted for), really nice condition (one very small repaired crack on back ~3/4" in length), sounds great (not surprisingly: like a Loar mandolin, but in mandola range), small filled area at bottom end of back (where there was apparently slight back shrinkage many years ago)
