Gibson H-4 Carved Top Mandola (1929), ser. #85299, original black hard shell case.

Gibson H-4 Model Carved Top Mandola (1929), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 85299, red sunburst varnish finish, maple back and rim, spruce top; laminated mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. This is an absolutely beautiful looking and great sounding 1929 Gibson H-4 Mandola, made some time after "Master Loar" had left the building at Gibson but still incorporating all the improvements of the Loar era. the Master Model Style 5 line was his greatest contribution with their violin-style F-hole tops but all Gibson mandolin family instruments were refined and improved at the same time. The mandolins of the "Loar Era" show the influence of a master player on design and execution, although other Gibson employees (especially Thaddeus McHugh and Lewis A. Williams) actually engineered many of the technical improvements. As the middle instrument in the mando-quartet early 20th Century Gibson mandolas are far from common, even in the 1910's and '20's they were hardly seen outside the confines of mandolin orchestras. The H-4 was the second most expensive Mandola Gibson offered in the later 1920s priced at $175; this was well under the impossibly rare H-5 Master Model but still a substantial sum for a fairly limited-use instrument at the time. As such the H-4 was produced only in small numbers and is one of the rarest of the mandolin orchestra pieces the company sold at the time. This late 1920s example is practically identical to the Loar era instruments, distinguished primarily by the lacquer (as opposed to Varnish) finish. Many of the raw components it was assembled from may well have sat in stock for some time before this instrument was finished out, as Mandola sales had plummeted. This H-4 maintains the unmatched sound quality and perfected 1022-24 features including the adjustable truss rod, raised adjustable bridge and slimmer neck profile. This H-4 features a two-piece bookmatched back and sides of beautifully flamed maple; despite Gibson's catalog descriptions, only the Style 4 instruments were actually built with the specified maple body. Top, back, sides and neck feature a beautiful dark, rich red sunburst finish and are bound in grained ivoroid. The headstock carries flowerpot inlay, a Gibson pearl logo and Waverly strip tuners with grained ivoroid buttons. The pickguard is the usual elevated tortoise celluloid piece, with the 1920's metal bracket. A small stamp on the back of the headstock reading "Made in the USA" indicates this instrument was originally shipped outside the country for its original sale. With its larger scroll body and rich red sunburst finish this H-4 is a visually striking instrument, replete with Gibson's signature flowerpot inlay on the art nouveau-styled headstock. This mandola is creeping up on its 100th birthday and remains a exquisitely styled and excellent sounding instrument with a smooth and powerful tone suitable for a variety of musical styles, some of which are still waiting to be discovered!Overall length is 28 3/4 in. (73 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 1/2 in. (394 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This mandola shows some general play wear overall but has not been too heavily used and apparently well cared for over 90+ years. The finish shows typical checking most notably on the back, which has some wavy lines with micro-flaking between them often seen on early Gibson lacquer finishes of this exact period. There is an armwear spot on the top edge and the finish on the back of the neck and adjacent body is worn down to the wood in places, both evidence of some dedicated play time probably long ago. Two minor top cracks have been glued up coming off the front edge of the body; there was no touch up added to the finish. There is a very small stress split to the laminate on the back of the headstock, behind the truss rod. This is fully sealed and solid but again not finished over so visible. The original bridge saddle is in the case with a lateral crack off one wing; a new ebony replica has been fitted. The frets have been leveled and crowned and playability is excellent. This is simply a beautiful mandola with a wonderful sound, deep and rich but still with plenty of bark and presence. It still resides in the original red-lined HSC, a lovely reminder of Gibson's original mission to bring the mandolin orchestra to everywhere in America, and in this case even the world beyond! Overall Excellent - Condition.