Gibson Style A-1 Carved Top Mandolin (1910), ser. #9441, original black hard shell case.

Gibson Style A-1 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1910), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 9441, natural top, cherry stained back and sides finish, Spruce top, birch back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. This is a very early example of a "modern" Style A-1 dating to 1910, when Gibson was just becoming THE major force in the mandolin market. Styles A and A-1 were Gibson's lowest priced carved-top mandolins for much of the company's early history, distinguished from each other only by minor decorative touches. By 1910 the instruments had a somewhat higher bridge and sharper neck angle than earlier versions, a major step in developing the classic Gibson sound offering more power and definition compared to just a year or two earlier. This one also originally featured the then brand-new elevated pickguard instead of one inlaid into the top.The distinguishing feature of the is the pearl "The Gibson" script logo on the headstock, which the otherwise similar Style A lacked. The carved natural finish "pumpkin" top over the birch body has some interesting wide and wavy grain not common on Gibsons of this era. The soundhole is bordered with a double half-herringbone ring, it and the top are single bound. The laminated mahogany heck has an ebony center insert and thick dot-inlaid ebony fingerboard. A four-digit serial number is stamped on the early "Orville" label, which pictures the inventor peering out through the soundhole holding his signature lyre-mandolin. This eccentric piece of company art disappeared soon after this instrument was made, replaced by a plainer white "Guarantee" label. The instrument also retains the older "Pineapple" tailpiece cover that was also soon to be replaced with the more familiar 1910's version. This mandolin is in fine playing condition especially for being such an early model and is a lovely sounding playable piece of Gibson historyOverall length is 25 1/2 in. (64.8 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.). This mandolin shows signs of 110+ years of use overall but remains a fine player, with a surprisingly loud and punchy sound for an early model. The very thin varnish finish shows micro-checking and general wear overall, and is mostly worn from play through to the wood on the back of the neck and lower turn of the body by the heel. This varnish is actually fairly shiny in appearance, but does not appear to have been overfinished at any point. It shows numerous dings, dents and scrapes but less pickwear to the top than many. The center seam of the neck has been re-sealed with a visible line of repair through the headstock veneer. The back center seam of the body has also been re-sealed, with a couple of attendant smaller sealed cracks near the tailblock. The top has no cracks; one deep scratch at the curve of the lower bout looks like one but is not through the wood. The hardware appears original and is complete except the pickguard and clamp look to have gone missing generations ago. There is plating wear as would be expected for 110+ years of use! The mandolin has been neatly refretted and plays very well, sounding louder and crisper than many early models we have encountered. It is housed in the earliest version of the familiar Gibson shaped HSC, still fully functional after well over a century. Excellent - Condition.