Mandolin

Date1917

Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America

ModelGibson Style A-4

Serial No.35158; 3456 (factory order number)

SignedPrinted on paper label with triple-line oval border, the instrument, style and number written in pencil: Patented Feb. 1, ’98 / Patented March 30, ’06 / Other Patents Pending / Gibson Mandolin / Style a-1 / Number 35158 is hereby / GUARANTEED / against faulty workmanship or material. Should / this instrument, with proper care and usage, go wrong, / we agree to repair it free of charge at our factory, or / to replace it with another of same style or value. / GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR CO. / (Manufacturers) / Kalamazoo, Mich., U.S.A.

Stamped on tailpiece and inlaid in mother-of-pearl on head: The / Gibson
MarkingsRubber stamped in black ink on neck block: 3456
DescriptionSoundboard: arched, one-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain grain; patched flaw in center treble bout; birch blocks at joint with neck, originally finished with red-brown varnish, now removed
Back: one-piece, semi-slab-cut maple
Ribs: two-piece, semi-slab-cut birch
Head: mahogany with wings on each side and with black-dyed maple back stripe; black-dyed maple or pear veneer mostly removed; maple reinforcement under fingerboard
Neck: mahogany with black-dyed maple back stripe; integral with head
Heel cap: none; back comes to point at neck heel
Binding: ivoroid on top
Fingerboard: rosewood with ivory celluloid binding; 19 nickel-silver frets; single mother-of-pearl dots and imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 15th frets; double mother-of-pearl dots and double imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 12th fret; maple shim under fingerboard at heel
Nut: bone
Bridge: rosewood; compensated; brass adjustment screws
Tailpiece: nickel-plated stamped sheet brass with decoratively cut upper edge; secured to lower rib with three nickel-plated steel, later Philips’ head screws; “The / Gibson” stamped in cursive lettering
Tuners: two later pairs of worm-gear tuners with steel plates, brass rollers, and black plastic heads
Endpin: ebony with abalone eye
Rosette: oval soundhole with rosette set in 1/4” from edge; rosette comprised of strip of angled, alternating light and dark hardwood, in turn surrounded on each side by smaller light and dark hardwood strips; edge bound in ivoroid
Pick guard: missing
Varnish: clear; later; sides and black originally dark
Linings: kerfed birch
Neck block: mahogany; concave with convex rounded edges
End block: maple or birch
Top bracing: one spruce brace with concavely-tapered ends below soundhole
Grafts: none
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 645 mm (25-13/32″)
Back length: 347 mm (13-21/32″)
Upper bout width: 58 mm (2-9/32″)
Waist width: 68 mm (2-11/16″)
Lower bout width: 254 mm (10″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Rib height, at endpin: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Head length: 162 mm (6-3/8″)
Head width, top: 73 mm (2-7/8″)
Head width, bottom: 55 mm (2-3/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 147 mm (5-13/16″)
Neck width, nut: 30 mm (1-3/16″)
Neck width, heel: 37 mm (1-15/32″)
Soundhole height: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Soundhole width: 64 mm (2-17/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): E: 352 mm (13-7/8″); G: 354 mm (13-15/16″)

Credit LineGift of Doug Douglas, 1986

Object number04085

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