Mandolin
Maker
Gibson
Date1906 ca.
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelA
Serial No.5381
SignedPrinted on oval paper label with bold, single-line border, the serial number written in pencil: Gibson Mandolin=Guitar Mfg. Co. [sic] / No.5381 [Orville Gibson photo on lyre mandolin trademark with text “TRADE MARK”] Patented / February first, / 1898 / Kalamazoo, Michigan, U. S. A. Stamped on tailpiece: The / Gibson
Markingsnone
DescriptionFrom 1902 to 1922, Gibson offered its pear-shaped, Style A series mandolins with five levels of inlay and wood quality. In the early years of the company, the Style A represented the simplest version, with a single wood ring (rosette) inlaid into the top around the soundhole and an imitation-tortoise-shell celluloid and pearl pickguard. The A-1 had a double-ring rosette, ivory celluloid binding (inlaid trim) around the edges of the top, and the best quality machine tuners. In addition to the features of the A-1, the A-2 was inlaid with pearl ornaments on the head and the pickguard. For the A-3, Gibson used a higher grade of wood and added celluloid binding around the edges of the back and fretboard. The highest grade, A-4, featured an ebonized (opaque black) finish on the top, celluloid binding around the inside edge of the soundhole, and pearl in between the two wood rings of the rosette. In 1903, the cost of the Style A-4 was double that of the Style A.
This early example of the Style A features an original blonde top finish with contrasting red-brown back, ribs, and head.
Stringing: eight steel strings
Soundboard: arched, one-piece, quarter-cut spruce or pine: wide grain; birch blocks at joint with neck, originally finished with red-brown varnish, now removed
Back: two-piece, semi-slab-cut birch
Ribs: two-piece, slab-cut maple: plain
Head: mahogany with black-dyed maple back stripe; ebony veneer
Neck: mahogany with black-dyed maple back stripe; integral with head
Heel cap: none; back comes to point at neck heel
Binding: none
Fretboard: black-dyed maple; 19 nickel-silver frets; single mother-of-pearl dots behind 5th, 7th, 10th and 15th frets; double mother-of-pearl dots behind frets; later maple shim
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony; compensated; mounted on later rosewood blocks glued to top
Tailpiece: nickel-plated stamped sheet brass with decoratively cut upper edge; secured to lower rib with three nickel-plated steel, dome-headed screws; “The / Gibson” stamped in cursive lettering
Tuners: two pairs of nickel-plated steel worm-gear tuners with ivoroid 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
Pick guard: imitation-tortoise shell celluloid of abstract outline, surrounded by strip of abalone and another strip of imitation-tortoise shell celluloid
Varnish: dark red with slight craquelure on back, ribs and head, clear on top with slight craquelure
Linings: kerfed dark brown hardwood
Neck block: mahogany
End block: maple or birch
Top bracing: one dark brown hardwood brace with tapered ends below soundhole
Grafts: none
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 653 mm (25-11/16″)
Back length: 348 mm (13-11/16″)
Upper bout width: 55 mm (2-5/32″)
Waist width: 72 mm (2-27/32″)
Lower bout width: 270 mm (10-5/8″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 36 mm (1-13/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 34 mm (1-11/32″)
Rib height, at endpin: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Head length: 165 mm (6-1/2″)
Head width, top: 70 mm (2-3/4″)
Head width, bottom: 49 mm (1-15/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 149 mm (5-7/8″)
Neck width, nut: 29 mm (1-5/32″)
Neck width, heel: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Soundhole height: 45 mm (1-3/4″)
Soundhole width: 67 mm (2-5/8″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): E: 351 mm (13-13/16″); G: 354 mm (13-15/16″)
Credit LineFordyce and Frances Fox Collection, 2006
Object number11715
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