Topic: Gibson A mandolins

[thumbstyle]

Hey All,

I've been thinking about buying a vintage Gibson A-style (oval hole) mandolin, and I'm looking for a little advice. Specifically, when were the best-sounding ones made? I seem to recall hearing that the best ones are from the nineteen-teens (or was it the 1920's?). Is there a difference in sound between the various trim grades (A, A-2, A-3, etc.)? Anything else to keep in mind or look out for?

Slack, I remember playing and loving yours -- what is it again?

Thanks for any help,

Dave

[Slack]

Davebro - the expensive vintage mandolins are the years that Lloyd Loar worked for Gibson - it has been awhile since I reserched mandolins -- but the years were soemthing like 1923 (or 22) -1926 (or 25 cannot remember).  All Snakehead A's are from this period and are very popular and pricey. Loar era mandos also have an adjustable truss rods, earlier mandos do not.

I have a 1921 A4 (got lucky on eBay), so no trussrod and even though Loar may have been in the factory at that time, it is not considerd a Loar era.  Absolutely wonderful instrument (as you noted)

A1, A2, A3, A4 (the A0 is a little later) have increasing ornamentation and better woods as you go up the scale.  You might spend some time on madolincafe.com -- they also have a classified section and I think there is a vintage gutiar and mando page on the net that will describe the differences in models.  If all else fails, Collings makes an excellent A.

Cheers and keep us posted,
slack

edit:  Oops -- but Collings does not do oval holes.

[waxwing]

Another option might be a flatback Stella. When you come over to pick up your National you can try it out if you like. It has gotten some good reviews from some good players (I'm a beginner myself) and I would imagine they go a little cheaper than the A Gibsons.. Neil Harpe often has them for around $300, which is what mine was.
All for now.
John C.

[thumbstyle]

Thanks, guys.

Slack - Thanks for getting me up to speed on Gibson vintages. Based upon your'n, I'm not sure how much Loar-era matters, but it's good to know.

I was admiring Lauren's Collings at PT -- they are really nice. She has the simpler matte-finish model, which I think is particularly tasteful and appropriate for this kinda music. I will keep Collings in mind, but I have a real jones for an old oval-hole mando. 

Wax - Good tip on the Stella mando. I'll have to give it a pick when I come over (like you said elsewhere, would be good to set for a spell and play when I get down your way -- next weekend?).

Cheers,
Dave

[waxwing]

Next weekend is pretty busy, but let's email. Out of town from this aft 'til Tuesday eve.
All for now.
John C.

[GhostRider]

Hey Dave:

Tim Williams a CB player here in Calgary has a Stella flat back mando which sounds just great, even amplified. Saw him do a duet with Mary Flower with that mando and Mary playing her L-00 last Thurs..

They did MM's Frisco Bound.

Alex

[frankie]

I hate to be a stick in the mud (really, I do), but there's nothing particularly magical about Stella mandolins except the name.  Totally serviceable mandolins can be found by Washburn, Lyon and Healy, Supertone - hell, they're probably all made by the same two factories anyway.  If you can find a Strad-o-lin, they can be great deals.  Not much to look at for the most part, but great sounding & playing instruments.  I think Bernunzio had a couple, maybe in the $400 range, not too long ago.

Gibson A models are cool if you have the cash - a lot of old-time players I know really dig F-4 models - the oval hole ones.  Nothing wrong with those, either, if you have the money and one speaks to you.

edited to add:  Whoops - no oval-hole Strad-o-lins, at least none that I've seen.  Plenty of oval hole models made by Washburn, Lyon and Healy, Supertone, Weymann...  keep an eye out.

[waxwing]

Actually, I wasn't saying any different about the Stellas. Just that they sound great and are relatively (to the Gibsons, that is) cheap. I got mine over 2 years ago for $300 and Neil Harpe has an identical one in pristine condition for $500 at the moment. What do the vintage Gibsons run? What do the new Gibsons run?
All for now.
John C.

[thumbstyle]

The vintage Gibsons are in the $2000 range, plus or minus depending upon model and condition.  (I haven't played any new Gibsons that I particularly care for -- probably get a Weber instead) The Stellas, etc. are a lot cheaper, but they sure don't speak to me visually.  That might change if I played some, though.  Nothing like a great sound and a low price to make something look beautiful! 

Alex: I sure did hear a lot about/by Tim Williams this year at PT, mostly from Victoria Mark. He seems to be a major force in acoustic music in Canada, but not well known in the States. I've never heard his rekkids (I don't think), but the songs I've heard people play are all great. What's a good CD of his to start with?

Dave

[Mark]

Hi Dave -

Two of Tims CDs that I would higly recommend are 'Riverboat Rendezvous' and 'Fellow Travellers' (which also features Big Dave McLean, another force in the Canadian acoustic blues scene).  Both are excellent, and have great examples of Tims work on both guitar and mandolin.

If you can't find them in the US, try ordering on-line from A&B sound.  Uncle Bud posted a link to their website somewhere in this forum last year.

Mark

[GhostRider]

Hey Dave:

My favorite Tim Williams CD is "Evenings Among Friends", his live album from 2000. I have copied the track list below:

Drop Down Mama
Sportin' Life Blues
Mojo Hand
Pallet On The Floor
In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down
Kansas City Blues
Slide Guitar Rag
I Want To Thank You Baby
The Arms I Crave
Let Your Shoe Leather Do The Talking
Summerland
My Babe
Black Cat Bone
Leavin' Here Laughin'
Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee)
When The Levee Breaks
No Expectations

Absolutely first rate.

Here's the link to his website.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/belzners/main.htm

Alex

[Slack]

Hey Dave,

Here is a shop in Philly that has a good selelction of Gibson A's.

http://www.vintage-instruments.com/navigate/catidx7.htm

I particularly like this one: GIBSON, Mandolin, A-4, 1912, black-face, inlaid tuners, completely original, missing pickguard, very good condition, original hard case, (Our #23696)

Cheers,

[uncle bud]

Yeow, that's a purty one.

[waxwing]

Looks more like scrimshaw on the tuners. Pretty cool. Not all thet pricey either. Fred Ostler (Vintage Instruments) is a nice guy and has been around the biz for quite some time. Knows everybody, including Ari, BTW.
All for now.
John C.

[thumbstyle]

Wow, nice selection! That black one is just about the ticket. But there are many to salivate over.  Thanks for the link, Slack.

Good to know that it's a reputable dealer, too -- thanks JohnC.

Dave