Mike - According to the mandolin archive (http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/list_mandolins.pl?a_model:14) your Gibson A is from around 1917. You can look at some examples in the archive and try to match yours. There were various A models produced in that time period
If you post a photo of it on the mandolincafe.com forum, people would certainly help you identify it. There are several Gibson historical experts who are active in that forum
I have a Gibson jazz guitar from 1956 that has the serial number A23535.
if you have a 5 digit serial number with no prefix, it's pretty old, but there's some other stuff to look at to be able to date it by serial number
here's what Gibson says:
"Identifying Gibson instruments by serial number is tricky at best and downright impossible in some cases.
The best methods of identifying them is by using a combination of the serial number, the factory order
number and any features that are particular to a specific time that changes may have occurred in instrument
design (i.e. logo design change, headstock volutes, etc). There have been 6 different serial number styles
used to date on Gibson instruments.
The first serialization started in 1902 and ran until 1947. The serial numbers started with number 100 and
go to 99999. All numbers are approximates. In most cases, only the upper end instruments were assigned
identification numbers."
That isn't to say that your mandolin isn't from 1917. That is where that serial number falls, but if there is a letter in front of the serial number, that changes the dating by about 40 years.
My A style f hole Gibson has no label inside, but peering through the bottom f hole shows a ink stamp of 8472 ? Could anyone throw any light on this as to approximately what age it is?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
My son just came across a Gibson F5 serial# 9178227. It also has ID on sticker inside 227 1998. He tried ti email me a picture of it but it didn't turn out well. Does any one know it's worth?
Re: Does anyone know what this Gibson A-1 Mandolin is worth?
Description of Gibson A-1 Mandolin
Pumpkin colored body with dark red sides and back.
Black Headstock has "The Gibson" in two words, on a slant, inlayed in pearl.
Ivoroid 4-in-line tuners with ivoroid tuning buttons.
Black Headstock has black inlay line that continues across the top of the head, down the back of the headstock and continues down to the bottom of the neck.
Ivoroid bound ebony fret board with 20 frets and 6 pearl dot inlays.
Ivoroid-bound oval sound hole with dual rope pattern purfling rings around sound hole.
Raised Tortoise pick guard says "PAT. Mar. 30.'09"
With plastic tortoise front pick guard bracket fastened to a metal side and back pick guard bracket the says: "PAT July 4, 1911"
Ebony Bridge says: "PAT SEP 21,'09"
Tailpiece has engraved pattern on silver metal and the slanted two words "The Gibson" also engraved on it. It has a black ebony rest piece on the bottom with ivoroid center.
It has a white oval paper label inside that says:
"Patented Feb.1 '98
" Mar 30.'06
Other Patents Pending
Gibson Mandolin Style A-1 (The word Mandolin, the Style and the Number are hand written in ink.)
Number ?9791 is hereby (I can not read the 1st number)
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 the same style or value.
Gibson Mandolin - Guitar Co.
(manufacturer)"
Then it has a small label below it that says:
"Sam Goldin
Mandolin Expert"
Inside the FON# 2206 is stamped on the neck block of the body.
It has the Original black Hard Case with red velvet lining and braided rope handle.
The mandolin is in good shape, but needs cleaning and seems to have a 2 1/2 inch hairline crack on the surface of the face that extends from just below the top behind the pick guard.
At the bottom of the ebony neck there also seems to be a barely noticeable hairline crack on the last five frets.
The case and lining show signs of wear but are in good condition and it has 2 Guts pitch pipes.
The parts are all original and it hasn't been played in decades.
Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
I have an old Gibson A Mandolin Serial Number 35149.
How can I find a listing of Serial Numbers and Model to verify what it is?
Thanks
Mike
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by mike couillard
Re: Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
Mike - According to the mandolin archive (http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/list_mandolins.pl?a_model:14) your Gibson A is from around 1917. You can look at some examples in the archive and try to match yours. There were various A models produced in that time period
If you post a photo of it on the mandolincafe.com forum, people would certainly help you identify it. There are several Gibson historical experts who are active in that forum
Hope this helps
Avi
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by improziv
Re: Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
Gibson serial numbers are a little tricky. You should check with Gibson themselves.
http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf
I have a Gibson jazz guitar from 1956 that has the serial number A23535.
if you have a 5 digit serial number with no prefix, it's pretty old, but there's some other stuff to look at to be able to date it by serial number
here's what Gibson says:
"Identifying Gibson instruments by serial number is tricky at best and downright impossible in some cases.
The best methods of identifying them is by using a combination of the serial number, the factory order
number and any features that are particular to a specific time that changes may have occurred in instrument
design (i.e. logo design change, headstock volutes, etc). There have been 6 different serial number styles
used to date on Gibson instruments.
The first serialization started in 1902 and ran until 1947. The serial numbers started with number 100 and
go to 99999. All numbers are approximates. In most cases, only the upper end instruments were assigned
identification numbers."
That isn't to say that your mandolin isn't from 1917. That is where that serial number falls, but if there is a letter in front of the serial number, that changes the dating by about 40 years.
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by Nate Ryan
Re: Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
My A style f hole Gibson has no label inside, but peering through the bottom f hole shows a ink stamp of 8472 ? Could anyone throw any light on this as to approximately what age it is?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by mootman
Re: Gibson Mandolin Serial Number Search
My son just came across a Gibson F5 serial# 9178227. It also has ID on sticker inside 227 1998. He tried ti email me a picture of it but it didn't turn out well. Does any one know it's worth?
# Posted on May 13th 2009 by Patricia Guerra
Re: Does anyone know what this Gibson A-1 Mandolin is worth?
Description of Gibson A-1 Mandolin
Pumpkin colored body with dark red sides and back.
Black Headstock has "The Gibson" in two words, on a slant, inlayed in pearl.
Ivoroid 4-in-line tuners with ivoroid tuning buttons.
Black Headstock has black inlay line that continues across the top of the head, down the back of the headstock and continues down to the bottom of the neck.
Ivoroid bound ebony fret board with 20 frets and 6 pearl dot inlays.
Ivoroid-bound oval sound hole with dual rope pattern purfling rings around sound hole.
Raised Tortoise pick guard says "PAT. Mar. 30.'09"
With plastic tortoise front pick guard bracket fastened to a metal side and back pick guard bracket the says: "PAT July 4, 1911"
Ebony Bridge says: "PAT SEP 21,'09"
Tailpiece has engraved pattern on silver metal and the slanted two words "The Gibson" also engraved on it. It has a black ebony rest piece on the bottom with ivoroid center.
It has a white oval paper label inside that says:
"Patented Feb.1 '98
" Mar 30.'06
Other Patents Pending
Gibson Mandolin Style A-1 (The word Mandolin, the Style and the Number are hand written in ink.)
Number ?9791 is hereby (I can not read the 1st number)
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 the same style or value.
Gibson Mandolin - Guitar Co.
(manufacturer)"
Then it has a small label below it that says:
"Sam Goldin
Mandolin Expert"
Inside the FON# 2206 is stamped on the neck block of the body.
It has the Original black Hard Case with red velvet lining and braided rope handle.
The mandolin is in good shape, but needs cleaning and seems to have a 2 1/2 inch hairline crack on the surface of the face that extends from just below the top behind the pick guard.
At the bottom of the ebony neck there also seems to be a barely noticeable hairline crack on the last five frets.
The case and lining show signs of wear but are in good condition and it has 2 Guts pitch pipes.
The parts are all original and it hasn't been played in decades.
# Posted on January 30th 2011 by nevinylgraphics