new A9

[CF5]

I just got a brand new A9 and I've absolutely fallen in love with it. It was hanging at a local shop and when I tried it out I knew I had to have it. I have a number of other good mandolins and this one holds up surprisingly well for it's price. It needed to be set up, and the nut is a very cheesy plastic thing which will get changed soon enough, but I guess my question is, are they all this nice ? There must be a lot of A9s( and F9s ) sold by now and judging by how few come up for sale second hand I'm guessing that I'm not the only satisfied customer out there. What are your thoughts ?

[Greenmando]

I love mine as well! One of these days I will upgrade the tuners, tailpiece and nut, but they are fine right now.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046216808011763452917.jpg

[mmukav]

I'm jealous! You guys got pretty A9's. Mine is vey dark, and not much of the flame on the back and sides shows up. But I do love the sound. And wait a few months, 'cause it'll really change sound as you play it. Mine is very loud now, and has really nice tone. Very woody sound. Congrats, and enjoy your new mando! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[yoods]

Many of the "older" ones I have seen are dark, the newer ones seem to be lighter (might ask Big Joe if this is something they decided to do on all the new ones).

Also, the older A-9's I haveseen have a peg head similar to the Flatiron A's where a 2004 model I saw a few months ago had a peghead very similar to vintage snakeheads (more curve on the lower bouts, not a sharper angled turn as on the "older" models, and a different in-cut pattern on the top, if that makes sense).

Personally, I like them with the lighter color and the snakehead peghead better than the darker color and Flatiron peghead look..

[duuuude]

Congrats on the A-9, it was the runner up to the F-9 when I tested a bunch side-by-side at a festival with a nice strong voice and great projection. Ain't it grand?
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Big Joe]

The A9 had a lighter brown finish originally. It became darker over time for some reason. When we realized it was getting too dark, we decided to finish them a bit lighter. Most everyone likes the lighter finish and it shows the wood better. Glad you are happy with your. They are a great mandolin for the buck.

By the way, the A9 and F9 series are the fastest selling mandolin in Gibson history. The demand is extremely strong and we cannot build enough. Again, they are not for everyone, but for those who want a great mandolin for a budget price, this is the real deal.

[Professor PT]

I love mine as well! One of these days I will upgrade the tuners, tailpiece and nut, but they are fine right now.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046216808011763452917.jpg
This is what I find to be odd. Many people bash others who own MK's when they say they are going to upgrade these very same things, but why does one need to do this on a Gibson? You'd think they'd put better quality hardware on mandolins that retail for that much. Do they really only put a plastic nut on the A & F-9's? I find this very surprising.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[straight-a]

I've had mine for six months and it gets better all the time. I love it!