Gibson A-9

[the_mahout]

Anyone have any experience with the Gibson A-9? Looks like the Gibson entry level A-style with f-hole mandolin.

I did a search of the archive for both A-9 / A9 and F-9 / F9 and nothing is coming up....

Thanks.

Mike in KY

[earthsave]

An excellent mandolins for the price. I've played some killer sounding ones along side Master Models, DMM, F5s, and the like and then some ok sounding ones. I really like the non glossy simple look.

Try and play before you buy if possible. Not sure where you are in Ky, but drive to First Quality Music in Louisville, or head down to Nashville and hit the Gibson Factory in the Opry Mills Mall. Both will be worth the trip.

[MikeEdgerton]

There are several threads but you have to dig for them because the search software doesn't handle search strings that are less than 3 characters long unless you trick it. Here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48384&highlight=gibson) is one thread.

If you scan through the titles of these threads (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/search.php?query="Gibson+A9"&exactname=0&starteronly=0&forumchoice%5B%5D=&prefixchoice%5B%5D=&childforums=1&titleonly=1&searchdate=0&beforeafter=after&do=process) you'll find both Gibson A9 and F9 threads.

[JeffD]

I recently played one, and was very impressed.

[MikeBrennan]

LOVE my A-9! I stepped up from a Kentucky, then an Eastman 505. I didn't find the Eastman much better than the Kentucky it replaced, but the jump to the Gibson A-9 was a HUGE step up. I can't imagine a better mandolin at any price. It's a plain-jane mando but it's got everything you need under the hood.

-Mike Brennan

[birdman98]

Haven't owned an A-9, but I do own an F-9. As you probably know, the A-9 is pretty much the same mandolin without the fancy stuff.

Besides my own F-9, I've played 3-4 others and they have all been VERY nice mandolins.