Gibson A-jr information and advice needed [Archive]

thorin68

Apr-09-2010, 6:31am

I have an opportunity to buy a Gibson A Jr.Accodring to the seller it's in very good playable condition and has no cracks,just some scratches and normal wear and tear.He said he is unsure of it's date because the serial number is no longer readable.He's asdking $1100 what's a fair price on this and what should i be aware of before buying an instrument of this age.thanks in advance for any information you guys can help me with.
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/4953/mailgooglecomt.jpg

jim simpson

Apr-09-2010, 7:58am

Originality of all components is important as far as value goes. It looks like it's in a replacement case. Do you know if the original case will be included?

thorin68

Apr-09-2010, 8:05am

I don't believe he has the original case

Capt. E

Apr-09-2010, 8:08am

I'm no expert, but that seems a bit high to me. Very recently I saw a Gibson A-Jr. snakehead sell on ebay, all original with original case for less than $1400. Snakeheads sell at a premium and an original case adds up to $300 depending on its condition.

Bill Van Liere

Apr-09-2010, 8:18am

From the photo that might be an A-JR paddlehead less the original case. I am not sure about that ring around the soundhole. Get more photos and compare this instrument to others in the archive to determine it's originality if you are after a collectable instrument.

If you are lucky and the instrument does not need much work you could end up with a great sounding instrument for $1100.

allenhopkins

Apr-09-2010, 9:13am

Looking at A-Jr. prices on-line, and finding a wide range -- from $750 here (http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-a-jr-1922) to $1,750 elsewhere! Not much help. Unless you're looking on the mandolin as an "investment" rather than something to play, I wouldn't get too worried about the non-original case. Since you're considering a 90-year-old instrument, I'd get it checked over by a pro repair person before making a buying decision.

Capt. E

Apr-09-2010, 9:20am

Most A-Jr's seem to have no inlay what-so-ever, but if you look at the archives you will find the first one listed shows a ring around the sound-hole. http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/list_mandolins.pl?ajr
It is the one with the lowest serial number and seems to be exceptional. Having the ring may add to it's collector value. I assume the label is intact and shows it is an A-Jr.

You can find a vintage case someday.

The more I think about it, if it is in great condition, does not need any repairs etc, $1100 is not a bad price.

mandroid

Apr-09-2010, 9:59am

The one (missing it's pickguard) in the picture[#1] is not an A-jr, as it has the soundhole is edge bound and shows a Purfling ring around the soundhole,
the 'A' [no numbers] model, AFAIK, is a more likely cross reference.

:popcorn: (Have owned a similar plain brown A, for 22+ years, I .. )

Capt. E

Apr-09-2010, 10:08am

If the picture in the archives is not an A-Jr then it should be corrected or removed.

Again, I wonder if the instrument being considered for purchase has the label intact and is readable? It does look like a plain A with the ring around the soundhole, in which case $1100 still isn't a bad price, condition factored in. You could, however, probably find one for less in all original condition. This one seems to be missing the pickguard.

mrmando

Apr-09-2010, 10:12am

If it is a Style A, not an Ajr, then I don't think the tailpiece is original. And of course it's missing the pickguard.

It's easy to tell the difference if the label is still present. The Ajr had a round, white label. The A had a standard oval, light yellow label.

If it has the original bridge, the serial number might be penciled on the bottom of the bridge (or it might not). One might be able to infer something about the year from the FON.

Given the general shortage of information, I think $1100 is a little high.

thorin68

Apr-09-2010, 10:17am

the label clearly says junior,let me see if i can post another pic.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7619/soundholeu.jpg

thorin68

Apr-09-2010, 10:19am

unfortunately the resolution didn't come through in the pic i just posted but it does says junior.
here is another pic
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2534/sideviewv.jpg

allenhopkins

Apr-09-2010, 10:39am

Lots of rules about the early Gibsons -- what model had what finish, ornamentation, etc. Also lots of exceptions; they keep popping up. You have the round white label, and if it's original and says "junior," that's what Gibson thought it was when they built and shipped it.

Fair amount of finish wear, non-original case. Recommend you get a pro repair shop's evaluation before purchase. Crucial variables, of course, are how it sounds and plays. Not discernible from pics, unfortunately...

mrmando

Apr-09-2010, 11:16am

Judging from the tailipiece, then, it's probably a post-Loar period instrument, from 1926 or 1927 -- after Ajrs went back to paddlehead but before they were replaced by the A0.

Is the seller a mandolin player? See what you can find out about the action (one of the photos makes it look as though the action might be high) and condition of the frets.

Bill Van Liere

Apr-09-2010, 8:46pm

My concern with that ring around the sound hole is that the finish may not be original. The typical Jr model, and I realize there are exceptions, has no ring with black binding inside in the sound hole, you guys know that. If the finish is not original I would not wish to pay more than 60% of the asking price. Again, it still might sound good.

Word up: I bought an all original 24 Snakehead JR, case the whole bit, of the Bay (even had a straight neck I got lucky there) for $1500. I have not watched much since then but I still feel really good about that deal. That's a lot of mandolin for $1500.

atetone

Apr-09-2010, 11:22pm

My guess is that the top started out to be for an A but for some reason got relegated to become an Ajr so it didn't get top binding.
The soundhole rosette and the white soundhole binding were already installed by that time but,,, on it went anyway.
Maybe they just ran out of Ajr tops that day at that workbench and this one was the closest thing at hand. Stranger things have happened at the Gibson shop.
My memory is a bit foggy on this but I do seem to remember something about another one with the same thing going on.
I would say that it is an Ajr because it has the round label; it has the Ajr tailpiece; and it has no body binding at all.
The intent was that it be an Ajr.
One thing I did notice from the pics is that the top is not properly lined up with the sides. Not unusual, but the extent of it would be worth checking out before buying it.

barney 59

Apr-10-2010, 3:49am

The later versions were not A jrs but were designated as A-0's. Also later versions had the oval label. Someone mentioned an early junior with the ring in the archives. The ring is unusual. Does it have "The Gibson" stenciled on the head stock? Sometimes with very good light and a magnifying glass you can make out the serial number. $1100 is maybe on the high side but not so much that it should kill the deal if you like it. Some of the best sounding A models that I have ever heard are juniors. They skimped on the bling and didn't get carried away with the finish-- all sound and no baggage. So what about the case,it's a case! If your buying it by mail you should make sure you have an approval period.

mandroid

Apr-10-2010, 10:01am

Oh, I see.. #12 shows un bound edge of Top , couldn't see that when i posted #8 from picture in the case ...

Nevermind .. :whistling:

Wolfboy

Apr-10-2010, 3:02pm

barney 59: "$1100 is maybe on the high side but not so much that it should kill the deal if you like it."

Yeah, I'll go along with that, assuming it's in basically good structural shape - if you love the sound and feel of it, $1100 for a 1920s A-anything is a pretty nice deal; if you don't, then not particularly. (Still not a ripoff by any means, just not particularly a bargain.) You won't know that til you play it. So definitely have an approval period if you're buying sight unseen.

I wouldn't be particularly worried about whether it fits the exact specs of this or that model - as others have said, the nomenclature was occasionally a bit slippery at Gibson back then. The important thing is that it's an oval-hole Gibson A-something, probably post-Loar from the sound of it. Again, what it comes down to is does it speak to you (the way my labelless 1920 A spoke to me) when you play it, or not?

(I also wouldn't care if the case is original or not, but that's just me.)

thorin68

Apr-10-2010, 5:07pm

I don't think it's been refinished personally,neither does the seller.But I'm no expert,looks like the original finish to me.Here's a pic of the back maybe that will shed a little more light on this finish issue.
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9550/mando5.jpg

Bill Van Liere

Apr-10-2010, 5:36pm

thorin68

Apr-10-2010, 6:48pm

All the parts look original, and I believe this to be a bonafide post Loar JR by the label. What's the number?

If you really like it, the neck is straight, that could be a sweet deal for the price. Even if it's a refin it is still likely worth $750 at bottom price, and none of our blather effects the sound of the actual instrument. nevermind the case issue

Nice lookin instrument.hmmm $750,I wish he was selling it for that,like i said he wants $1100.I definitely don't want to pay to much for it.I'd like a nice Gibson but I've never owned an instrument that old and don't want to get stuck with something that is problematic due to it's age.oh well we'll see what happens,thanks for all the comments guys i appreciate it.