Gibson 1920 A-9

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-15-2011, 6:52pm

I met a woman today whose family has had a 1920 Gibson A-9 since it was new. She has asked me if I could get her started down the path to assessing its value. I don't have a photo so am trusting her when she says that it's in very good condition with the original case. We're both in SW Florida and the A-9 is in Michigan. One suggestion could be to take it to Elderly Instruments in Lansing for appraisal when she gets home. I'll also do some checking on eBay for her. Any other ideas? The center of my mando world is Boone, NC , so I don't have contacts down here in Naples...any help is much appreciated.

Peggy

**mandobassman** · Dec-15-2011, 8:34pm

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure, but I don't think there was a A-9 model in 1920. A, A Jr., A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 are the only ones I'm aware of.

**DerTiefster** · Dec-15-2011, 9:12pm

A hand-printed "A-1" or "A-4" might be mis-read as "A-9." Pictures of the headstock and soundboard would get an ID pretty quickly around here. A fleur-de-lis on the headstock flags an A-4, I think. Binding and rosette details would help. Elderly is a good choice for an instrument in Michigan, but not everywhere in Michigan is next door to Lansing.

**barney 59** · Dec-15-2011, 10:14pm

If it's an A-4 and it's in nice condition it's worth (+ -) $1500, $2500 if it's pristine and you can find a buyer. No goldmines in vintage A-model mandolins. Well there is one but that one is accounted for.

**sunburst** · Dec-15-2011, 10:27pm

Originally Posted by DerTiefster

A hand-printed "A-1" or "A-4" might be mis-read as "A-9."

Or maybe... and A-5...

Peggy, just ignore me, I'm being silly.

**Big Joe** · Dec-15-2011, 10:40pm

The A9 was not built until about 2000. If you post a pic we can tell you what it is.

**f5loar** · Dec-16-2011, 1:00am

I knew a man who had a 1921 F5 for sale. I guess anything is possible out of Gibson Co.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 7:44am

I'd be more concerned that what she has is one of the now infamous pawn shop Gibson mandolins or something there of. Post some pictures.

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-16-2011, 9:15am

Thanks all! You can tell I'm a newbie at this; 2 years+ playing an A-style but a doofus on mando history. I think it may be an A-4 if it was handwritten on the instrument. I don't know if I can get a photo from this lady but I'll ask. I'm currently using an ipad2 and can't seem to post photos with it. I want to show you all my new Norris A-style but may have to wait until we replace the dead Dell . That's another issue entirely.....Did Lloyd Loar ever build A-styles or was he strictly an F man?

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-16-2011, 9:39am

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

I'd be more concerned that what she has is one of the now infamous pawn shop Gibson mandolins or something there of. Post some pictures.

Good point, although she says it has been in the family since her grandfather bought it.

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-16-2011, 9:42am

Originally Posted by sunburst

Or maybe... and A-5...

Peggy, just ignore me, I'm being silly.

Silly is OK and my favorite behavior when I'm not playing. I've asked her for more info, but like a lot of snowbirds down here probably has it locked up with the silver.....

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 9:52am

Originally Posted by Peggy Cabe

Good point, although she says it has been in the family since her grandfather bought it.

Well I'm sure that's the case, however you're talking about a model number that didn't exist prior to around 2000 or so. Every week somebody has an inexpensive mandolin with a Gibson label and an old serial number posted for sale on eBay. The vast majority of them think they have the real deal and they don't.

The only way to tell you what she really has is to see some pictures. Either she has the model number wrong or there is another explanation.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 9:58am

By the way, referring back to your original post, taking it to any of the vintage dealers for appraisal is always a good idea. However, even they make mistakes. We've had at least one in the last year here where the owner was told they had a fake when in actuality they did have Gibson built instrument that had been altered for whatever reason. The folks here are pretty good at determining what something is.

The other question I have is where is she getting the number A9 from? If it's stamped on the inside headblock we might be looking at a Factory Order Number (FON) and that full number would really allow us to narrow it down.

Doing a quick scan I see single digit FON's in 1931, 1935, 1938, and 1940. The 1935 is 9A but unfortunately that was a Kalamazoo Guitar.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 10:07am

Originally Posted by Peggy Cabe

...Did Lloyd Loar ever build A-styles or was he strictly an F man?

There is one know A-5 mandolin that was built during the Loar years. The "Ms. Griffith" Loar can be seen here. If she has another verifiable Loar A-5 she is sitting on a rare instrument. In mandolins he only signed the F-5 models and the single A-5. He also signed other instruments.

Gibson built many A models during the Loar years. Lloyd didn't build them, he was the acoustic engineer that signed them. You can read about Loar here.

**sunburst** · Dec-16-2011, 10:31am

Originally Posted by Peggy Cabe

Did Lloyd Loar ever build A-styles or was he strictly an F man?

That was the point of my 'silly' response above. Sort of an inside joke among the Gibson mando enthusiasts of the world, that perhaps she has the second known A-5... the holy grail of mandolins for many collectors. As Mike said, there is (only) one known Loar-signed A-5 mandolin, and if a second one were to surface... well, I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket, the odds are surely better!

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-16-2011, 1:43pm

The model number is 64778. Still waiting to find out if she can provide any photos.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 1:44pm

That's probably a serial number I would think. Just checked, that serial number shipped in 1921.

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-16-2011, 6:18pm

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

That's probably a serial number I would think. Just checked, that serial number shipped in 1921.

Thanks Mike, please excuse the error in terminology. Elsie will be back in Michigan next week and will take some pix. I can't wait to see it. A newbie question: do folks who buy these vintage mandos play them or display them? I'd play it, otherwise what's the point?

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-16-2011, 6:23pm

Originally Posted by Peggy Cabe

...do folks who buy these vintage mandos play them or display them?...

Both. I don't collect mandolins as it were but I own several and a few pass though my hands each year. I don't think of myself as a collector. That and the fact that I keep all of them in their cases, I guess that's not really displaying them.

**MandoSquirrel** · Dec-16-2011, 7:42pm

So, the mandolin's in Michigan, then? Anywhere near Lansing? If so, Elderly Instruments could tell her what's what. If it were down here, I was wondering about offering to look at it; I'm no authority, but I'm in Bonita Springs, with about 35 years obsessing on mandolins.

**coelhoe** · Dec-17-2011, 8:38am

You can get an ID and appraisal from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville by sending photos and thorough description. I think it costs around $25. It's been a few years since I had one done.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-17-2011, 8:42am

She can get an ID and a pretty good estimate of its value here for free if she posts the pictures.

**allenhopkins** · Dec-17-2011, 11:39am

Originally Posted by coelhoe

You can get an ID and appraisal from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville by sending photos and thorough description. I think it costs around $25. It's been a few years since I had one done.

Fifty buxx now. Trip to Elderly would be a lot more fun...

**f5loar** · Dec-17-2011, 2:17pm

"I think it costs around $25. It's been a few years since I had one done"
Has it been a few years or a few decades? Gruhn has been charging $50 for quite some time now.
I agree post photos here and receive a free one.

**Peggy Cabe** · Dec-17-2011, 5:49pm

Originally Posted by MandoSquirrel

So, the mandolin's in Michigan, then? Anywhere near Lansing? If so, Elderly Instruments could tell her what's what. If it were down here, I was wondering about offering to look at it; I'm no authority, but I'm in Bonita Springs, with about 35 years obsessing on mandolins.

Hey, you're only a few miles from me. I'm in north Naples near the Lee County line. Maybe I can get her to bring it down here. Ill get in touch with her before she leaves for MI. Thanks!