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Thread: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

  1. #1
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    Default 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    I play upright bass and tinker with the mando (I have limited knowledge). My wife plays mandolin and I'm thinking of buying this for her as a gift. I'm looking for some guidance on this Gibson A4 http://www.hellomusic.com/ec/DealMai...36&cat=VINTAGE
    1) Do you see any issues/problems with this instrument?
    2) What are the pro's/con's of this model?
    3) What (if anything) would I need to do to bring it up to good playing level?
    4) The wife is currently playing an almost mint 1964 Gibson A40. Is there a big quality/sound difference between the two models? -Would this instrument be a step up from what she's now playing?
    5) What wolud be a reasonable price if I decide to make an offer?

  2. #2

    Default Re: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    > gift for wife

    would be cautious about this. 2 reasons
    1. of my two mid-teens A4s, one has much the better tone--
    "try before you buy"
    2. mando players have ideas about the next mando--you'd not
    like to drop significant money only to find she covets a
    weber or.... How about a "gift certificate"?

  3. #3
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    It looks nice in the photos. With a 1-piece bridge you're pretty much stuck with the action you've got ... no easy way to raise or lower it unless you replace the bridge. It doesn't look like it would need any work. There will be a difference in tone compared to the A40. It will probably sound warmer and less nasal. In terms of quality I'd say the A4 is likely to have the edge.

    Without an original case, at today's ebbing prices, I would say $1400 is the highest "safe" offer you can make -- i.e., if you pay more than that and then the wife decides this isn't the instrument for her, you might have some difficulty getting the money back out of it when you go to sell. You might check with the seller about an approval period.
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  4. #4

    Default Re: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    The round hole Gibsons from the 1910's can be set up to have a loud, ringing, bell-like sound with more bass and fullness than an A-40. It can be quite a beautiful sound, although not always suited to bluegrass and some jazz because the sustain, especially in the lower notes, hangs in the air and can interact, run into following notes sometimes in a clashing way. Some coated flatwound strings, different picks and various techniques can dampen that effect somewhat, but why would you do that if she already has an A-40 that has that "other" sound?

    I have an A-1 and I love it. My "fixed bridge" was installed by Elderly Instruments and it is fine. For most music, most especially slower music, folk music, chords the A-1 is so rich and full, just lovely. It is fine on fast tunes also, just not as "dry" sounding as the f-hole, which has the right sound for other types of music.

    One round hole mando and one f hole mandolin really is the minimum requirement! Seriously, though, the A-4 is very nice looking but as far as sound is concerned, a (round hole) A-1 or even an A model from the same era will produce the same sound and cost much less -- perhaps as little as 700-850 depending on condition. Just something else to ponder!

  5. #5

    Default Re: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    It's a nice mandolin but I would second the $1400 -ish figure for value right now. Owners of things like that don't really want to know that since 2 years ago that was a $2500 mandolin. More often than not sellers of vintage instrument have unrealistic ideas as to the value of what they have. I'd make a low offer and see what happens. I personally would rather have the A4 than the A40 but the A40's and 50's can be pretty nice and back in the day quite a few bluegrasser's on budgets used them.

  6. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1915 Gibson A4 - Need Advice On Whether To Purchase

    Martin & Barney are right on the money (literally and figuratively). I registered on that site and the asking price is $1440. You might offer somewhat less then.

    It also looks like, if you are first time buyer, you get a $30 off coupon for any purchase over $100.

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    With a 1-piece bridge you're pretty much stuck with the action you've got ... no easy way to raise or lower it unless you replace the bridge.
    Martin: not sure what you mean by this. You can certainly raise or lower the action to some extent with a one-piece bridge or at least a good luthier can.
    Jim

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