Mandola built by Eduard Kristofek in 2017. S/n 450.

Spruce top, maple back, sides and neck. Radiussed ebony fretboard. Fully bound including F holes. Beautiful pearl work on headstock. Truss rod. Scale 16.5 inches, nut width 1.25 inches. Excellent condition. Comes with ivory coloured moulded shaped hard case.

£1950 firm price. UK sales only.

Late 1950s (maybe early 60s) Silvertone mandolin. I remember these being sold at Sears when I was a kid. The segmented F holes make me think it was built by KAY. It's playable, sorta, but the action is way high. Has Kluson tuners, the tailpiece and the pickguard. No case. SOLD AS-IS.

$100 and shipping. Additional pics available, just ask.

Thanks!
Charles

Great playing and sounding Stanley V-5C mandolin in excellent used condition. Amazingly figured one-piece back, hand varnished gloss finish, flat fingerboard, 1 1/16" nut width. Loud chop; sweet Loar-like sound. Some finish checking and fret wear. Plays clean up the neck with no buzz. Includes white fiberglass Crossrock hard shell case. Video in photos below features previous owner taking this for a spin. Non-smoking home. Standard 48-hour approval period; donation to the Cafe. Buyer pays return shipping should you wish to return it (you won't). $7500 shipped in CONUS.

For photos and video clip, https://reverb.com/item/34466026-stanley-v5c-mandolin-2006-sunburst

Framus is a well respected European builder, whose instruments are equally as nice as those made in the US. This is a nice solid wood mandolin that needs a good set up, possibly other repairs. No breaks, cracks or refinish, and the hardware is original. No case. Sold AS IS.

$200 and shipping. More pics available, just ask.

Thanks!
Charles

Here is a cool project. This is an early Gibson A1. Judging by the peg head shape and the remains of a pick guard on the top, this is a pre-1907 instrument. The neck has been steamed out and both the body and the back of the neck have been sanded for refinishing.

No additional hardware is available and there is no case, but it will be packed well for shipping. Sold AS IS.

$300 and shipping. More pics are available, just ask.
Thanks!
Charles

$1,365.00

UPC 170113
Top material Solid Carved German Spruce
Back sides Solid Alpine Maple
Fingerboard Ebony
Neck material One-Piece Alpine Maple
Bridge Ebony
Frets to body 14
Total frets 22
Scale length 13 7/8"
Nut width 1 1/8"
Binding Ivoroid
Inlay Mother of pearl dots
Tuners Gold Plated w/ Ivoroid Buttons
Case type Gig Bag
Serial number 23120524
SKU KENKM855AMBER-23120524

The Gryphon Advantage: This instrument has been personally setup by a member of our repair staff. Gryphon’s sustained commitment to quality ensures that no instrument not at optimal playing condition is sold. This comes with a lifetime discount on future repair and customizations.

* * * * * * * *

Acoustic guitars, mandolins, and banjos are still the mainstays at Gryphon, as they have been for over 45 years, though our inventory of steel guitars and ukuleles continues to grow as well. In recent years an important part of our growth has been in instruments by very small companies and individual makers, as we continue to keep one foot, or at least several toes, outside the mainstream music industry.

I purchased this SINGLE OWNER 1928 Gibson “snakehead” A-1 mandolin (serial # 82810, FON # 8933) from Union Grove Music (Santa Cruz, CA) in 2022. Selling it because I already have 2 other vintage Gibson ovals.

The mandolin is in ALL ORIGINAL, EXCELLENT++ condition. It has a black lacquer finished spruce top, dark brown lacquered birch back/sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The ebony bridge, engraved tailpiece, celluloid pickguard, and ebony endpin are in original, excellent condition. The frets have no visible wear. The original tuners are fully functional. The neck is straight, and the action is low. Includes the VGC original HSC which still contains it's key and paper key envelope, items usually missing from a 96 year-old instrument!

The mandolin is crack free and there is no evidence of repairs of any kind. The top has three small dings and a 1 1/2" scratch to the right of the tailpiece cover. Neither the dings nor scratch penetrate the finish. The finish on the back/sides is flawless.

The instrument plays wonderfully and definitely has that “snakehead sound,” with all the volume, projection, superb tone, and clarity characteristic of these immediate post-Loar Gibson mandolins.

Price is $3,600 shipped. Includes mint McClung mandolin armrest (as shown in photo). 48-hour inspection period (buyer pays shipping both ways if returned). Donation to the Cafe upon sale.

Follow this link: https://youtu.be/PA_2ciy-Lt4 to view a brief “video tour” of the instrument. Contact me for more info, pics, etc. Thanks for looking!

$650.00

UPC 141316
Year 1918
Fingerboard Ebony
Neck material Mahogany
Scale length 13 7/8"
Nut width 1 1/8"
Diameter 10"
Case type Original Leather
Serial number 40337
SKU VEGSTYLEK-40337

The Gryphon Advantage: This instrument has been personally setup by a member of our repair staff. Gryphon’s sustained commitment to quality ensures that no instrument not at optimal playing condition is sold. This comes with a lifetime discount on future repair and customizations.

* * * * * * * *

Acoustic guitars, mandolins, and banjos are still the mainstays at Gryphon, as they have been for over 45 years, though our inventory of steel guitars and ukuleles continues to grow as well. In recent years an important part of our growth has been in instruments by very small companies and individual makers, as we continue to keep one foot, or at least several toes, outside the mainstream music industry.

2003 Weber Beartooth Mandolin Traditional model.
This mandolin is in excellent condition as you could expect a 20 year old is instrument to be. A speed neck is the only thing different from this mandolin from when it left the factory. At the time this Beartooth would have been the top of the line A model made by Weber. This one is the traditional model which means it has tone bars. This mandolin comes in a deluxe Weber hardshell case.
$2,600 shipped
Let me know if you have any question or would like to see more pictures.

$1,299.00
Carved Sitka Spruce Top
Carved Maple Back & Sides
Maple Neck
Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge
Cast Aluminum Tailpiece
1 3/32" Nut Width
13 7/8" Scale Length
Includes Hard Case

Nestled in the Colorado foothills, we have been making acoustic string music for decades. The beauty of our location, near the tailwater of South Boulder Creek, inspires us to create music and the instruments we love to play. Our region is famed for acoustic instrument building and Tailwater Instruments strives to continue in that tradition.

Based on classic designs, expanded with the best innovations in modern instruments, our mandolins are beautiful, easy playing, and sound amazing.

Tailwater TW-F5 Mandolin specs:
Select, hand-carved solid European Spruce top
Hand-carved solid Flamed Maple back, sides and neck
Radiused ebony fretboard with scooped extension and mother-of-pearl dot markers
Adjustable ebony bridge
Medium size fretwire .080
1⅛” bone nut
Solid cast tailpiece
18:1 Grover machine heads
Triple bound top and back
Sunburst hybrid varnish & lacquer finish
Bound neck and headstock
Bound ebony abbreviated pickguard
Velvet-padded fiberglass hard case

Our instruments combine the best materials, sourced worldwide. Our woods include Maple, Spruce, and Ebony from North America, Europe and Africa. The hardware comes from the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and China.

Tailwater instruments are designed by our team members in Boulder, Colorado. Our hardware selection is guided by our team in Tokyo, Japan. All of our instruments are hand-built by our shop luthier in Shandong, China, and our cases are made by a dedicated team in Guangdong, China. Final instrument setup is completed in Colorado.

Just as our materials come from the best available in each region, our international team brings together all of our strengths to make the best instruments from them.

$1950

A 2020 handmade Fin Mc F5, Sitka Spruce top, Curly Maple back, sides and neck. Ebony radiused freboard and bridge, Bone nut and points. Dual action truss rod. Mother of pearl inlays throughout. Multi-ply binding. Off parallel tone bar configuration. Dark smokey hand applied stain with Lacquer finish. Rubner tuners with brass tailpiece. k&K dual internal pickup. This instrument has great playability with good volume and a deep resonant chop. For live stage performances the K&K pickup provides a remarkably acoustic sound without the worry of annoying feedback while, in situations that allow, this Fin Mc works excellently played through a single condenser mic as is often the case in a traditional bluegrass ensemble. Overall a fine instrument well taken care of. Price $4800

$3,999.99

This Iwamoto F5 Mandolin is in excellent condition. There is a small blemish on the top where an armrest was installed. There is also a small mark on the back of the headstock from a tuner. This mandolin has a lot of volume and a great tone. Lots of bark and clarity! It also features a Schertler contact microphone which is fantastic for performing! Send us a message if you would like to know more about this wonderful mandolin!

Brand/Model: Iwamoto F5 Mandolin
Top Material: Solid Adirondack Spruce
Back and Sides Material: Flamed Maple
Fretboard Material: Radiused Ebony
Bridge Material: Ebony
Finish: Blonde with Amber Burst
Binding: Tortoise
Fret Type: EVO Gold Medium Frets
Tailpiece: James Tailpiece
Pickup: Schertler Resocoil Contact Microphone Pickup

Notice: This is a consignment item. While we do a basic cleaning and setup before shipping, we are unable to make any modifications to, or guarantees of condition, and or history, outside of what we have personally found, or been informed of by the consignment owner, which will be included in the description.

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The Acoustic Shoppe has quickly become one of the leading sources for acoustic instruments, accessories, and online and in-person learning. As a full-time touring band, The Chapmans performed and recorded at the highest levels of bluegrass and acoustic music for many years. The Acoustic Shoppe allows them to share their years of experience as professional musicians and teachers with customers locally and around the world.

Today, The Acoustic Shoppe serves musicians and students around the world, through online and in-person sales and instruction. Their teaching studio, The Academy, is a state of the art music learning program that allows students to learn at their own pace with top teachers. The shop carries high-quality instruments at every price-point, all expertly set-up and ready for you to play.

$50,000

You would be hard pressed to find a cleaner F-5 from 1938! On top if its great looks, the sound is impeccable with great chop and top end clarity that is unrivaled. There is some light checking throughout its very clean finish, which blacklights extremely consistently; there is only touch up at the neck joint from its recent neck set/re-fret. The playability is fantastic thanks to those repairs with easy-to-play action. The nut width is a slightly wider 1 3/16" which is a welcome spec for a mandolin player that likes a little extra room on the fretboard. There have been some quality of life upgrades that are listed in the specs such as a replaced saddle and pickguard, but all of the original parts are included. If you are looking for a collector grade pre-war Gibson mandolin, this is the one!

Includes a Calton case as well as its original hard shell case.

Model: F-5
Finish: Sunburst
SKU: MN2171-A
Handedness: Right
Made In Year: 1938
Top: Spruce
Back and Sides: Figured Maple
Finish Material: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck/Fingerboard: Figured Maple / Ebony
Neck Profile: V
Neck Depth: .885" - .968"
Fingerboard Radius: Flat
Brace Pattern: Tone Bar
Tuners: Non-Original Waverly
Bridge: Ebony (Original Base, Replacement Saddle with Original in Case)
Scale Length: 14"
Nut Width: 1 3/16"
Contains Brazilian Rosewood (Y/N): N
Case: OHSC and Blue Calton
Modifications/Repairs: Recent neck reset by Dave Harvey, recent re-fret, replaced nut, replacement pickguard (original in case), new ebony bridge saddle

$3,695.00

Each mandolin is made of select tone woods and built by the same team and approach. The lacquer finish on these instruments is made to be stronger than the more delicate spirit varnish, yet still be very thin as to not inhibit vibration and dampen the liveliness of the instrument. This particular mandolin features f holes, tonebar bracing, top binding, and Adirondack Top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSwvKiDlDWg

Standard Northfield F Shape and body construction.
Adirondack Spruce Top.
Figured Maple Back, neck and sides.
3 Piece hard maple neck.
Striped Ebony Bridge, Fingerboard, pickguard and endpin
Unbound Fretboard. Unbound Back.
Single-ply tortoise top binding.
Solid Mother of Pearl dot position markers and peghead logo.
Schaller Tuners with black buttons.
Cast Tailpiece.
Heirloom Case
All materials from North America, seasoned and matched in our Marshall, MI shop. Assembled and varnished in our Qingdao shop. Set up and final inspected in our Marshall, MI shop

Suggested retail $1,499.00
Our price $1,199.00

Eastman A style F hole mandolin with K & K pickup. Eastman hard case and pro set up included.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S7xFeD5frY

Neck Material:Maple
Fingerboard:Ebony
Fingerboard Radius:12″
Nut:Bone 1-3/32″
Fretwire:23 Jescar FW37053
Scale Length:13 7/8″
Body Style:A-Style w/ F-Holes
Body Dimensions:26 11/16″ x 10″ x 1 7/8″
Body Top:Solid Spruce
Body Back/Sides:Solid Maple
Truss Rod:Single Acting
Binding:Top, Back, Fingerboard, and Headstock
Binding Material:Ivoroid
Logo:Pearl Headstock
Inlay:Pearl Dots
Side Dot Color:Black
Body Finish:Gloss Finish
Neck/Headstock Finish:Gloss Finish
Hardware Color:Nickel
Tailpiece:Eastman Cast Aluminum Tailpiece
Bridge:Adjustable Compensated Ebony Bridge
String Spacing:1 5/8″
Nut Height:0.018″
Pickups:K&K Duotone
Tuners:Pingwell RM-1583N-26A
Strap Peg:Ebony
Strings:D’Addario XT Phosphor Bronze 1140
Case:Hard Shell Case

Suggested retail $1,199.00
Our price $959.00

Eastman MD505 in classic sunburst finish. Eastman shaped case and pro set up included.

Neck Material:Maple
Fingerboard:Ebony
Fingerboard Radius:12″
Nut:Bone 1-3/32″
Fretwire:23 Jescar FW37053
Scale Length:13 7/8″
Body Style:A-Style w/ F-Hole
Body Dimensions:26 11/16″ x 10″ x 1 7/8″
Body Top:Solid Spruce
Body Back/Sides:Solid Maple
Truss Rod:Single Acting
Binding:Top
Binding Material:Ivoroid
Logo:Pearl Headstock
Inlay:Pearl Dots
Side Dot Color:Black
Body Finish:Gloss Finish
Neck/Headstock Finish:Gloss Finish
Hardware Color:Nickel
Tailpiece:Eastman Cast Aluminum Tailpiece
Bridge:Adjustable Compensated Ebony Bridge
String Spacing:1 5/8″
Nut Height:0.018″
Tuners:Pingwell RM-1583N-26A
Strap Peg:Ebony
Strings:D’Addario XT Phosphor Bronze 1140
Case:Hard Shell Case

***Pics of 500 series instruments are generic.

$2,405.00

This Bourgeois Mandolins - M5A delivers on Dana Bourgeois' vision for a vintage-inspired A-style mandolin. Featuring an Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce top, paired with an Aged Tone European Maple back and sides, this classic combo has some serious bark and chop, while still handling delicate tunes as well. Includes a free setup from our crew of luthiers, and a very nice hard-sided case.

Body: A-Style Mandolin
Top: Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce
Back & Sides: Aged Tone Maple
Fretboard: Ebony
Neck: Aged Tone Maple
Tuners: Golden Age - Satin Nickel
Finish: Standard - High Gloss
Nut Width: 1 3/32"
Scale Length: 13 7/8"
Body Binding: Ivoroid
Fretboard Binding: Ivoroid
Tailpiece: Custom Engraved Bill James - Satin Nickel
Hard-sided Case
Serial# M2211012

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About us: For over 40 years, Mass Street Music has been proudly selling, buying and trading the best vintage, new and used guitars, amps, mandolins and more right in the heart of Lawrence, Kansas - just a short drive from Kansas City and Topeka. We also ship globally, bringing the best hometown guitar service & selection right to your door. We're known for exceptional quality, value and outstanding personal service. A set up from one of our luthiers is always included with a new instrument. Welcome to Mass Street Music... sit back, grab a cup of coffee and browse a while.

Visit us:
On Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/massstreetmusic
On Twitter - https://twitter.com/massstreetmusic
Our Website - https://massstreetmusic.com/

$3,950.00 + shipping

Fender Solid Body Electric Mandolin (1960), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 01909, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.

One of Leo Fender's more obscure instrument creations, the solidbody Electric Mandolin was in production from 1957 until the 1970's but is a relatively rare item. This one shows some signs of use but generally remains in nicely original condition. It was likely assembled in late 1959 or 1960; the pots are from late 1958, coded 8-47. The slab rosewood fingerboard neck carries no pencil date, typical for that time frame. Most extant examples date to the 1950s; later rosewood-board "Mandocasters" are rare items from any year.

The Fender Mandolin differs from most other electrics (and all acoustic mandolins) in having only four strings instead of the usual doubled courses. This follows the ideas of the mostly western swing players who were instrumental in helping develop Fender instruments, and is also sometimes seen in Bigsby electric mandolins. This results in a clearer more brilliant electric sound without the natural "chorusing" effect of doubled strings, albeit one that sounds as much like an octave guitar as a mandolin.

This instrument is also just ridiculously cute, resembling more than anything else a "just hatched" baby Precision Bass. All the early 1960s Fender features are there in miniature, including the clay-dot slab rosewood fingerboard on a maple neck with the classic Fender headstock, sunburst finish on an alder body, tortoise celluloid pickguard, flat-top chrome knobs and brown plastic-covered single coil pickup. The tuners are single line plastic-button strip Klusons. The '50's style thin script gold logo decal has no model name; "Mandocaster" is the collectors' slang for these but Fender just called it the Electric Mandolin. The brown Tolex case is also a miniature version of the standard guitar case, and is kind of adorable as well.

Overall length is 25 7/8 in. (65.7 cm.), 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 3/4 in. (349 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).

This is a nicely original instrument showing some play wear but no alterations. The original sunburst finish is a subtle three-tone blend with very little red hue, appearing pretty much two-tone. Some of this is fade but it looks like the there was not much red sprayed on to begin with. The body has a collection fairly random dings, scuffs, scratches, and dents, but no really heavy wear. The pickguard has some minor shrinkage but no split or popped corners, with some minor scuffing on the face. The back of the neck is worn to the wood up through the 5-6th fret area.

The instrument is all original except the chromed snap-on bridge cover has gone missing and the buttons on the original Kluson Deluxe strip tuners are replacements. '59 era plastic buttons are renowned for crumbling; the shafts show a bit of scarring from someone possible tuning with pliers long ago! The fret have been dressed down a bit and the fingerboard has some minor wear. This is a fine playing and sounding Fender Mandolin, a fairly rare dawn-of-the-'60s variation that does not turn up much. It resides in the original brown Tolex HSC, generally well preserved with one broken latch. Overall Excellent - Condition.

$919.00 USD

Incredible value in an oval hole F style mandolin! This is the oval hole counterpart to the very popular Eastman MD315. High quality materials and fit and finish, this mandolin is made to the same standards as the higher priced models but leaves out some of the features that can drive up the price of an instrument quickly.

Nice rich, woody tonal quality with volume-o-plenty. An excellent choice for anyone looking to add the oval hole sound without breaking the bank. Radiused fretboard, 1-3/32" nut width. Comes with a nice quality gig bag from Eastman.

*Due to this being a fast selling model the instrument pictured may not be the actual one in stock.

Mint condition 2017 Collins MT2-V, with custom engraved headstock. These varnish models are super and offer tone and volume over and above. If you've played one, you know. Gotta "thin the herd," hence the sale for this super price. OHSC. Free shipping to CONUS. $4850 firm.

$3,695 USD

The Northfield Workshop NFS-F5 mandolin offers impressive, world class handcrafted quality and superb tone, but at a more accessible price point than their Artist Series instruments. It has a solid Adirondack red spruce top, solid figured maple back and sides, and a 3-piece hard maple neck, all in a satin lacquer shaded sunburst finish. Simple appointments complete the traditional look. This may well be the best F-model mandolin value available.

The exact appearance of this item may vary.

Solid Adirondack red spruce top
Solid figured maple back and sides
F-holes, tone bar bracing
Three-piece hard maple neck with striped ebony center strip
Nut Width 1-1/8"
Striped ebony bridge
Ebony fingerboard, pickguard, and endpin
Satin lacquer shaded sunburst finish
Single-ply ivoroid top binding
Mother of Pearl dot markers and peghead logo
Gotoh Deluxe tuners with black buttons
Cast tailpiece
D'Addario EXP74 strings
Designed in the USA, materials from North America, handcrafted in an employee-owned shop in China
Includes Airloom "Recurve" hardshell case (color may vary)

$7,600

The elegant two-point mandolin has steadily gained a greater following in recent years. It is no longer a question of A or F. Combining the comfort of an A style with an elevated style and panache, great sustain and tonal heft, the two point offers an exciting third way to go for mandolin players and collectors.

If you follow our site regularly, you'll see several variations on the two-point theme. We love Girouard's take on the two point: the sound is punchy and warm yet clear, with ample volume nice and wonderful, lively chime on top.

This latest arrival boasts a beautiful, one-piece back paired to a Red spruce top in a lovely, red sunburst, varnish finish. We have long praised Girouard's stellar build quality, whch easily rivals other top-shelf makers on the scene today.

Specs on our website.

(Serial No. 3) Excellent condition. Bob Shue was a well regarded luthier in North Carolina, known best for his mandolins. You still see a lot of Shue mandolins at jams in North Carolina. This one was bought from the original owner, who bought it directly from Bob. This one was built with all the good stuff - light sunburst finish, flamed maple back and sides, red spruce top, maple neck, ebony fretboard and bridge, and pearl logo and peghead inlay. It is fully bound top, back, fretboard and peghead. No pickguard as made. The fretboard has been scooped to eliminate pick click. It is fitted with nickle Schaller tuners with pearl button and an engraved tailpiece cover. Shows very minor playing wear. Very good sounding mandolin with good response all across the strings and up and down the neck. Just set up by my local luthier so the mandolin plays like silk and has an excellent bluegrass chop. Comes with a nice hard shell case....USD $2950

I have seen a number of these all mahogany teardrop mandolins with names like Sammo and Delta. I think they were built by either Bruno or Lyon and Healy, both in Chicago, and was probably built in the 20's or 30's. It's not currently playable, but I think this mandolin would be playable if you put the effort into fixing it up. I'm not going to do so. In any case, it makes a great wall hanger or something to use to practice your luthier skills. The tuners and tailpiece alone are worth the price. SOLD AS IS. More pics available, just ask.

*ON HOLD PENDING FUNDS RECEIPT*

$100 and shipping.
Thanks
Charles

Here is a worthwhile project. It's a 1917 Gibson A4 body and neck. No breaks or cracks. Looks like it's been refinished. Top and frets looks good. No other parts are available and there is no case.

SOLD AS IS.

$300 and shipping. More pictures are available, just ask.

*ON HOLD PENDING FUNDS RECEIPT*

Best regards
Charles

Want to try fixing up something that is worth fixing? Here is the body and neck for a 1915 Gibson A1 mandolin (according to the factory order number stamped inside). The body has some top cracks near the sound hole, but there is no peg head or heel crack. This instrument will need serious restoration to play correctly. No other parts are available and there no case, but it will be packed well.

SOLD AS IS

$200 and shipping. More pictures are available, just ask.

*ON HOLD PENDING FUNDS RECEIPT*

Thanks!
Charles

$5,000 Plus shipping from California

Beautiful R.L. Givens A5 mandolin, serial number 227, so it's probably a 1980 or 81 model (I bought it used and don't have much information).
Kept in the closet for many years, in great condition. A little fret wear, and very few surface scratches on the front. Also some damaged finish at the base of the headstock due to a leather strap.
The tone is really beautiful and clear, great volume.
With hard shell case, probably not original.
I'm selling it because I have another mandolin and it'd be shame to let this one spend any more time in the closet.

Eastman MD805D two point excellent condition. Bought with intention of learning on but no time. $1250 + shipping

$2,650.00 + shipping

Gibson Style H-1 Model Carved Top Mandola (1915), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 30622, natural varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.

This is a well-used just-about 110 year old example of an early Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing noticeable repair and finish work but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was the "basic" mandola, the middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Compared to mandolins, mandolas from any era are fairly rare, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still a fairly scarce item well over a century on. The H-1 lacks the decorative elements of the higher priced H-2 but is structurally the same. The headstock face has no ornament except the "The Gibson" inlaid in pearl, and the top has two half-herringbone soundhole rings.

This H-1 was made in 1915, by which point Gibson's carved-top mandolin family instruments were indisputably the most influential in the world. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top is carved from spruce, over birch back and sides. The neck is Honduras mahogany fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. While not the prettiest or most original of these this is a lovely sounding and fine playing example ready for another century at least.

Overall length is 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm.), 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm.) width, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 3/4 in. (400 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).

This Mandola has seen some life along the way, and shows the scars of almost 99 years here and there. The original thin varnish finish is intact on the back and headstock, lightly overfinished and/or polished out on the top and neck and entirely replaced on the sides. There is some typical fine checking to the original areas and general wear with chips, dings and scrapes. The top finish retains a nice amber patina with some staining (likely from a disintegrating celluloid pickguard) dings and scrapes but less pick wear than many.

There are no visible crack repairs. The back was removed at some point and two extra braces added in a "V" pattern under the bridge, along with a thin spruce patch. This means the back/side seams have been resealed but it is a neat job there are no really noticeable scars from the process. The work to the top was no doubt done to remedy sagging in the center, which it has mostly done although there are still a minor depression under the treble side bridge foot.

The hardware remains original with the exception of the pickguard, which is long gone. The tuners, tailpiece and bridge all remain in solid and relatively clean condition. The instrument retains the original thin 1915 frets with no really notable wear. Considering the work done this is still an attractive instrument and a very good player, with a warm and lovely sound. It is housed in a later hardshell case. Overall Very Good + Condition.