View Full Version : Gibson A-9
tinymariachi
Dec-27-2003, 1:23am
Anyone out there with a gibson A-9 ? is it worth $1250.00 ? and is it a good mandolin for bluegrass? what do you all think about this mandolin?
Tiderider
Dec-27-2003, 9:34am
I have one. #I'll just say it's a hot/cold relationship.
Here's some other topics which may help.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....bson+a9 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=10631;hl=gibson+a9)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....bson+a9 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=9237;hl=gibson+a9)
"is it worth $1250.00"
Very clean used examples typically bring $900 - $950.
Tim Saxton
Dec-27-2003, 12:17pm
That is true Dale. I myself need to have dots on the board.
You could look at this mandolin for a few dollars more.
Nice Weber Absoroka (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2368832806&category=10179)
Then there is this one for quite a bit less. Never played this guys before but I am intrigued.
Hummingbird f style under $600 (http://aabcd.com/hbmandolins/instruments/index.html)
"Anyone out there with a gibson A-9 ? is it worth $1250.00 ? "
I have one and would answer yes. But, as all other posts say about ANY instrument, check out the one you might buy first, sound will vary somewhat from instrument to instrument.
I have one also, the only non-Flatiron Gibson I chose to buy, and I think its worth every penny. A great A-style mandolin that sounds the way a mandolin should! My advice, probably like everyone else's, is to try a bunch of mandos out in your price range, and pick (and pic) the best one!
mandobsessed
Jan-01-2004, 10:55am
My A9 turns heads wherever I play it. It is loud, full of tone and has a good bark, and people who should know better ask me if it is from the 20's. Worth every penny!!
As mentioned above try before you buy, there will be tonal differences in mandos from any maker. Don't be swayed by anyone's opinion on the board. (except mine of course!) You will be the one playing it so let your ear be your guide.
Greenmando
Jan-01-2004, 6:07pm
I find that I keep reaching for my A9 instead of the Flatiron. My wife is keeping that one company more now, lol.
Brian Baker
Jan-02-2004, 11:09am
I have owned one since August, and love it. I paid about $1250. The tone was huge from the get-go, which is what influenced me to buy it. Again, some A9s will sound better than others, but there are an awful lot of A9 owners on this board who feel the same way I do. I hope to keep mine and play it for many years! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
straight-a
Jan-12-2004, 4:56pm
I got one for Christmas and I LOVVVVVVVVE IT!!!!
It has a lot more than $1250 worth of sound in my book and I've never enjoyed mandolin playing as much as I do now.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Greenmando
Jan-12-2004, 5:04pm
To me it justs feels so good in my hands, very precisly made, frets well, great tone.
straight-a
Jan-14-2004, 4:32pm
I remember somewhere in one of the threads where Charlie or Joe said that the voicing, carving and such are done to the same specs on all of the mandolins from the A-9 on up to the MM.
peterbc
Jan-14-2004, 7:25pm
I don't own one, but I did play one recently and I didn't care for it. I didn't think it sounded very good and it the frets looked a little sloppy. I would definately try one before you buy it (if possible). It does sound like there are lots of good ones out there, though.
Peter
GTison
Jan-16-2004, 10:12am
I like the a-9s I have played. Yes some are better than others. But I think they are all better than my old Kentucky 1000 of about the same value. I don't think the gibson folks said they were the same specs as the F models. I think what they said was they tried to get the same air chamber volume to make them sound like an F but they didn't turn out that way.
Stillpicking
Jan-16-2004, 12:14pm
I tried one out at the local music store for about 45 min. or so.
I liked the tone and the look and it was loud enough but it felt like the neck was too narrow for me which was strange as I normally like mandos with a thin neck. The "G" string was too close to the edge of the fret board. Maybe the nut /string spacing could be changed but on a new mando I would expect it to be right.
This store gave me a price of $950 for a new "A".
doanepoole
Jan-16-2004, 1:21pm
This store gave me a price of $950 for a new "A".
This price is so low it approaches insanity. Where was this? I'd like to let a friend know.
Crowder
Jan-16-2004, 1:29pm
The "G" string was too close to the edge of the fret board. Maybe the nut /string spacing could be changed but on a new mando I would expect it to be right.
This seems to be typical of this model. Plan on spending $50 for a good setup job to complete the package.
bluegrassdan
Jan-16-2004, 6:49pm
I was just wondering if the A 9 is American made.
Joe Mangio
Jan-17-2004, 8:03am
Nashville, Tennessee
Dioptase
Jan-31-2004, 6:37am
Hey guys..
Just noticed a dealer selling an A-9 on ebay. Looks like the back is flamed. Is that standard on the model? I've not noted it in other photos I've seen of A9s.
Micah
Greenmando
Jan-31-2004, 8:46am
Mine has a lot of flame, and on the neck as well.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jan/20041314561715775085983.jpg
The flame is even prettier first hand. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Charlie Derrington
Jan-31-2004, 9:42am
Sometimes it happens. It's not standard, however.
Charlie
jessboo
Jan-31-2004, 10:32am
mine doesn't have any flame. but the sound just rocks http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Dioptase
Jan-31-2004, 3:25pm
Wonder if mine's gonna have it... should be arriving Wednesday or Thursday!
Brian Baker
Feb-01-2004, 12:57am
Mine has flame, but I have one of the darker stained A9s, so it is harder to see the flame... Beautiful wood, great sound.
Greenmando
Feb-01-2004, 8:38am
I took 20 pics to find one to show the flame. It really is very dark, look at the neck for the true darkness. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
Dioptase
Feb-06-2004, 2:12am
Just got my A-9 in the mail today. I couldn't ask for much more. It plays beautifully... has a wonderful dark finish, much darker than any I've seen pictured anywhere. The front is semi sunburst, fading almost to black by the edges with a chocolate tone toward the inside. The back has some flame, but nothing like greenmandos. The neck is tigerstriped up to the top.
The tone is what kills me, though. Much more than I expected. This little guy is a cannon, and what it pummels forth is real beauty.
It's still on the factory set up, and I'm rather pleased. It could be tweaked a little, but it sounds great and plays great-- all the way up the neck.
900$ well spent. I think I made the right choice-- I'd tried Rigels and Breedloves in the past, but never the A9. Took it on your advice, and I've no second thoughts. Thanks, everyone.
Micah
mandobsessed
Feb-06-2004, 2:22am
Congratulations and welcome to the club!