Gibson A0 Found in Attic

[huntergathergirl]

Hi, thanks for accepting me to the forum.

I found a Gibson A0 in the rafters of a historic home. It appears to be in pretty good shape and sounds great! The surface is a little scratched, but no other damage.

I'd like to try and figure out value in order to sell. Is that an okay question to ask here? If not, please delete.

It doesn't appear to be signed and the model is 88174. There seems to be a 134 stamp way up towards the neck on the inside.

Help!

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey, You!

These folks’ll set ya’ straight! Treat one on Reverb right now for $1800. That feels right if it’s in good/great shape.

[Charles E.]

Welcome to the cafe, without seeing photos it is very difficult to evaluate an instrument.

$1800. seems a bit on the high for an A-O to me but it all depends on condition.

[Eric F.]

I think you need to accept that it found you and therefore you need to learn to play it.

[Simon DS]

Mandolessons.com
-or save the mandolin for your kids to learn on. They’ll thank you for music. :)

[NickR]

I think most observers think prices on Reverb are nearly always on the high side. However, price is dependent on condition, so that needs to be factored in. A0 mandolins do not appear for sale that often but it is worth considering that this model sold for roughly half the price of the A2 in the late 1920s. It might be good to post some photos to confirm the model itself. This mint condition A series model sold for $1826 the other day. Mind you, if you keep the mandolin, then you don't have to worry about its monetary value!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274465970403?ViewItem=&item=274465970403

[MikeEdgerton]

The number stamped on the neck block is a Factory Order Number or FON. That number is not listed in Spann's Guide to Gibson but that is known to be not complete. It falls in the range of numbers for a 1931 shipping date. The Model number you refer to is most likely the serial number. That too falls in the 1931 date range. If we assume the model is an A-0 as that is what you're calling it, then those dates should be right as it was available from1927 to 1933. This instrument would not have had a signed label. Without pictures there's no real way to give you a value. The value you have received are very very generous for an unseen instrument. Extremely generous. NickR's statement about Reverb is pretty much correct. The A-0 was not a deluxe model of Gibson mandolin. Post some pictures please.

[huntergathergirl]

I can get some better photos if necessary.

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[MikeEdgerton]

That would be a player grade A-0, it appears to be correct for the dates given, the tailpiece cover is there, the tuners look original, you've got some cracks and scratches. The pickguard hasn't off gassed and deteriorated totally. If it's playable and nobody is going to know that until they get it in their hands, then it is saleable. Asking prices and selling prices aren't the same thing and what a well established retailer can get is generally different than what a private seller can sell for. Was it in a case when you found it? The case can make it a little more attractive no matter how bad that case might look to you. If so, can you post a picture of the case?

[William Smith]

Very nice find! I love any old Gibson finds! They are still out there! You found that in rafters "above a ceiling or basement?" WoW indeed! KOOL!

[NickR]

Having a legible label inside takes out all the guesswork and careful analysis! It is interesting that the info from Spann's Guide To Gibson suggests that many of the "A" mandolins in this approximate number range were made in 1928 but not shipped until 1931. It looks like a very nice find, all right. Well done!

[EdHanrahan]

Yeah... Gonna have to go checking thru the rafters again!

[Bob Clark]

Yeah... Gonna have to go checking thru the rafters again!

The only things in my rafters are cobwebs!

[NickR]

Here's another that was on Reverb- it has a case although it is the less expensive contemporary soft case.

https://reverb.com/item/2602887-gibson-a-0-1928-maple-black-mandolin

[huntergathergirl]

Thanks everyone! Yes, as soon as I saw 'Gibson' I got very excited. I'm a professional organizer that does clean outs and have come across some great finds over the years. This is no exception and I look forward to finding its new loving home. A very talented friend of mine played it and it was nearly tuned and sounded great.

<Removed by Moderator, Posting Guidelines. Please limit commerce to the Classifieds>

No case though. :(

[NickR]

Here is a recent ad for an A0 at this site: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/155893

[BradKlein]

Here is a recent ad for an A0 at this site: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/155893

That's a good comparable. Note that it's in much better condition than the one posted by the original poster. And it's from one of the top dealers in the country.

The instrument found by the original poster I would estimate at $750-1100 on Ebay, for example, depending on presence and condition of a case. It's easy to give inexperienced sellers unrealistic expectations. Not saying that it's not a lovely find and may be a fine instrument, of course.

[MikeEdgerton]

... It's easy to give inexperienced sellers unrealistic expectations. Not saying that it's not a lovely find and may be a fine instrument, of course.

Yup. No case.