Distressed gibson a9

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Well, I got the A9 a few years ago and recently had the frets replaced with banjo wire and i have fallen in love all over again. The years of hard playing have taken their toll on it, but it sounds all the better as result.

This is also a lot of playing around with my Nikon D40.

Hope you enjoy,
Baron

[Baron Collins-Hill]

The back. Somehow a quarter got in my case and rolled around on the back edge for a day at a festival and the unbound corner got a new outlook on life.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

The neck has taken a beating too, but oh how i love it.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Part of the scratching is due to the previous owner planting their pinky.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Now for a few fun ones. Inlay.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

And my oh so favourite flatwounds. JazzMandos.

[Don Grieser]

you keep pickin' that thing, it'll never heal....

[woodwizard]

Posted: Jan. 31 2008, 15:32

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you keep pickin' that thing, it'll never heal....


That's a good one Don http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mandroid]

Saw a picture of Guild guitar in construction.
of note headstock 'inlay' was pearloid plastic
poured into the routed out cavity.
got the Logo in there, and was quicker and saved cost.
may be part of the 9 series cost savings, too.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

that was a good one don http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

the poured plastic may be, but im pretty sure its mop, i kind of nuked it with light. there are a few cracks and dicolorations that dont really add up to plastic, unless they are cutting costs on the plastic too, http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[John Hill]

Cool. That A's starting to look like Statmans! Like Dasspunk would say, "You've taught that one some manners."

[Don Grieser]

yeah, i bet it sounds good.

[delsbrother]

Sweet back! I like the dark brown top too. Is it just a trick of the light that the back photo seems much lighter? Mine is dark (like in your first photo) all around. But then mine isn't as figured as yours either.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

its got a really strange finish on it. its extremely dark when there isnt any light hitting it, but can be relatively bright looking in the right light. it is also not a matte, but they are advertised as being matte.

thanks,
baron

[mandobsessed]

Wow, your A9 has a very figured back. Mine is very plain wood, still sounds better than any other mando I've played though (I am a bit biased!!!)

[delsbrother]

Yeah, I recently brought mine into a well known vintage shop for appraisal, and they were surprised when it came out of its case - said, "Well, obviously this one has been polished with something, as they're normally matte. That may devalue it somewhat." Well, I'm the original owner (it's a 2002, the exact one seen here. (http://folkofthewood.com/page2791.htm)) and it has never been cleaned, much less polished. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I kind of go 'round and 'round about these things with other 9-series owners on this site... I wonder if anyone at Gibson can tell us for sure how many different variations of finish these things had in the beginning.

[300win]

PhishPhan, yep looks like an old warrior of music. Question; is that the original Gibson bridge ?

[Bernie Daniel]

That is a great looking A-9. #I agree with the previous comments -- the back wood is exceptional -- generally pretty plain looking maple on that lower priced mandolin series.

I looks exactly like the bridge on my A-9 -- I'd guess it is the original.

The A-9/F-9 series of mandolins were one exceptionally good move (PR-wise) on the part of Gibson. #In my experience these mandolins, in most cases, sound just like the higher end models.

There is precious little difference in the sound of my A-9 and my F-5 Fern (both 2002) and really the A is some what easier to play as you do not have to aviod the Llyod Loar's clickity-clacker.

The inlay on the A-9/F-9 is standard MOP Gibson script.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I have played Phisphan's A-9, as we occasionally jam, and can tell you that the inlay is MOP. I love those Jazzmando strings, too.
Nice job, Baron. You going to the Strand to see Punch Bros?
I've got my tickets already.
Hope to see you there.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

yep yep, im actually going to both shows as i am headed out to bethel with my friend on saturday and we figured hey, why not go again. have you heard the clip on myspace? www.myspace.com/punchbrothers

its soooooo gooood.

did i just hijack my own thread? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif i should be allowed to i guess...

baron