Old Gibson mandolin, please help ID

[AVL-picker]

Hello everyone, I have an old Gibson mandolin I could use some help identifying. the lady I bought it from didn't know much about it but she thought it was from the 20's or 30's. She didn't want to part with it too easily though. I paid $200 for it after I convinced her to sell it to me. She said it came from a group of musicians including her ex boyfriend who was from the NY area 20 years ago. It plays well and sounds good has a great vintage patina. Thanks for any help!

[AVL-picker]

Pic of tuners..

[MikeEdgerton]

30's. She sold it cheap.

Look inside towards the neckblock with a flashlight. Is there a number stamped there?

[AVL-picker]

Thanks Mike. Under the pick guard there is a number stamped faintly. It looks like it is stamped 1695-6 with the -6 written in by hand. See pic.

[F-2 Dave]

Sweet deal. Awesome looking mandolin. The case is worth a big chunk of the $200 price tag. Although, I doubt that it's original to that mandolin. The mandolin reminds me of a '34 A-1 that I had for a while. Mine had a silk screened logo and your's is clearly inlaid. Yours is probably a early A-50, but I'll defer to the experts.

[MikeEdgerton]

That number is probably the Factory Order Number. Unfortunately I had to come to work to resolve some server issues (thus I am writing this at 1:55 AM). I'll try and ID the year tomorrow if someone else doesn't jump in with it before then.

[AVL-picker]

Thanks again Mike, much appreciated. I looked in the body again last night with a flashlight and didn't see any other markings.. And it looks like it may read 169 A-6 instead of 169 5-6. The "-6" is hand written and the rest of it is stamped. Would that tell us anything?

I have googled various years / models from that era and can't find an exact match with exact year listed yet but did see a few very similar that said they were 1930s A50's.

[MikeEdgerton]

It's a FON. How wide is the body at it's widest point and is the back bound?

[AVL-picker]

Mike, the back is bound the same as the top, and the body is about 10" wide at the back. I can get an exact measurement later, it might be 10.5

[Ken Waltham]

I think you have " A 695-6 "
This makes sense, and it would be a 1935.

[AVL-picker]

According to the Acoustic Gibson serial number pdf, between 1935 and 1937 the letter appeared between the batch and instrument number. A does correspond to 1935 there. So 169 A - 6 would correspond to batch 169, 1935, instrument 6. Does this sound right - 1935 A50?

Thanks again everyone

[lenf12]

So, you "stole" that mandolin and case from that poor old lady for $200? Shame on you!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Jeff Mando]

So, you "stole" that mandolin and case from that poor old lady for $200? Shame on you!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

He just paid "low wholesale" for it.

Case looks like an early 60's.

[lenf12]

He just paid "low wholesale" for it.

Oh, then never mind...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[AVL-picker]

Haha well I didn't really know what it was worth, but I was pretty sure it was worth at least 200. Speaking of which, any idea of value?

[Capt. E]

What wood was used for the back and sides? If mahogany it is an A-00 like the later A-40's. If maple it is an A-50. A-50's often had bound fretboards, though. An A-00 would have had a different tailpiece and perhaps a rosewood bridge. There was quite a lot of variations in the 30's through WWII.

[AVL-picker]

What wood was used for the back and sides? If mahogany it is an A-00 like the later A-40's. If maple it is an A-50. A-50's often had bound fretboards, though. An A-00 would have had a different tailpiece and perhaps a rosewood bridge. There was quite a lot of variations in the 30's through WWII.

The wood on the back and sides appears to be mahogany. See additional pics also of the FON which more clearly shows the "A".

[AVL-picker]

Also, I found this completed eBay listing which looks very very close. they claim theirs is an A50 and seeing as it is on the Internet it must be true right? Thanks for all the help guys

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scarce-Vinta...p2047675.l2557

[Jeff Mando]

A completed sale on eBay shows what the instrument will bring in "real money" for a quick sale. Keep in mind eBay final value fees are approx 11 percent and Paypal fees are another 3 percent, so take 14 percent off the top and that's assuming the customer is paying for shipping and insurance.

That one on eBay went fairly high, in my opinion. Many end up selling in the $500-800 range. Of course, you can play up the condition and case in your listing by taking good, clear photos.

[AVL-picker]

Do you guys agree it is mahogany, or could it be stained maple? And does that make it an A00 or A50? Thanks!

[MikeEdgerton]

That doesn't look like Mahogany to me. I'm not sure if it's an A-1 or an A-50 yet. I've been a little out of touch for the last few days dealing with my real world.

[Capt. E]

Your mandolin has a bound back and the wood for the back and sides looks like maple (or birch?). You have an A-50, at least that is what I would call it.

[lenf12]

I vote for birch rather than maple.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Jeff Mando]

Also, looks like the seam in the back has opened up or maybe it had opened and has been repaired, but it shows, so that would have to be addressed or at least mentioned in an ad, if you are selling it.

[AVL-picker]

Yes, it has been repaired and is now stable. I am not selling it but if I did, I'll mention it of course.