Allegedly 1924 non-snakehead Gibson A-2?

[Matteo]

Hi all!
I am definitely no expert on Gibson serials, FON and so on...I have always relied on the Mandolin Archive to provide rough dating for instruments, so please excuse me if the question is silly.

I know of a guy who is selling a Gibson A2, serial number 76925 with factory order number 11710. He states it's a 1920...but wouldn't serial put it in the summer/fall 1924 time frame?
Also, this instrument has a truss rod...how can it be 1920?
It's Sheraton brown finish and it is NOT snakehead.

What sense do you guys make of this? AND, assuming I might be interested in acquiring it (which I still haven't made my mind up about), what is a fair asking price? Some 1500$? More?

Thanks,
Matt.

[pops1]

It could be from late '21 or '22, I don't know the numbers for the years. I have an A2 from '22 that has a truss rod, but paddle head. A wonderful sounding instrument.

[houseworker]

Spann dates the FON to 1922, the serial no. to 1924.

[Matteo]

Spann dates the FON to 1922, the serial no. to 1924.

Yes, that's the way I understood it too.
How would this make sense? Does it mean it was ordered in 1922 and built over the course of two years? Would this, commonly speaking, make it a 1922 A-2?
Thanks!

[houseworker]

How would this make sense?

Built in 1922. Shipped in 1924. Maybe there was a problem that needed sorting, or more likely just that the mandolin boom was over by then.

[houseworker]

If the seller is in Italy, you'd expect to pay a premium on the US market price given that it's already over here and you won't get hit for the VAT that you would on an import.

[Matteo]

If the seller is in Italy, you'd expect to pay a premium on the US market price given that it's already over here and you won't get hit for the VAT that you would on an import.

Yeah that's certainly right houseworker. So what would you guys say is the current US market value for one similar mandolin?

[houseworker]

Also, this instrument has a truss rod...how can it be 1920?
It's Sheraton brown finish and it is NOT snakehead.

Gibson generally updated factory stock to current spec and finish ahead of shipping. That may well be a factor in the gap between the FON and shipping dates.

[rockies]

I don't believe there would be a Vat or import duty for this item. I've sold several Gibsons and one Martin guitar into the USA from Canada. The instruments were NOT considered imports, just returning to their country of origin since they were made in the USA. Just my experience.
Dave

[Hendrik Ahrend]

By the end of 1923 Gibson as in financial trouble. Part of the reason was that they overbuilt, keeping hundreds of instruments on the shelves, thousands of $$ tied up. Thus a '22 mando shipping in '24 is not surprising.

[Matteo]

I don't believe there would be a Vat or import duty for this item. I've sold several Gibsons and one Martin guitar into the USA from Canada. The instruments were NOT considered imports, just returning to their country of origin since they were made in the USA. Just my experience.
Dave

Most probably correct Dave...but I am based in Italy

[houseworker]

I don't believe there would be a Vat or import duty for this item. I've sold several Gibsons and one Martin guitar into the USA from Canada. The instruments were NOT considered imports, just returning to their country of origin since they were made in the USA. Just my experience.
Dave

We're talking about a buyer in Italy, part of the EU. If he imports from North America, he will definitely have to pay VAT and possibly import duty.

[houseworker]

Value will depend on condition, originality and completeness.

[Matteo]

Value will depend on condition, originality and completeness.

Very good conditions, a bit of playwear (nothing dramatic), original tuners, original period-correct case, no top sinkage, no cracks.
Non-original bridge. Missing pickguard.

[mrmando]

Probably US$1400–1500 as described (1240–1330 euro). If there's a price premium because it's already in Europe, add perhaps 10 percent.

I'd pay more for a truss-rodded paddlehead than for one without a truss rod, but not TOO much more if isn't in fully original condition.

[Matteo]

Thanks everyone for the quick help! Love this forum!
Matt