Value and Info for 1925 Gibson H-1

[ABlair]

Looking for value and information on a 1925 Gibson H-1 mandola I have on loan. It’s in very good condition albeit a few dings, scratches and fret wear. It has a warm, sweet tone and includes truss rod, adjustable bridge, pick guard and original case.

[rcc56]

If I remember correctly, H-1 mandolas typically seem to go in the $1850 to $2500 range, depending on condition and who the seller is. These figures are for models made in the 1910's without truss rods.

There are not many Gibson mandolas on the market right now, so there is not much to compare yours with.

Yours is a very late model with a truss rod, and we do not see many of these. Some buyers are willing to pay a premium for one with a truss rod. I cannot say how much that premium would be.

Your mandola appears to have the original pickguard and bridge. The tuners are plainer than we see on 'teens mandolas, but I believe that they may also be original. It looks like something has been done to the tailpiece. The engraving is so faint that it can barely be seen in the picture. A picture of the back of your mandola would give us a better idea of its value. A close-up of the tailpiece would also be helpful.

I will mention that there is another 1925 H-1 with truss rod on the market for a whopping $4250. But it has been for sale for a long time and I do not believe that it will bring anywhere near that amount. It also has a fair amount of wear and tear. Perhaps $2750 or less would be a more realistic price for that one, and that's including a pretty hefty premium for the truss rod.

[ABlair]

Thank you for a very informative reply. As you mentioned, there don’t seem to be many on the market to which to compare. I would like to purchase this from my friend but I want to give her a fair price and what I can afford. Here are a few more pics. Btw, the serial number is legible but not listed in the mandolin archive.

[rcc56]

Now that I see a clear shot of the tailpiece, it looks fine to me.
The back appears to be in pretty good shape.
I would describe the instrument as being in "very good plus original condition." Some people would call it "excellent condition."
I would guess that established vintage dealers might list it somewhere between $2k and $3k.

[ABlair]

Thank you. Really helpful!