Gibson A-50

[Blackbird]

Hello all-

Looking for some information on this Gibson A50 with number T2529 17 stamped inside.
Attached are pictures. Correct to assume it's 1946 or later according to this website?
http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson8.html#a5

[William Smith]

Its a 1958 I do believe if it has a T before the #. And it has the late 50's burst style, just missing the tailpiece cover. Looks pretty clean!

[MikeEdgerton]

The tailpiece cover would be a Waverly cloud style tailpiece.

[Blackbird]

Thank you! This is very helpful. It's in pretty good shape otherwise except for the tuner knobs which were chewed up or disintegrating, Can't really tell.

[William Smith]

Its very common that those buttons of that era disintegrate due to time and heat!

[MikeEdgerton]

The tuner buttons are crumbling and will continue to do so. Kluson apparently had a ton of those buttons manufactured out of a bad plastic that just goes away with age, heat, etc. There are two ways to handle the problem. You can replace the buttons if you can find them or you can replace the tuners. If you want to keep the original look there are now reproduction Kluson tuners available.

Kluson Tuners

Frank Ford's www.frets.com button replacement article can be found here.

There was a cafe member that was manufacturing the Cloud tailpiece cover and selling in the classifieds but I don't see his ad. Otherwise you may have to buy an older Kay or Harmony mandolin on eBay that has that tailpiece. The cover wasn't engraved on that model.

StewMac has Schaller buttons that can probably be modified for use if replacing the buttons.

[jim simpson]

Mike,
I've used Frank Ford's method quite a bit and it works like a charm.