Year/Plant of Gibson Mandolin

[jmalmsteen]

I just got my new (used) mandolin in the mail today. They told me over the phone that it was five years old but the serial number is 91007020. From what I know about Gibson serial numbers this is a 1997 Gibson. Is that right? Also, the label says that this was made in Nashville but I thought mandolins were made in Montana at this point. How are mandolins from this year?

I am also worried that there was a repair made where the neck joins the body. They are claiming there were never any repairs made. The reason I think there was a repair is because there appears to be white stuff where the neck meets the body on the left side but not on the right side. When I called they just said, "well, it sounds good, right?" I will post pictures later.

As far as how it sounds, it makes my Kentucky sound like a toy in comparison. The Kentucky looks a lot nicer with its gold hardware and heavily flamed wood and gorgeous finish but the Gibson just blows it away in volume and tone. As soon as I tuned it and played a few notes and chords I just knew it sounded incredible.

[Big Joe]

Looks like an 09 not a 97. Made in Nashville. The white near the joint is likely buffing compound or wax. Nice mandolin, congrats.

[jmalmsteen]

Oh, I thought 91007 meant 97 since it used to be YxxxY. Thanks Joe. I thought the stuff might have been wax but since this thing was so expensive I had to make sure there weren't any repairs. Okay, I just wiped off the "repair" Haha!

Thanks Joe!

[Brent Hutto]

Nice Gibson you got there JM.

[John Gass]

Photos of said mandolin?

[Big Joe]

On guitars made in Nashville the first and fifth number gives the year, but mandolins in Nashville are first and last number... except in MM and DMM which have date on label.

[jmalmsteen]

Does anyone know how I can attach a photo here?

[jmalmsteen]

On guitars made in Nashville the first and fifth number gives the year, but mandolins in Nashville are first and last number... except in MM and DMM which have date on label.

I'm a little confused. The first number is a 9 and the last is a 0 so wouldn't that be a '90? The entire number is 91007020. Thanks!

[Bill Snyder]

Attach photos by following the instructions in T H I S P O S T.

[Ben Milne]

Read post 4 of this thread for info regarding serial numbers

[jmalmsteen]

Read post 4 of this thread for info regarding serial numbers

Thanks. The mandolin is from October 7, 2009 and was the second one produced that day. Is the general consensus that Gibson's from this year are okay?

[jmalmsteen]

I need to get some better pictures, but here is said mandolin:

[Brent Hutto]

Well we know of at least one from October of that year that's pretty nice.

Is the intonation good on it? It may just be the camera orientation but the bridge is at a bit more of an angle than some mandolins I've seen. Then again I've seen some with even more than that. Most of the time the treble side is just a touch closer to the neck than the bass side, some more than others. The only thing that matters is getting all the strings in tune up the neck, though.

[jmalmsteen]

Well we know of at least one from October of that year that's pretty nice.

Is the intonation good on it? It may just be the camera orientation but the bridge is at a bit more of an angle than some mandolins I've seen. Then again I've seen some with even more than that. Most of the time the treble side is just a touch closer to the neck than the bass side, some more than others. The only thing that matters is getting all the strings in tune up the neck, though.

That's a really good point. I didn't notice that. It is not the camera angle! It's the mandolin. Hmm...well I suppose I will go figure out if the intonation is correct up the neck. My Kentucky had a perfectly straight bridge. Thanks for mentioning this!

It appears to be okay. We're going to IBMA so I'll take it with me and hopefully get the opinion of another mandolin player as far as the intonation and sound etc.

[Brent Hutto]

Sometimes they need a noticable angle like that. Other times one end of the bridge just got knocked off its spot during a string change or while being shipped.

Just don't expect to every get the intonation as perfect as you can on a Telecaster or something with the little screw things on each string!