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1922 Gibson A-3, Loar Era

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Serial #: 69466, white oval label

Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer: opaque ivory top, red mahogany body and neck.

Materials: Solid bookmatched hand graduated spruce top; hand carved bookmatched maple back and sides; 3 piece mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard; grained ivoroid binding.

Hardware: Original hardware includes adjustable compensated ebony bridge, engraved nickel Gibson script tailpiece, nickel truss rod cover, patent stamped grained ivoroid finger rest, nickel gear-over-worm tuners with grained ivoroid keys. Antiqued nickel rod and shoe pickguard bracket.

Notes: The A-3 mandolin was introduced by Gibson in 1902, and the ivory finish made its debut in 1918. The rarest of all Gibson mandolin finishes, the ivory finish was discontinued along with the model itself in early 1923, the year after this example was built. The adjustable truss rod did not appear until late 1921, so only those few final A-3s are equipped with the desirable adjustable neck.

This example has been maintained in wonderful condition, with minimal pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and only light normal checking in the all-original ivory top finish and mahogany back, sides and neck. Original nickel hardware includes open back gear-over-worm tuners, and tailpiece with hand engraved cover plate; nickel pickguard bracket of later vintage. Original compensated Pat Pending 1921 stamped adjustable ebony bridge, and distinctive '09 Patent stamped pickguard made of grained ivoroid, a feature exclusive to this model.

Smooth low action over straight ebony fingerboard with fine original frets, comfy V neck profile, single short side crack soundly resealed near endblock, brilliant clear voice with excellent warmth and projection. A rare and exceptionally attractive example of Loar-era craftsmanship at its finest.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge roundwound phosphor bronze strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original Gibson contoured plush lined black arched hardshell case.

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