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1940 Gibson A-50 Mandolin

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Factory Order #: 444F-13

Body width: 11 1/8" Scale length: 14 1/2" Nut Width: 1 5/32"

Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst

Materials: Solid bookmatched hand graduated spruce top; hand carved bookmatched maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; pearl fingerboard and peghead inlay; bound body and neck.

Hardware: Original hardware includes nickel open back tuners, adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, adjustable truss rod with bell cover. Vintage correct hardware includes bound tortoise pickguard, Gibson engraved tailpiece.

Notes: Introduced in the depth of the Great Depression, the Gibson A-50 mandolin made its debut in 1933 as a round hole model, and was shortly redesigned with f-holes the following year. With its distinctive pear shaped body, the A-50 was both larger in width and longer in scale than previous A series Gibsons, with bigger soundholes and an ornate Nick Lucas style fingerboard inlay. By 1942, the A-50 had been reduced in both breadth and scale, and simplified with dot inlays, unbound guard and solid walnut stained back and sides, a motif retained until the model's demise some three decades later.

This striking instrument shows the most desirable prewar features, including the larger body, long scale, and fleur-de-lis peghead. The carved maple body has particularly extravagant figure, with an intensely quilted back and deep flame maple sides. Maintained in superb condition, the instrument is free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear: even typical weather checking is almost completely absent on its subtle cordovan sunburst finish.

Smooth low action over fine original frets, comfy gentle C neck profile, brilliant clear voice with excellent warmth and projection. A rare and exceptionally attractive example of prewar Gibson 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: Padded black Cordura gig bag with shoulder strap.

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