My NEW (old) Mandolin

What do you think about this 1923 Gibson A Model Mandolin??? Here's the run down if anyone's curious. Be on the lookout for more vids with this killer axe soon!
And if you're interested in learning more about these vintage Gibson A Models, check out this super informative article on the Mandolin Cafe by Dan Beimborn: www.mandolincafe.com/archives...
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ABOUT ME:
My name is David, and I play the mandolin. I've played with multiple award-winning bluegrass bands across the world including Missy Raines, Mile Twelve, Cup O’Joe, and The Foreign Landers, and I curate the weekly mandolin video series #mandolinmondays hosted by the Mandolin Cafe. But most of all, I love sharing my love of the mandolin with others. I run an online mandolin learning community on Patreon, and I also make videos to share my thoughts, ideas, and general mandolin enthusiasm with other mando aficionados. Find out more at the links below:
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[@rileysump3913]

Totally sweet. The oval A doesn’t get enough love these days but they’re such a gorgeous tonal option.

[@jgarber235]

Welcome to the snakehead club! I have two: one Blackface A2 from 1923 and last year I acquired my dream snakehead, an A-4 with Virzi and coffee-colored knobs. That is my main mandolin for almost everything, sweet but with ample headroom to sing out.

[@andrewpartington7274]

Heck yeah! Can't wait for the Irish/celtic music

[@sonomabob]

I have one of these.. 23, Sounds like yours. Radiused board and larger frets. Plays like a dream.

[@gummiatli]

Lovely!! Congratulation David. It is also good when one of those good condition mandolins from this era ends up in talented hands and being played. 🙌

[@Gman1044]

Nice one David. I'm lucky to own a mandolin similar but about 90 years newer. It's a Mike Black A2 made in 2012 in Kansas. I'm in Australia, a long way from Kansas and I feel so privileged to own it. It has a sound very similar to your old Gibson and I get many comments about how beautiful it sounds, not me but my beautiful A2. Love your channel mate which really inspires and teaches me.

[@maxpowers4823]

Beautiful instrument. Fantastic playing btw. The tone of that model A and your excellent playing are a perfect match

[@dondeese7167]

Congratulations David! I bought a 1924 Gibson A2Z “snakehead” mandolin back in February of this year and I’m very happy with it. The first piece I played was an excerpt from the beginning of Bach’s Sonata 1, so I guess these old Mandolins pull us in that direction 😊 Mine is serial # 75630, Chris Thile’s F5 is 75316. My FON (factory order number) indicates a 1923 build, so I wonder how close mine and yours are regarding serial numbers? I guess there’s a good chance they were at the factory being built at the same time 100 years ago? Congratulations again. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing more from this Mandolin.

[@f5mando]

A2Z is a superior model, IMO: With maple back and the black line inside the binding...just gorgeous. My 1823 A snakehead is #7222, so a long way from your '25!

[@gwawd]

Sounds marvelous!

[@peterjames2580]

I have a F-4 from 1917 and it sounds sweet! Congrats on you nice A!

[@haroldmoore2563]

I have the 'paddle-head', I learn a lot from your videos!

[@Tergal14Mandolin]

What a nice find David, I bet you will play it more often than you think ;)

[@robertyork8779]

Congrats David! what a beautiful instrument. Can't wait to hear you play more on it.

[@doghouse010]

cool now i know that my Kentucky km-276 appears to be based on this design! thanks!

[@paintedrockplayers]

My first was an impulse buy. 1922 Martin bowl back.

[@grahambrown5869]

I have a student who has one here in Australia. His dad got it in a box of old bits and pieces he bought for $5 50 years ago.

[@whythesadface]

I have a black face snake head 1924 that I bought in Woolongong in the early 80's. The elderly woman told me her husband bought it new.

[@utubezig]

I think it sounds great, congratulations!

[@ReedShield1962]

Love it!! Looking forward to those Irish Mandolin lessons!! They're going to sound great!!

[@jamesfrederick99]

I also looking forward to Irish mandolin lessons. Thank you in advance. I am awaiting a starter mandolin, The Loar LM-110 that I just purchased from a great dude in Indiana on Marketplace. Shout out to Hayden! Well thank you David. You are helping me start this mandolin journey, so I won’t be going alone on it.

[@Harpmando]

That is a sweet sounding mandolin. Oval holes are my favorites! Marla Fibish plays one. Thank you for sharing!

[@f5mando]

Congratulations on the snakehead, David! I still have my first mandolin, a 1923 'A' #72221- bought when I first joined a bluegrass band. Mine is almost identical, save the wiggle-end tuners, and (now with a) radius fretboard. The case and pickguard went missing while in the 'care' of a couple of trusted peeps, but I'm grateful to still have it since 1980. There is no substitute! Enjoy it. Love those arrow-end tuners, too.

[@RobColgan]

I enjoyed learning about your new (old) mandolin, and was initially attracted to this video by the similarity to my only mandolin, a 1921 A model which I now know has a paddle head. Mine is not in as pristine condition as yours, but the tone is outstanding as well. Mine also included the original case and pickguard.

[@brianmckinley6177]

Beautiful mandolin. Two weeks ago, I had a 1914 Gibson A4 (black top) arrive at my door. It is all original and has all the parts intact. Fortunately, it sounds perfect and plays beautifully. I can’t put it down and take me to a place I haven’t been before. I sold a ‘57 Gibson A-40 to a friend who steered me to your page. Thoroughly enjoy all you videos and this one in particular. The mandolin sounds great!

[@samvermeulen9740]

Amazing mandolin, hope you make it over to ireland one day to play some sessions

[@Tom-Lloyd-Music]

Sounds fantastic!

[@tedperry7085]

She's a peach, David. I bought a 1915 Gibson at Carter's in Nashville two years ago. Loved your explanation of the features.

[@genesishandboards]

I have a 1917 gibson F2 that I'm proud of! It has the oval hole, and what it lacks in a trust rod it makes up in tone and playability! Luckily the neck has the perfect bow and perfect fretting! Yours is a gem! Hope to hear more playing of it in future videos!

[@danstune]

Congrats, David. I have a great sounding 1913 with nice action.

[@aleksandraalexander4506]

Congratulations David! I have a 1922 paddle head oval hole A mando. I love it! The tone is so rich with subtleties, lending itself to play anything ha! Before purchasing this one, I picked up one with snake head and I didn’t like the feel in my hand so I sent it back. Anyway, despite that the sound of those old instruments are amazing and really don’t know why the value isn’t climbing. The notes sustain incredibly well.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Very nice! Yeah, love these old mandos!

[@WC_Beer_Reviews]

I've been waiting for this video! It looks and sounds amazing! I think it would be cool to do a side by side with an F - hole to get a tonal comparison.

[@cherylwatson4293]

What a great choice! Your "new" vintage Gibson sounds great!

[@NickGranville]

It’s a beauty! Congrats

[@thestupendouschumley]

Similar to the the tone I was looking for in my Mia 'Celtic Fraser' model A-style mandolin, crafted by Clarinda Harvey. Just an absolutely sweet mellow tone. Thomastik Infeld Vienna Strings, mandolin set 154, also greatly improved that 'sweet' tonality I was looking for. The bottom three strings are flatwound.

[@douglasculhane3657]

Really sweet, perfect for your beautiful version of Bach suite 1 prelude. What strings do you use on this? I just acquired a 1922 Gibson A (paddle head, truss rod). Love your videos -- Inspiring -- thank you!

[@midnight4109]

My problem with Mandolins is that my fingers are a bit too big to make good chords. I took violin lessons as a child and played terribly, convincing me that I had no ability. You mentioned an instrument with wider string spacing and I will watch that video again to see if it might be more suitable. I don't have the problem with piano which I enjoy playing.

[@rttipton]

Beautiful sound! Hope you do a lot of Bach with it?

[@patsyrussell5039]

Hi I just love Gibson mandolins for tone / action the feel of them there just the beautiful I have a 1916 A4 for over 20yrs I recently bought a 1914 A model wouldn’t part with them I also have an Eastman 605 not sure will I keep it or not what you think

[@laurajohnson3110]

Sounds beautiful. Yay for more Irish!

[@TALinTune]

Congrats dude. Let’s get jiggy wit it

[@Chrissummerill]

Very nice!

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Snakeheads rule! I have a 1924 A Jr. and it’s wonderful. I (try) to play jazz on it and the tone is perfect for that.

[@jackgreene5868]

I think I might have owned that mando quite a few years ago. Unfortunately I had to sell it. David, if you ever get a chance check out the Breton mandolin built by Brian Dean. Much like the snakehead but more of a “singing” voice with incredible sustain. BTW great channel!

[@garyteague9555]

I have one like it , mine is a few years older and according to your explanation mine must be a paddle head

[@mikemcmanus116]

Yep :-) I'm into Old Time.

[@chriscravens8318]

Great. Now I have another type of mando to want.

[@f5mando]

Ha! So many mandolins. So little time... Welcome to MAS.

[@deepfriedrye9352]

I have a 1914 A-1. player grade condition. Someone played it enough for me to get re-fret. The tone though….

[@NickRatnieks]

Gibson had just invented and patented the adjustable bridge and truss rod in the early 1920s which is why you do not see them on the earlier instruments be they guitars or mandolins because it was a brand new innovation. Many people reckon this era of mandolins from Gibson is the best for tone and volume, so you have hit the bullseye with your new mandolin.

[@musicofanatic]

"Master Luthier" when referring to Lloyd Loar is an inaccurate assignation. The title "Acoustic Engineer" is printed under his signature on my F5. Dunno if he ever constructed an instrument in his life, but I am fairly certain he never lifted a chisel whilst in Gibson's employ. Enjoy your snakehead A...I have owned and enjoyed both a 1924 A2Z and a 1925 black top A through the years.

[@waynebagley]

I love it.

[@ianjohn3]

Hi what strings would you use on your new oval?

[@kevininman2013]

I have big muddy flat top that is really nice!

[@BlackheartCharlie]

Yay! More Irish!!! 🙂

[@jobanski]

I’m obviously new to mandolins, so I’m still having a difficulty understanding why some mandolins are geared toward certain types of music.

[@jackdublanica]

Has anyone tried a bowl back mandolin? It looks like a miniature lute. I just wonder anyone uses them when the Gibson style mandolins are far superior in tone, volume, and playability.

[@banjeauvi7321]

Loar tone at a fraction of the cost. Congrats.

[@bronwynsinclair1646]

Cheeky question..what would one of those cost?

[@f5mando]

Depending on the model and condition, expect to part with between $3,500 and $4,500. More for the higher end exotic versions with maple back and sides/more binding, etc.

[@bronwynsinclair1646]

@f5mando thank you for your reply. Appreciated

[@congerscott6064]

I think it's great, they just don't make them like that anymore 🇺🇸👍🏆.