Another classic mandolin
1914 Gibson A-4
© Frank Ford, 2001; Photos by FF

It's hard to mistake this one - Gibson's top-of-the-line "A" style mandolin from the World War I era. Before the "sunburst" red finish had become a standard, these high end mandolins had a black top, with the same cordovan red stained birch back and sides found on the other As. The A-4 featured a fleur-de-lis inlay on the peghead, inlaid ivoroid tuner buttons, a slightly fancier soundhole decoration and that little treble extension on the fingerboard.

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