1923 Gibson A-4 Snakehead

There is simply no disputing the "Golden Age" of mandolins was the period from 1919 to 1924 when a gentleman named Lloyd Loar was the head acoustical engineer at Gibson. The Gibson A-4 was introduced in 1902, and until it was discontinued in 1935, the A-4 was Gibson's top-of-the-line A-style mandolin. It features a carved spruce top, Maple back and sides, an oval sound hole, and the shorter neck typical of early 20th Century Gibson mandolins. On the A body, the shorter neck positions the bridge at the widest part of the body, which gives it an open, resonant sound. It's a natural choice for old-time music, but it lends a mellow, sweet timbre to any string band.  While the A-4 had a variety of finish colors, this 1923 Gibson A-4 has a reddish-brown sunburst, and it also has the "Snakehead" peghead found from '23 to '25. The Snakehead is an especially cool detail with the A-4's Fleur De Lis inlay, and the abalone used for this articular inlay shows stunning greenheart coloration. This 1