I also have one of these funky A5 mandolins. Mine is a 1975 model that I refretted and refinished (nitro laq sunburst). It had been left in its case for so long the binding started comming off, and the neck heel cap had cracked and started wreaking the surrounding finish. It now plays and looks better than it did when it was new. As far as I can tell, it is made of solid spruce for the top and solid maple for the back, as the grain appears to match front to back. I also releived the fretboard at the tongue (like Frank Ford does at Gryphon Instruments). Its a good sounding instrument (now with all the repairs) and its an excellent player.
Paul Bamberg