View Full Version : F 4 -F 5 what's the difference
rcaptdik
Oct-19-2005, 9:16am
I'm new to this board but ,,,,,How can you tell the difference between the "F" model mandolins
thank you
rl
rcaptdik
Oct-19-2005, 9:19am
I am looking for the differences between F 4 and F 5 mandolins
fatt-dad
Oct-19-2005, 9:20am
Typically, the F4 relates to a mandolin with the scroll and an oval sound hole. The F5 also has a scroll, but with f-shaped sound holes. You will likely get some additional comment, but basically this is the principal difference - oval v. f-shaped sound holes.
Welcome to the 'cafe!
fatt-dad
sunburst
Oct-19-2005, 9:22am
The basic differences are:
F4 - round (oval) sound hole, shorter neck
F5 - f-holes, longer neck
Is one better? No.
Are they different? Yes.
There have been numerous threads on this subject. If you try the search feature, you'll likely turn up some information.
recklessmando
Oct-19-2005, 10:05am
Vive le difference!
b.pat
Oct-19-2005, 10:33am
And Another,,
Peter Hackman
Oct-19-2005, 10:50am
And Another,,
this is torture ...
Celtic Saguaro
Oct-19-2005, 10:55am
Yeah, and I just had my MAS under control for two whole days. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
fatt-dad
Oct-19-2005, 10:57am
The basic differences are:
F4 - round (oval) sound hole, shorter neck
F5 - f-holes, longer neck
Notwithstanding the historical perspective, as the two photos show above some F4's are joined at the 12th and others at the 14th or 15th frets.
fatt not-trying-to-stir-the-pot dad
sunburst
Oct-19-2005, 11:36am
Strictly speaking, F4s and F5s are Gibson mandolins, and have different length necks.
F5 and F4 designations, these days, get used sort of generically to mean "shaped like a Gibson F5", or "Shaped like a Gibson F4, F3, F2, etc." respectively.
Curly-qued mandolins with oval holes can indeed have necks of whatever length the luthier chooses, but I just can't quite call it an F4 regardless of neck length, ornamentation, headstock shape, bracing, etc., and I think it can be confusing to do so.
So, that's why my answer included the neck length.
(Similarly, I don't designate my F5-style mandolins as F5s, or my A5-style mandolins as A5s. That's just not what they are.)
sun not-trying-to-stir-the-pot-either,-just-explaning-myself burst http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
fatt-dad
Oct-19-2005, 1:57pm
sun not-trying-to-stir-the-pot-either,-just-explaning-myself burst # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
fat diet-root-beer-gurggling-through-my-cigar-inflused-nostrils dad