Gibson F5V and F5L designations

[mikeh]

I've heard conflicting explanations of the designations that Gibson put on these mandolins and was wondering if you all had any input. What do the "V" and the "L" stand for? Did/do these instruments only have the Fern peghead inlay or do some have a flowerpot? Is an F5V still made? Any help is appreciated.

[lindensensei]

I have the same question. #I found a site this morning offering the F5V and refered to it as the Master Model. #Not a master model, but The Master Model at $15,900.00

Is the top of the line and the F5V the same instrument?

Back in the 90's there was a mandolin called the F-5v which was a varnish fern with silver plated hardware, made back in the Weber era. The F-5L is a laquer instrument.
The F-5v eventually was gone when production moved to Nashville. The Birth of the Master Model came about with Loar specs and dovetail joints and all that good stuff. The serial number for the Master Models has a V in the numbering. I guess this is where the confusion is over the F-5v and the master model.

The old F-5v's are very good mandolins but the Master Model is ALOT better.

[mikeyes]

Just to confuse things slightly, the Nashville Gibson factory makes a varnish version of the F5L called the Fern V which I highly recommend for sound and playability. It is not on their web site unless you do a search for "Fern V" and is not listed anywhere in the various stores on line due to the Gibson policy. I am not sure how they are advertised as they only make them sporadically, I think.

The F5V designation is now obselete, for now.

[Big Joe]

Actually....The Fern V is not a production model but a custom model built from time to time. It is not on the price sheets because it is not a production model.

The term F5L stood for Loar, but was not very close to the Loar specs. It has been phased out in favor of the term Fern. The term F5V is actually the Master Model. The V stands for Varnish. The Master Model is not commonly called the F5V to help sererate it from the earlier varnish models that were built differently and used a different varnish on them.

Hopefully this helps. I'm sure it clears the mud http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif . Oh, I almost forgot. The Distressed Master Model is the F5D. Thought that might help clear the issue.

[mikeyes]

Big Joe,

That helps a lot, thanks. Now I have them straight.

And continue the Fern V as a custom model, I want to keep feeling special http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif It's the best deal in Gibsonland.

[mikeh]

Big Joe,
When exactly was the last F5L made that was "not very close to Loar specs", I'm hoping you'll say well before 1999

[Big Joe]

Any built before 1999 and 1929 or so. Still good mandolins, just not the same. Actually, the mandolins begin changing is subtle and not so subtle ways as early as 1925.

[KevinM]

Tell us more Big Joe.

[Joe Parker]

Here is a picture of my F5V signed Sept.25,'95 Montana era, -it has a spirit varnish finish that is different from the varnish finish on my May 27,04 Master Model that is posted in another thread. The external body specs vary slightly,this one has a neck joint with a bolt in it as opposed to the traditional dovetail neck joint used in the Master Model,the top and back are carved differently and I'm sure the graduations of the top plates vary. Other variations include different scripts for The Gibson on the peghead. This one has a more rounded neck profile while the Master Model has a V profile. They are both great sounding mandolins, but different. I don't need any scientific study to quantify that for me. I like them both. If any one is interested in more pics showing the physical differrences between the two,please PM me and I will try to accomodate. Hopefully this will clear up any confusion.

[mikeh]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[mikeyes]

I have a related question that might have been answered in the archives somewhere, but when I put "Gibson Fern" in I get a lot of stuff to peruse.

Is the post 1999 Fern a copy of anything the way the MM is with the Loar? Is it an exact copy of the post Loar Ferns?

[Charlie Derrington]

Not exactly, Mike. But it's pretty darned close to the post-Loar period mandolins and "exact" is certainly the goal.

Charlie

[mikeyes]

Thanks, Charlie, I kept looking for the flat spot but I couldn't find it so I suspected that it was a later re-incarnation http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mikeh]

Big Joe,
check your messenger. Thanks.