Another Hoss

[Jim M.]

Vintage Instruments has this new addition:

http://www.vintageinstruments.com/photos/inst23/37f5ful.jpg

Only one number away from Sam's Hoss. And in a lot better condition. Very cool, but at $61K, too rich for me.

[kudzugypsy]

well no one has said much in this thread, so i'll just say that i was shocked to see this price on a late 30's F5. i mean there arent that many 30's F5's out there, but everyone i've either played or heard on record were really "tubby", and not at all impressive. great for that jazz "jethro" tone, but nothing to mortage the farm for. keep in mind that sams hoss has had extensive work on it to get it to sound that good (plus 30+ years of hard playing) i think i remember someone saying that before all the regraduations and varnish was done, it was a real tubby one too. i think grisman played one of this era F5's on SOME of the cuts on "i'm Beginning to See the Light" cd. you can tell there is a big difference in those cuts and grismans other work with the tone being very flat.

[mandoJeremy]

I think that is a little high myself but I can assure you that if I win the lottery anytime soon it will be mine! #That is my dream mando for sure! Also, Barry Mitterhoff seems to pull very good tone on his and I think it is all original.

[AeroJoe]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I heard that Sam's original "Hoss" is having top sink problems due to "wood (stress?) fatigue"...anybody else heard this? Mandojeremy, you'd know if anybody does...(compliment there...)

[Ken Waltham]

Interesting. I discovered that mandolin out of the woodwork, here in Ontario some years back.
Ken

[kudzugypsy]

so ken, what's the scoop on it?

[mandoJeremy]

I have also "heard" that Hoss does suffer from fatigue due to the elements but if Sam hasn't laid him down I wouldn't worry about it.

[Philip Halcomb]

Isn't that the same F-5 Grisman played the Wayfaring Stranging duet with Sam on the Extravaganza album? In the slip cover of the extravaganza album it says David's 37' F-5 was 1 serial number off of Sam's.

[AlanN]

You're right about Barry's tone there, MJ. I think he has a '42 F-5, rare.

[Scotti Adams]

Isn't that the same F-5 Grisman played the Wayfaring Stranging duet with Sam on the Extravaganza album? In the slip cover of the extravaganza album it says David's 37' F-5 was 1 serial number off of Sam's.
..if it is...its got one extra fret...

[Christian]

Dick Staber, who used to play with Del, and recorded several albums of his own, plays a 1937 (or 38?) F5 with flowerpot, and get nice tone out of it. I agree with you guys about Barry Mitterhoff's tone : very nice and dry. Its peghead has the fleur-de-lys, though, and according to the 1st version of the F-5 Journal, it was built in 1941.

[telepbrman]

Do you all think the seller called up Sam to check and see if he wanted to buy it before it came out to the public?

[Tom C]

Christian - Correct. Barry does get great tone and '41. The mando has really thick finish where you can't even see the grain in the spruce. -Granted he wore it off in many spots. The neck connects to the body I think at the 14 1/2 fret.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Actually..Barry's mando has more neck out of the body than most..so it's like the 16th fret is at the 15th fret cross piece

[Tom C]

I couldn't remember which way. I will look good when I see it/him this week hopefully.

[Keith Wallen]

I think that is a little high myself but I can assure you that if I win the lottery anytime soon it will be mine! #That is my dream mando for sure! #Also, Barry Mitterhoff seems to pull very good tone on his and I think it is all original.
Right there witch ya Jeremy!

[kudzugypsy]

so if one were to win a $75,000 lottery (after taxes of course http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif )
would you pay $61K for a 1937 F5, or $70k for a 1927 F5?
i'd take the fern in a heartbeat.

[Brian Aldridge]

where's a '27 for 70K?

[mandoJeremy]

I would take the '37 because I am a Sam Bush freak and I have always dreamed of getting a '37. I am sure the '27 Fern does sound better.

[Dan Cole]

Its either 2 sn's from the one Dawg played on Mando Extravaganza, or the same one. Correct?

[Philip Halcomb]

I think it's the same one. I've seen other instruments on that site that Dawg has played that I know for sure. Like this one... http://www.vintageinstruments.com/museum/lilpupfulpage.html

[Ken Waltham]

That was a pretty nice F5. It sounded very typical for the era, and was very clean. I had it refretted, and the fingerboard was redone, too. The original owner had messed with the block inlays, so we put them back right. ( He still had them in the case)
It is actually prettier than those photos show, having very nice flame in the wood.
All in all, a fine example of a 1937. It had the "made in the USA" stamp because it was an export to Canada.
Ken