Gibson F-12

[2 strings]

I have a chance to pick one of these up, but don't know a bunch about this model. Made in 1975. Any one playing one ? Any info would be helpful. Thanks

[Strado Len]

Play it and compare it side by side with a mandolin that sounds really good to you. These 70's Gibsons were often made with very thick tops and finish that tend to result in a rather thin tone.

[Spencer]

I wouldn't get too excited about 1970's F-12, they would be as little thought of as that vintage F-5.

To expand a bit on F-12's, I once had a 50's F-12 and thought it lacked volume and got a new 75 F-5 to replace. People at the time told me they thought better the F-5 sounded better than the F-12. My F-5 came in at the same time as another, and that one had a much deeper tone, so like Strado Len says, try it and see.

Nate Bray had a 50's F-12 that has a really good, sweet tone to it, fit his style perfectly. Not a boomer, but a really nice mandolin. My F-12 was of about the same vintage but wasn't in the same class.

[f5loar]

Let's just say '75 was a very bad year for wine and F12s and F5s for that matter. The best post war long necker F12s were from '48 to '60. From '60 to '69 so, so and after 1970 they never got any worse. By the way pre war F12's had short necks.