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I use Everclear 95%. I have a license from the State to procure industrial alcohol which avoids the sin tax. I like to work in an environment that's as non-toxic as possible.

I use hot hide glue (possibly used originally) but liquid hide glue would work for a label.

This one was in about the same condition as yours. As others have suggested I took it to a local jewelry store that had a full-time goldsmith. I showed him the mandolin and told him about its age...

I respect the manufacturers that have made the investment in this equipment and show the desire and dedication to make their instruments as good as they can be. However, I have had the opportunity...

Could be, I meant no disrespect to Wes, great builder but we should treat the OP respectfully as well.

Well, first it's not going to make a good mandolin sound bad or a bad mandolin sound good. I believe they add a little compression to the top which evens out the strings a bit. Second, I hear a bit...

Wow, a very uninformed and flippant statement. The Loar era Virzi on my bench weighs 0.5 ounces. In my experience a mandolin with a Virzi can sound really great. YMMV.

I've made a few as have other modern builders. The neck profile varied over the years of Gibson production so you would need to pass along your preferences/specs of your F4 to your builder.

Here's one I installed in an old A4. It was easy because I already had the top off. Otherwise, sawing the back off is the way to go.

One thing all instrument builders have in common is an absolute appreciation for the wood we build with and we love finding, selecting, evaluating and working with it. I’m sure everyone has a few...

As Jim said, most Loar owners say the truss rod works very well and is very responsive in their Loar F5. I also believe that most of those mandolins have necks oriented on the slab making them a bit...

I'm just finishing up an A5 mandolin and H3 mandola pair. Until now I've been building H5 style mandolas and this is my first "Loar A5" inspired mandola. It's always exciting to string up a new...

I couldn't agree more except to add what a warm, kind hearted person he is. Congrats Dawg.

While I have never met Darryl in person, through our shared interest in vintage Gibson mandolins we have communicated a lot and become good friends. Darryl has always been very generous and gracious...

Hi again John. Among some other things, I re-graduated the top to Loar era oval hole specs. I recommend using D'addario J73s or equivalent in terms of tension. That top is lively and won't need...

Zero.

Gold should not tarnish. I use Gold tailpieces and have never seen any issue.

As mentioned, Bill James recommends 3M Tarni-Shield and the tarnish preventative strips as shown. I use both, they work great, and usually include a strip in the case. I shipped your mandolin...

My husband bought a Blueridge BR-243A which is one of their top of the line mahogany-000 models. It was an Adirondack topped model which they stopped making for awhile and was difficult to find a...

I don't think Gibson ever made one but they should have. Here's one that I'm working for a customer.

It was my pleasure to meet Helen, a very nice lady and the OP of this thread a couple days ago and to receive her mandolin for setup. Her enthusiasm to learn to play the mandolin, a new instrument...

I'd like to build a mandolin some day, maybe an A-style with Jatoba and Yellow Cedar just out of curiosity.

I've used it to build some African slit drums and its used commonly to build marimbas...

This is how they are installed in both F4 (and "A" styles) and in an F5. The feet are fitted to the underside of the top (much like the bridge is on the top) and then installed with hot hide glue.

Bravo for getting that one apart John.

On the subject of bad repairs, some of you may remember this 1927 Gibson F2 that I posted pictures of years ago. Don't do this either.:)

I hesitate to give advice from a picture but I believe I would remove the heel cap so that I could really see what's going on, what's hanging up. I'd examine it from the outside and inside. There...