Pig in a poke?

[rnb54]

What are the thoughts on 76 Gibson F5? Unfortunately I can't play it first, internet. It does have a couple of fearures I've never seen. It has a quilted maple back and simple dot inlay on the finver board. Any thoughts/ advise out there?

[Ivan Kelsall]

A link to the advert would have been a good idea. From what i've read on the Cafe site over the years i've been on here,is that the 1970's Gibsons weren't partcularly good mandolins from a 'sound' quality perspective. Anyway,regardless of make/model,you should always have the chance to play it & appraise it & return it if you don't like it,Gibson or ''whatever'',
Ivan

[G7MOF]

Pig in a poke! That's a good North of England saying.
Unfortunately here in the UK people aren't as positive about giving a 48hour approval period, so most are bought on description alone.

[Timbofood]

Might be questionable as to authenticity, I don't know that I have seen a "genuine" quilted maple back from that era. I hate to say it but quite a few parts "escaped" the plant back then, it may be assembled from some of those. Not casting aspersions just questioning. I would be very happy to be proven wrong about that.

[rnb54]

Timothy, that's sort of what I'm thinking as well. I've never seen an F5 with dots on the finger board either. It does have both labels inside, but who knows?

[Eric F.]

This was not a good period for Gibson. I'd stay away.

[rnb54]

Thanks Ivan. It was on ebay and ended with no bids. He is supposed to re-post this weekend.

[UsuallyPickin]

I had a 74' that was a good mandolin. That being said I would not purchase a mandolin from this period without playing it first. The Gumby or lump scroll models had single dot fret board markers and both labels. They were also labeled A 12 for some reason. The F5 models from this period had some very fancy curly cutouts for fret board markers. The varnish also turns a nicotine brown color due to a different hardener used then. Carter's Vintage Guitar in Nashville has a 73' for sale currently if you want to look at some comparison photos online.... R/

[J.Albert]

I wouldn't buy a Gibson mandolin from the '70's, not even an F-5.

Let this one pass...