New F-9 for $2300?

[Zemper]

Hey guys, Im pretty excited, I found a brand new Gibson f-9 for $2300 plus the shipping, but my question is first off is 2300 good for a new f-9, and also is it worth getting a new one with a warranty over a slightly used but mint one for under 2k?
Is the Gibson lifetime warranty all its cracked up to be? What would it even cover? Thanks for your help

P.S. Yellowstone vs. F-9 Thoughts, value taken into account.... I think Im going for the F-9

[ronlane3]

Zemper,

To me that is a very good price. The other stuff that you are talking about is just personal preference, I personally wanted the warranty and the new instrument, some people would rather have a "broken-in" mandolin.

[Zemper]

Yeah thats true... Does anyone have any experience with Gibson warranties, good or bad..... Thats a pic of the f9 Its got a nice little bit of flame on the back....

The Gibson warranty is one of the best (to the original owner, not transferable). Charlie Derrington takes great care of Gibson owners. There are some other F9 threads on the Cafe that would make good reading..........

[Frank Russell]

Zemper - I replied on the other thread about F9's (the one that got long and political)already, but here's a short version. Go for it. You can get a used one for 2-300 less if you wait and hunt, but that's an excellent price for one with warranty. If it's near as good as mine, you'll be happy. Frank.

[KevinM]

If the $2300 isn't bothering you, treat yourself. Given the current milieu of good products and resposive customer service, I wouldn't hesitate to go used either on a Gibson.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Yellowstone vs F-9?

I like them both but I currently have a Yellowstone with tone bars. I like the tone bar sound over the X braced standard set up.

I've played some nice sounding F-9's but they are just too plain looking for my taste. You are not going to find a new Yellowstone for $2,300.

The warranty factor has been a non-issue for me for the past 25 years of playing. I've not had a Mandolin that ever needed warranty work. I bought my Yellowstone used and by the time it needs work, someone else will probably be playing it. If it does need attention during my stewardship, I'd be willing to pay Bruce and Co. for the repair.

[mikeyes]

When you need the warranty, you really need it. Here is a Gibson warranty story:
I bought my son a Gibson L-0 guitar a number of years ago just before they were making guitars in the Bozeman plant. A few months later the finish had started to bubble up and we had the dealer send it off to Bozeman for refinishing under the warranty. About a year later it was not back yet and I began to get hot under the collar. After an inquiry, Gibson reported that they could find the body of the guitar but not the neck. Apparently it was lost and then used as parts or something, that was never clear. They offered to give us another one, but at that time they were not making that model anymore (they later started making them again). So.... the custom shop made us one!

Now Jay has a custom made L-00 (they upgraded) maybe the only one made that year. It sounds and plays better than the original. I love the Gibson warranty.

Now, after such nice words, what is the warranty on my 1987 F5L? Is it just one year or forever as long as I own it?

Mike Keyes

[ronlane3]

The Gibson warranty is one of the best (to the original owner, not transferable). Charlie Derrington takes great care of Gibson owners. There are some other F9 threads on the Cafe that would make good reading..........

As I sit here eating my popcorn watching this thread grow, I find myself wondering, has Dale gone soft on Gibson

[Charlie Derrington]

Mike, if you are the original owner, your F-5L is covered for as long as you are still alive. Even if you are not the original owner, PM me with your problem, and we'll see what we can do.

Charlie

[mandoryan]

ronlane,
That's what I was thinkin' too. I think he's gonna start ordering Mandohack blue A9's with radiused boards and customs nut sizes.... ....

[Zemper]

Thanks so much for all of your replies... I took your advice since all the responses seemed positive about the warranties, and bought the new one for 2300...
I had a Yellowstone on order with tone bars and a cedar top... I posted a pic of the fern I modeled the yellowstone i ordered after, only difference was I had the tear drop shaped fingerboard extension...I would have ended up spending 3200, when I am the type of person who would be just as happy with a nice sounding suttle looking F9....
The bottom line to me is that I think the F9 is a classy timeless instrument that says a lot about the player who plays it, who is willing to pick what is really important about a mandolin and set aside the bells and whistles...

" The bottom line to me is that I think the F9 is a classy timeless instrument that says a lot about the player who plays it, who is willing to pick what is really important about a mandolin and set aside the bells and whistles... "

If your still playing that F9 in 3 years I might agree with that statement......................

[Coy Wylie]

Dale, you da man!

[Bill Snyder]

Zemoer I think you done good. I may be odd man out, but I think I prefer the one color top of the F-9 to a sunburst. As far as the lack of other ornamentation I think the only thing I would want added to the F-9 might be a bound peghead, and maybe a simple inlay. If I had the money I would consider buying one myself.
Guess I am just a simple guy

[b.pat]

A new f9 just sold on ebay for $1700. FYI
B.Pat

[doanepoole]

The bottom line to me is that I think the F9 is a classy timeless instrument that says a lot about the player who plays it, who is willing to pick what is really important about a mandolin and set aside the bells and whistles...

I think F-9's sound great and are decent options for pickers, but I also think that full body binding and fretmarkers are more than just bells and whistles. They are protective or functional features.

[Walter Newton]

I think the F9...says a lot about the player who plays it, who is willing to pick what is really important about a mandolin and set aside the bells and whistles...

An A9 might make sense in the above, for $2300 you're certainly paying for scrollwork bells & whistles.

Well, as Charlie D says "vote with your pocketbook". Kudos to Zemper for buying American & letting us all discuss it with him. Enjoy your new mando & we are glad to have you here on the Cafe.

[GTison]

I'M W/WALTER ON THIS. Esthetics IS always important. I didn't marry my wife only cause I thought she could perform the basic IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS of a wife. That sounds like something Spock would do. If folks(me included ) only based mandolin choices based on sound alone who knows what would be the favorite. check the mandolin tasting CD.

[Tom C]

Walter did not say "Esthetics IS always important". -You may want to take that back
as it is of your opinion only and very.....I won't say it. I'm sure 90% of the players would want something that sounded great but looked like crap, than having something that looked great but sounded like crap. They are for playing and not looking at. A nice looking mando is just a bonus. tone and playabiliy are #1and2

[Coy Wylie]

And yet another: see the classifieds

[mmukav]

I would think long and hard before you plunk your money down for the F9--and this is based on experience with an A9-
the finish on these mandolins is very thin and very fragile--and Gibson's warranty DOES NOT COVER WEAR OF IT'S FINISHES!-so if you do wind up getting the F9--be very careful--do not play it with any part of your hands or fingers touching the top-in fact don't even look at the top hard-it will wear off-the stain will wear off-and Gibson will not repair or replace it.

[ronlane3]

mmukav, Any mandolin will have the finish wear off if you play it enough. I've had my F-9 for over a year now and I play it just about everyday, with my pinky touching the top and the finish is not worn on it. It is shiny in that area, but it hasn't worn off. Besides, some of the best mandolins I've ever seen have had the finish wore off of them, Sam's Hoss and Mr. Monroe's Loar just to name two.

Different strokes for different folks, but I'm with Dale on his comment, Kudos for people buying GREAT AMERICAN quality instruments and sharing them with us.

[Zemper]

Thanks for all the replies... Dont get me wrong, bells and whistles to me are important, but the bells and whistles that scream the loadest are the f body, the ebony board, and the american mad gibson quality... The rest to me seems to be a little uneccesary for me right now... But Dale i do agree, I do not know what I will be playing in 3 years....

BTW Any type of surface protectant I can use on the top to kep a nice waxy protection on there?