Loar Picture of the Day

**Glassweb** · May-21-2010, 11:31pm

i've played this one Ken and guess what... it's an original non-Virzi... which may support the theory that it is indeed the one pictured in that catalog. a monster F5 by the way... played it back in 76' or so when i first moved to Seattle and it was in very good shape back then... not so much anymore... helas!

**danb** · Sep-26-2010, 4:03am

Far too quiet in this thread! Here are some great new images of Dec 1, 1924 F5 #79719, from anon

**danb** · Sep-26-2010, 4:05am

4 more

**John Soper** · Sep-26-2010, 4:47am

Love the back on this one!

**carleshicks** · Sep-26-2010, 6:14am

How may 24 Loars have the outward canted tuners?

**Glassweb** · Sep-26-2010, 11:20am

Perhaps only this one... Also is the only Loar I've seen with original, non-pearl tuner buttons...

**Bill Halsey** · Sep-26-2010, 2:24pm

Seems like the only Loar I've noticed with the reversed worm/pinion arrangement, which apparently required the earlier positioning of the tuners to accommodate the button shaft lengths.

**Glassweb** · Sep-26-2010, 3:53pm

Ah... Interesting observation Bill... Thanks! Actually there's a number of interesting things on this Loar. The main thing is that the sound is exceptionally fine...

**carleshicks** · Sep-26-2010, 6:13pm

In the close up of the rear of the scroll the vertical checking almost looks like lacquer,or is it more unidirectional over the rest of the back.

**Glassweb** · Sep-26-2010, 7:13pm

No, the crazing is actually every which way, as on the scroll. This seems to be a lacquer applied years ago... Perhaps even when it was finally shipped... Or "refreshed" at the Gibson factory. Alas, we'll never know for sure...

**Darryl Wolfe** · Sep-28-2010, 9:04am

This mandolin provides some credibility to the thought that the pegheads were drilled for tuners after the instrument was completed. Generally speaking, those tuners would not show up for a number of years later. However, that style did appear on A-models of this era and those could simply be a first sample set for Gibson etc etc.

At any rate, that peghead was drilled for those tuners

**Darryl Wolfe** · Sep-28-2010, 9:07am

It is my opinion that during this period of time (late 24, early 25) Gibson discovered spray lacquer and used it as an overcoat to speed up the varnish drying/handling time and provide some additional gloss and durability to the finish. Then they never gave up the practice. So, as such, this oversprayed later at the factory stuff may not hold water. It was simply a transitional period in their methods and a means to flash up an instrument that may have set for a while in those big 24 wide rolling bins.

**Glassweb** · Sep-28-2010, 9:31am

Actually I've seen 1924 F4's that had the exact same tuners as this F5... Albeit without the gold plating. Darryl, I believe you're right about the finish, but I guess we'll never know for sure!

**mtucker** · Sep-28-2010, 3:07pm

Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe

It is my opinion that during this period of time (late 24, early 25) Gibson discovered spray lacquer and used it as an overcoat to speed up the varnish drying/handling time and provide some additional gloss and durability to the finish.

Certainly very plausible. When Dupont discovered nitro lacquer in the early 20's, auto makers went to work with it relatively quickly. Still required alot of hand rubbing but dramatically improved 'drying time' - one of the key selling points - also gave automakers the ability to add/offer cars in different colors! There are examples of both varnish as well as nitro painted autos from relatively the same time period. I think with Ford and others, once they made the switch, the old stuff got tossed in favor of modernizing, spraying, adding color to their lineup, etc. Gibson may well have finished some up like you say. That's a lovely 5, btw.

**BradKlein** · May-23-2011, 8:10am

Here is a snapshot of 75316, lounging on Thile's couch in Brooklyn. There's a detail of the headstock, and some of Thile's thoughts on the instrument in Part II of the Interview I did with him around the release of 'Sleep with One Eye Open'.

As of Spring 2011, the instrument's looking and sounding great. The action is medium-low, I would say. But easy to play without slapping frets. The frets have been dressed down pretty low, but Chris puts a lot of miles on the instrument. Some other time, I'd be interested to hear how long he can go between re-frets. He and Michael Daves both emphatically feel the sound has changed greatly since Chris has been playing on this mandolin - which had spent decades un-played before he acquired it.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Oct-17-2011, 12:21pm

So....let's discuss this fine looking, well played mandolin. These are scans and are a tad red looking.....carry on

**Andrew B. Carlson** · Oct-17-2011, 7:20pm

What's the SN of that one Darryl? Or is that the game?

**Glassweb** · Oct-18-2011, 12:56am

looks like front facing binding on the headstock, a dec 1st 1924? an unsigned? hmmmm...???

**HoGo** · Oct-18-2011, 5:58am

Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe

So....let's discuss this fine looking, well played mandolin. These are scans and are a tad red looking.....carry on

I see no Loar. Who made it? The body shape looks authentic, but iside of both scrolls, f-holes, fingerboard are not Loarish.
I'd guess modified F-4? The wood has too much figure for typical F-4, though.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Oct-18-2011, 7:18am

warm

**barry** · Oct-18-2011, 7:29am

H5 converted to F5?

**Darryl Wolfe** · Oct-18-2011, 11:37am

Ice cold

**Bill Halsey** · Oct-18-2011, 5:37pm

I don't think any part of it is '20s Gibson.

**Jim Hilburn** · Oct-18-2011, 7:08pm

The back scroll has the "hawks bill" look I attribute to the 2000 Gibsons with the tight bend to make the connection of the point work.
Is it a distressed distressed MM?