'69 gibson f-5 with horse painted on

**JHo** · Jul-18-2007, 11:03am

See it for yourself on our favorite auction site, in all its equine glory.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1969-Gi....iewItem

Geez. Thank goodness someone did this to a 60's Gibson and not a 20's Gibson. And by the way I love horses, just not on my mandolin.

**AlanN** · Jul-18-2007, 11:09am

Run, ol' Molly, Run!

**Frank Russell** · Jul-18-2007, 11:17am

It's a sticker. Probably not much of a job to remove. No biggie.

**MikeEdgerton** · Jul-18-2007, 11:21am

Yes, thank goodness it isn't a Loar....

Then again, that is a 1969 Gibson. The horse might be an improvement.

Actually, I have no problem with it, check out the Parrot Loar.

**"left"out** · Jul-18-2007, 11:23am

Looks like the same guy that's selling this "beauty":
trashed a model

**JHo** · Jul-18-2007, 11:31am

Yeah, he's sure got the pick of the litter with this one and that other one.

**sunburst** · Jul-18-2007, 11:35am

Originally Posted by (frussell @ July 18 2007, 12:17)

...Probably not much of a job to remove. No biggie.

Ahhh...leave it there, still no biggie. Doesn't anyone remember the part of the 60s that actually happened in the 70s? That instrument is "customized"!
And, honestly, is it really hurting the value of a '69 Gibson?

BTW, I got to see the Parrot Loar some years ago. I didn't know about it until then. I had no words...

**DryBones** · Jul-18-2007, 11:39am

that '69 is a real "Hoss"

**JHo** · Jul-18-2007, 11:59am

That parrot Loar really does leave one speechless. Hmm...

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-18-2007, 12:25pm

Also note the deterioration on the binding.

There was a bad batch plastic for mandolin binding at Gibson in the late 1960's -- affected mostly 1968 and 1969 models. #

I expect that all of the binding on that mandolin will have to be replaced as it will crumble away like a dry, brittle putty.

I 've seen three of them now -- seemed to be the F-models in those two years.

Otherwise it looks to be in decent shape -- good candidate for a re-graduation of top and back plates.

I like the horse on there - its COOL!

Also on the year of the instrument. It has a 1970's neck joint and headstock shape but 1960's block Gibson and flowerpot inlays. Made in December of 1969?

**MikeEdgerton** · Jul-18-2007, 12:52pm

Originally Posted by (sunburst @ July 18 2007, 12:35)

And, honestly, is it really hurting the value of a '69 Gibson?

My point exactly. I wonder if he put the other decal on the back of the mandolin?

**Gutbucket** · Jul-18-2007, 1:06pm

That's the most butt-ugly mandolin I've ever seen! What was the price again?

**homeslice** · Jul-18-2007, 10:15pm

I like how the horse seems to have a "What are you looking at?" face.:D

**lovethemf5s** · Jul-18-2007, 11:19pm

The eBay seller's father who owned this mandolin was clearly mistaken about it's date. With the headstock logo and lack of block fingerboard inlays this is from the 1970's. 1970 perhaps? This was the year Gibson tried to harken back to past glory with more ornate inlay. If bad binding on '68 and '69 Gibson F5's has been witnessed 3 times, what is the population report for F5's in these years? 3 times out of how many mandolins? Also, have any of the people who are yukking it up heard this instrument? It could surprise you. I just wish a little more objectivity could be shown by this obviously learned group.

**f5loar** · Jul-18-2007, 11:22pm

I thought you guys had better eyes then this. This is not a '69. Not even close. It's a 70's either '72,'73 or '74 that has been "customized" for some unknown reason. Why you would take out the "The Gibson" script logo of a 70's and replace it with the wrong post war logo in the wrong place is beyond me. The call from Gibson seems bogus to me too. Maybe he had a '69 but this ain't it! Those serial numbers overlaped but then again this one does not have a serial number. Both labels have been removed and the stamped serial number on the back of head has been sanded off and refinished. I suspect a stolen revamped mid70's F5 that was stolen and pawned and the pawnshop owner is trying to unload it.

**cooper4205** · Jul-19-2007, 12:06am

Originally Posted by (f5loar @ July 19 2007, 00:22)

I suspect a stolen revamped mid70's F5 that was stolen and pawned and the pawnshop owner is trying to unload it.

maybe the thief put the horse on there to cover his trail, kinda like a bank robber putting removable stripes on his getaway car.:D whatever the deal, its an interesting piece!

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-19-2007, 5:11am

Originally Posted by

F5journl: I thought you guys had better eyes then this. --- The eBay seller's father who owned this mandolin was clearly mistaken about it's date. With the headstock logo and lack of block fingerboard inlays this is from the 1970's. 1970 perhaps?

My eye ARE marginal -- BUT then you outlined the reasons why I think it might be a mandolin built at the end of the year in 1969. #

Clearly it has that slot style neck joint and the slim headstock profile that started in the 1970 model year -- but it has the 60's block Gibson logo -- hard imagine how this might have happened - but with no numbers it will probably remain a mystery.

So I was suggesting a possible factory parts bin mix-up or intention using up of left over parts at the end of the year?

I agree this could very well be a case of a theft some where or time in the ownership chain -- not neccessarily involving the current owner at all.

**carleshicks** · Jul-19-2007, 8:15am

i don't think it is a Gibson at all I have a mid seventees Epiphone with the same fingerbord inlay and headstock shape,the carving of the back at the heel,the color,the the F-holes are to large for a gibson and the scroll is just like my epiphone along with the flower pot. I think someone put Gibson on the headstock of an epiphone.

**carleshicks** · Jul-19-2007, 8:23am

here is a pic of the Epiphone

**MikeEdgerton** · Jul-19-2007, 8:34am

How many screws are in the truss rod cover of your Epiphone?

**f5loar** · Jul-19-2007, 8:35am

I'd forgot the mid 70's Epips were very similar to the Gibson of the same time. That would explain the heel cap not being as sharp but I have seen variations on the sharpness in a Gibson. The 60's Gibson logo is fake. Added later on and when you consider going from the Epiphone name to a Gibson name even though the wrong one for the year that makes more sense then taking out the Gibson script of the 70's. Did the Epips have the serial number stamped in the back of the head?

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-19-2007, 9:34am

Epiphone? Good thought.

One thing I noticed many years ago was that the little curl on the bass side of the headstock was not as closed on the Epiphones as on the Gibsons.

However in this case that is of marginal diagnostic use because the wide profile Gibson headstock of the 1960's ear also had that "open" curl on the G-string side.

**Tighthead** · Jul-19-2007, 9:46am

My 5-year old daughter would think that is the coolest mandolin she's ever seen.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Jul-19-2007, 9:59am

OK F5Loar, you are going to have to change your handle. You have Mandolin1944 thinking you are me.

I really do not know what it is. My first impression was transition 69/70, but, it's too weird to be a '69 or a 70's. The neck is too short for a '70's and the body is not exactly right for a late 60's.

I vote not Gibson redone Jap clone of the era