Derrington-signed F-5L for sale

[Bernie Daniel]

I assume this is a Fern (but I do not recall exactly when Gibson went from designation "L" to "Fern").

But the interesting feature about this mandolin is the imprint of "A 1" on the back of the peghead. Is this a proto-type? Is it of any interest at all?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1999-Gibson-F-5L...item3cb4483618

[barrangatan]

Watching it with great great interest but an empty wallet. Playing, and perhaps owning, a Derrington signed mandolin is high on my bucket list

Am also curious about the A1 stamp.

[Eddie Sheehy]

It's been on Ebay before without selling - same price as I recall. I remember asking Big Joe what the A1 might mean and he said it was the first he heard of an A1. I'm mighty tempted too... but first I gotta move some instruments... I used to have a Weber-signed F5 L that was a mighty instrument...

[barrangatan]

It's been on Ebay before without selling - same price as I recall. I remember asking Big Joe what the A1 might mean and he said it was the first he heard of an A1. I'm mighty tempted too... but first I gotta move some instruments... I used to have a Weber-signed F5 L that was a mighty instrument...

C;'mon Eddie. Do this poor man a favor and bring this baby to Southern CA

[re simmers]

I've never bought anything on ebay, so excuse my ignorance, but why is it only $5,000? A Derrington will surely bring more than that????

Bob

[Ben Milne]

I'd also like some more info regarding this. (my ignorance seems to be more production mandolin orientated).
If someone could outline the differences between an F5-L and Master model? I assume this is where the price differential of Derrington signed mandolins would be.

EDIT: Just found this thread

[Ben Milne]

The MM/DMM is not the same animal as the F5L. They are all great mandolins but are constructed differently with different woods. The MM/DMM are the same materials just one has a distressed finish. The MM/DMM is built exactly like the Loars were only maybe a bit cleaner and a bit more even from one to another. The very same woods were used in both the MM/Loar. The same finish and the same graduations on average. The body cavity size was equal.

The F5L does not use the same woods on the top or fingerboard extension or bracing. It is not as carefully graduated and does not use Hide Glue. The hardware is different and it is a lacquer mandolin and not a varnish mandolin. There were a few F5L's made with varnish, but the wood differences made them sound different.

The F5L's from the same era as the MM/DMM do not sound worse, just different. The quality of the tone is largely dependent upon whether you like the varnish or lacquer tone and the red spruce or sitka tone. Both these things made a difference in the tone. Most would concede the MM/DMM do sound better than the F5L, but the F5L is still a great mandolin and does not take a back seat to anything. With some playing time they develop a tone much more similar to the F5's from the later 20's rather than a Loar tone.

I have heard many fine sounding Loar's and many fine sounding Fern's (late 20's). The same with the MM/DMM vs the F5l (Fern).

For those mandolins made in Montana, there is another completely different set of criteria. Those F5L's were made with the same basic woods as current ones, but a different brand of Lacquer and different neck joint and body graduations and body cavity size. Two different animals entirely. Again, both have their fans but they are not comparable easily. Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks Big Joe! - (I presume the Ebay listed Mandolin is a Derrington it would indicate it is Nashville built, IE. same era as MM/DMM...)