1923 Fern Loar F5

**Darryl Wolfe** · Dec-02-2011, 8:35am

Dan has posted some new photos of this mandolin on the Archive

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/73755

This thing is really a unique find

**Gary Hedrick** · Dec-02-2011, 8:51am

So this is one that had not been known before?

**Darryl Wolfe** · Dec-02-2011, 1:18pm

Correct

George just sent me this:

"Adam Steffey was in yesterday and played several of our mandolins including the 23 Fern which he said is one of the finest F-5s he has ever heard."

George

**Scotti Adams** · Dec-02-2011, 1:30pm

Adam posted his views in the General Discussion area.

**HoGo** · Dec-02-2011, 2:59pm

Do I see some repair under the nut on neck? It looks like there's new wood inserted at an angle visible on bass side and perhaps even more of that on treble side of neck. Hard to tell exactly from tha small pics in the archive.

**Gary Hedrick** · Dec-02-2011, 3:09pm

I find it a little amazing that these keep showing up.....be it not frequently but still showing up. I was part of such a find back in the late 90's when a lady walked into a music store in Clovis, CA and sold her "wall hanging" to them......then to my brother and then to Charlie Derrington.....

So there is hope for all of us to find that special gem......

**Fretbear** · Dec-02-2011, 3:22pm

Where has this beauty been hiding?

**f5loar** · Dec-02-2011, 11:03pm

Not too amazing as the remaining 2 dozen or so unfound Loars turn up in today's times. You consider the original owners were in their 20's when they bought them new in 1922,1923 and 1924. They are all dead now which means the mandolin was passed down to their children which is a generation that generally held onto their family heirlooms. It is the children or grandchildren of the original owner that are selling them out due to the current economic times and the internet. They find out what grandpa's old mandolin is worth on the net and off it goes to the highest buyer. This is how this Fern turned up at Gruhns.

**Scotti Adams** · Dec-03-2011, 7:25am

Originally Posted by HoGo

Do I see some repair under the nut on neck? It looks like there's new wood inserted at an angle visible on bass side and perhaps even more of that on treble side of neck. Hard to tell exactly from tha small pics in the archive.

I noticed that as well

**Gary Hedrick** · Dec-03-2011, 10:37am

Well Tom I suppose that make sense.......the farther away from the sanctity given to the original owner the less family value and the greater willingness to cash in on Grandpa's or Great Grandpa's heirloom

So when are one of you big three here on the list going to find one.........or perhaps you already have.....

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-03-2011, 10:57am

I totally understand the situation Tom is describing. I have instrument I inherited from the 20's (not a mandolin, a Martin uke) that was the first instrument I learned to play. It has meaning to me but I'm going to guess that the instruments my kids grew up looking at and listening to will mean more to them than this one does. I only wish that my step-father had been a mandolin player.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Dec-16-2011, 8:43am

I do not know the story yet, but this is no longer on the inventory list. Waiting to here the scoop

**f5loar** · Dec-16-2011, 3:35pm

If it sold at $225K then one can assume the recession is now over!

**Spruce** · Dec-17-2011, 1:10pm

Originally Posted by f5loar

If it sold at $225K then one can assume the recession is now over!

The recession never occurred for a good percentage of the folks who can afford to pony up 225K for a mandolin...

**imleath** · Dec-17-2011, 1:40pm

Originally Posted by Spruce

The recession never occurred for a good percentage of the folks who can afford to pony up 225K for a mandolin...

I'd imagine it's around 0%.

**f5loar** · Dec-17-2011, 2:19pm

don't forget those 1% folks. They spend $225K on home security.

**Utility Picker** · Jan-06-2012, 10:00pm

Originally Posted by f5loar

don't forget those 1% folks. They spend $225K on home security.

Their money. With $225K (discretional cash), I'd opt for the Fern.

UP

**Andrew B. Carlson** · Jan-06-2012, 10:53pm

Money well spent these days.

**barrangatan** · Jan-06-2012, 10:56pm

Originally Posted by Spruce

The recession never occurred for a good percentage of the folks who can afford to pony up 225K for a mandolin...

So true. I imagine for those folks, recessions are like Christmas sale where they can pick up everything from properties and vintage mandolins for cheap.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Jan-09-2012, 11:59am

The deal on this mandolin fell through. Back on market

**Ken Waltham** · Jan-09-2012, 8:09pm

Wow. I have some thoughts on that....

**Darryl Wolfe** · Jan-10-2012, 8:59am

I am not at liberty to say much, but the deal was firm and valid and still may go through. The purchasers funding via another totally different situation abruptly did not materialize

**f5loar** · Jan-10-2012, 9:36am

that seems to be the norm these days. You got it but you ain't got it. I hear that all the time.

**Andrew B. Carlson** · Jan-11-2012, 9:39am

I hope a player gets it. Maybe unlikely though. Who's got Loars for sale right now? I know Elderly has 3, Mandolin Bros has 1 and Gruhn has this one. I always make sure I have one picked out (by photos anyway), in case I win the lottery. Which reminds me, I better start buying lottery tickets.

**bluegrasser78** · Jan-11-2012, 10:12am

Originally Posted by Andrew B. Carlson

I hope a player gets it. Maybe unlikely though. Who's got Loars for sale right now? I know Elderly has 3, Mandolin Bros has 1 and Gruhn has this one. I always make sure I have one picked out (by photos anyway), in case I win the lottery. Which reminds me, I better start buying lottery tickets.

I'm with ya on the lottery thing,heck if I win I'll buy 2 and maybe burn one at a festival..or spray paint it Blue? Yeh right but didn't someone do that back in the day or is that just more "Loar",,Buzzzzzz?,,yep they should be played and loved!,I know of one that hasn't left a safe in years,,,,,,
If I ever win the lottery I'd honestly give one away!