info on this one

[rop]

First post !

Saw this one for sale. I am puzzled by the fretboard inlay ... Never saw a F5 with that sort of design. What model is it ? Ideas ? (Sold as '1975 F5')

[lenf12]

It's a typical 70's era Gibson F-5. They were apparently trying to add a bit of glitz by inlaying the fingerboard with banjo type patterns of that time. I personally don't mind the look of the fingerboard (though I don't like the sunburst), but the mandolins are not valued for their sound. They are overbuilt and poorly voiced all in an attempt to avoid warranty claims. Too bad!! I know a guy here in FL with a '74 or '75 F-5 that Randy Wood re-voiced and it is a killer mandolin, so they are not hopeless. They just need some work to be any good.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[rop]

Thank you Len.

[almeriastrings]

A good insight on that period here:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pub...ter_1217.shtml

In practical terms, these were over-built and prone to various "issues" (binding degeneration, etc.). Not a patch on current models.

[Tim2723]

Is that the time period sometimes referred to as "The Gibson Firewood Era"?

Oh, and welcome to the Cafe!

[Max Girouard]

First post !

Saw this one for sale. I am puzzled by the fretboard inlay ... Never saw a F5 with that sort of design. What model is it ? Ideas ? (Sold as '1975 F5')

Looks like the inlay they used to use on some of the old F2 mandolins. Check out some of them on the archive.....

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/...ins.pl?f_model

[Big Joe]

It is a 70's Gibson F5. Very typical. Looks as if the binding may have been redone. That is not unusual for this vintage. Some are pretty decent mandolins, some are not so desirable. Just be careful and understand this is the the least desirable era of Gibson mandolin. Watch what you pay and make sure it does not need a lot of work to make it play properly.

[almeriastrings]

This is the one at R F Charle in Paris (I recognise the front of the shop behind the mandolin!).

http://www.rfcharle.com/HTML/PhotosI...nts/F5.75.html

They want €4,600... which is $5,877 (and 66 cents)

I would say this is just a very tiny, wee bit over-priced......

[rop]

exactly !