Gibson mandolin

**stratton7584** · Apr-03-2012, 11:22am

I stopped in Cincinatti OH yesterday and played a Gibson F5 G mandolin and a Gibson F12 madolin (1918) I think. After playing it I have to say I was very disappointed with them both! I guess it's true when you buy a Gibson you are only buying the name!

**terzinator** · Apr-03-2012, 11:28am

My grandpappy always said "never buy a gibby in cincy" and I always thought it gibberish until this moment.

**stratton7584** · Apr-03-2012, 11:47am

Lol he must have been right because they sounded awful! The Washburn I picked up after them sounded a lot better sadly!

**Marty Henrickson** · Apr-03-2012, 11:53am

Yep, gotta go to Cleveland or Dayton for a good Gibson in Ohio.

**f5loar** · Apr-03-2012, 11:54am

Gibson did not make the F12 in 1918. First year for the F12 was 1931 and it was the short neck version until 1948 when it went to the long neck version. The F5 Gs are generally a great mandolin when set up properly. Not all stores/dealers know about mandolin set-ups or what year they were made for that matter.

**MikeEdgerton** · Apr-03-2012, 12:08pm

Originally Posted by stratton7584

I stopped in Cincinatti OH yesterday and played a Gibson F5 G mandolin and a Gibson F12 madolin (1918) I think. After playing it I have to say I was very disappointed with them both! I guess it's true when you buy a Gibson you are only buying the name!

I'm not one that likes to make broad statements but I'll make one. If you give me the choice of 5 factory built mandolins and only one is made by Gibson and the rest are made by any other manufacturer and I have my choice but can't play any of them before I buy, I'll take the Gibson every day. Every builder has a standout now and then but playing two mandolins in a random shop and condeming the entire line is a pretty bold statement. I've yet to play a Collings or Weber that I would own but I'm making the assumption that those instruments either weren't set up to my liking or they weren't the best of the lot.

**mandobassman** · Apr-03-2012, 12:08pm

I've played a couple of F5G's that were outstanding and, although it was a long time ago, I once played a F12. I don't remember specifics, but I do remember being pretty impressed. It's is very often ALL about setup. I played a Weber Fern listed at $6000 once and it sounded terrible. It was obvious it had never been setup properly.

**Jeff May** · Apr-03-2012, 2:26pm

Originally Posted by stratton7584

I stopped in Cincinatti OH yesterday and played a Gibson F5 G mandolin and a Gibson F12 madolin (1918) I think. After playing it I have to say I was very disappointed with them both! I guess it's true when you buy a Gibson you are only buying the name!

I guess your opinion has changed. In 2010, you had this to say:

Ok so I've been playing mandolin for a while now and I played my first gibson tonight. It was a 95' Gibson master model and boy was it great! I fell in love with it, this thing was like nothing i have ever played.. So if anyone tells you that Gibsons are not as good as you think, they are LYING!!! Like a dog!!

I own a Weber, but I agree with MikeEdgerton's assessment above.

**stratton7584** · Apr-03-2012, 4:55pm

Yep I said that but if I had played the ones I just played in Cincinatti it would have said something totally different. I guess your right there good and bad in every mandolin. Sorry for the bad assumption!

**allenhopkins** · Apr-03-2012, 5:14pm

I had a 1965 Ford Fairlane that had head gasket problems. I guess I'll never buy another Ford product from now until the end of recorded time.

I knew a guy named Smithers that was a real jerk. Probably all people named Smithers are unpleasant SOB's.

I saw an episode of Seinfeld that wasn't all that funny. Seems to me that none of the episodes of Seinfeld are funny.

And so it goes...

**OldSausage** · Apr-03-2012, 5:21pm

Stopped into mandolin cafe today. After reading a couple of threads I was very disappointed with them both! One was from 1918, I think.

**woodwizard** · Apr-03-2012, 6:14pm

Dang! Guess I'll load up all my Gibsons and see if I can trade for a Washburn

**stratton7584** · Apr-03-2012, 6:26pm

Wow I didn't realize I would make so many people upset over this post. I apologize and I will never post my opinion about any other mandolins. Once again I'm sorry.

**Brutus1999** · Apr-03-2012, 6:42pm

Yeah, well tell THAT to Smithers!

As you can tell by the not-so-wry humor, nobody is upset at all........

By the way, I have two Gibsons, both pre-1920. One is great. One is terrible.

Okay, it's a banjo mandolin and the head is ripped half off (probably sounds better?), and the lamination is coming off the back and the tuners are a little rusty. But still.......

**woodwizard** · Apr-03-2012, 6:43pm

I'm not upset stratton7584 and you're entitled to your opinion that's for sure. I just thought it was silly and was trying to make a funny. Sorry

**OldSausage** · Apr-03-2012, 6:55pm

Yes, just thought it was funny.

**Big Ed** · Apr-03-2012, 6:57pm

Strat: This is probably not the best place to knock Gibson mandolins.

**stratton7584** · Apr-03-2012, 7:05pm

Ok sorry about sounding upset. Maybe I should research more before I make such a bold statement!

**Jim Ferguson** · Apr-03-2012, 7:07pm

ALL Gibson mandolins are bad & you'll NEVER post an opinion about another mandolin.......keep posting your opinions but watch the absolutes......hard to condemn a whole brand of mandolin based on one play....:-)
Peace,

**jesserules** · Apr-03-2012, 7:07pm

Originally Posted by stratton7584

I stopped in Cincinatti OH yesterday and played a Gibson F5 G mandolin and a Gibson F12 madolin (1918) I think. After playing it I have to say I was very disappointed with them both! I guess it's true when you buy a Gibson you are only buying the name!

Personally, I'm getting sick and tired of posts running down the great city of Cincinnati.

It just so happens that Cincinnati was the first city in the WORLD to use steam fire engines.

Maybe think about that the next time before posting!!!

**jaycat** · Apr-03-2012, 7:23pm

I never could stand Cincinnati and I always will, ever since the '75 series, but then again, it was partly our fault, they shoulda left in Willoughby.

**mrmando** · Apr-03-2012, 7:52pm

I'm interested in the details, actually. What was so terrible about these particular Gibsons?

**tiltman** · Apr-03-2012, 7:56pm

I just know I'm never going to Cincinatti. I have a couple of Gibsons and I hear they all sound like crap there!

Kirk

**f5loar** · Apr-03-2012, 8:09pm

I'm more interested in the 1918 F12 since Gibson never made one that early. Was it a fake Gibson F12? Was the F5G a fake? Dealers will sell fakes too.