When you are SURE it wont' SELL a Gibson on Ebay!

**f5loar** · May-12-2012, 12:04pm

Again I turn to ebay for the sheer entertainment value when there is nothing on cable TV to watch but some form of the Kardashins. So here pops up a sure to shock price on a vintage Gibson F5 on ebay. HINT: 1975 has long been recognized by all the leading vintage experts as the worst F5 Gibson ever built in it's 100 plus years. There's your sign the price might be a tad bit too high when you consider you can have your pick of most any signature model or Fern out there not to mention 100's of other makers for far less money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-GIBSON-...item19d0d564cb

**John Flynn** · May-12-2012, 1:19pm

But it says, "The Gibson" on the headstock. Isn't that all that really matters?

**MandoSquirrel** · May-12-2012, 6:55pm

Originally Posted by John Flynn

But it says, "The Gibson" on the headstock. Isn't that all that really matters?

I think there are many who also seem to require the scroll & points, but your point is well stated.

**f5loar** · May-12-2012, 7:59pm

well that and the fact it is an F5 by Gibson does tend sway buyers into paying more than it's actually worth. This is one time when it's better to have a fake Gibson F5 than a real one. go figure! I sometimes have a tough time accepting the fact these were made in the same factory that produced the 20's F5s.

**rico mando** · May-12-2012, 9:36pm

I like the way the binding has yellowed .

**f5loar** · May-12-2012, 10:42pm

At least it still has it's binding. Most of the 70's binding crumbed to dust by now.

**almeriastrings** · May-13-2012, 1:06am

Brings to mind "They don't make 'em like they used to...".

Which in this case, is something we can all be truly grateful for.

**michaelpthompson** · May-14-2012, 10:00am

But it has "NO WARE FRETS" and "ALL PERL"

And he says he just put on Tomastik strings.

**fernmando** · May-21-2012, 9:18pm

Woof....that sunburst. Yuck.

**Bernie Daniel** · May-22-2012, 6:01pm

Originally Posted by fernmando

Woof....that sunburst. Yuck.

Well everyone's taste is different. I liked the coloring on those '70's F-models -- its the tone and projection that were lacking. The headstock is especially pretty to my eye.
If you look close the binding is probably rotting on this one too -- the only thing that saves it is that it has probably been the case and no been bumped. I'll bet it is really brittle.

**houseworker** · May-29-2012, 8:25am

Relisted with a sensible starting price of $1000, it's at £2.6k already

**G7MOF** · May-29-2012, 1:12pm

That's $2.6k not £2.6k!!!

**houseworker** · May-29-2012, 1:16pm

Originally Posted by G7MOF

That's $2.6k not £2.6k!!!

Doh!!!

**houseworker** · Jun-04-2012, 1:21am

Sold for $3950.

Pretty much spot on for £2.6k

**Bernie Daniel** · Jun-04-2012, 9:05am

Originally Posted by houseworker

Sold for $3950.

Pretty much spot on for £2.6k

The seller did very well indeed -- that was top dollar for a '75 F-5 I'd say.

**f5loar** · Jun-04-2012, 1:04pm

That is pretty much top end for those 70's. heck you could find a nice mid 80's F5L Gibson for that price and it would be 10 times the mandolin. Maybe a collector bought it to put in their vault. It was a very clean example of a by-gone-era in Gibson history.

**mandopixie** · Jun-10-2012, 10:32am

I believe Les Paul's 1987 F5L master just went for $3520 (I don't know where I got the lower figure earlier).

**BradKlein** · Jun-10-2012, 11:25am

Originally Posted by mandopixie

I believe Les Paul's 1987 F5L master just went for $2750.

I hadn't heard of this auction. The catalogue - here - makes for some fun browsing.

**Capt. E** · Jun-12-2012, 9:17am

Did the winner who offered $6000 actually pay? I hope not.

Ohhhh, what I could buy for $6000.00 !!!!! Finally get an Ellis.

**f5loar** · Jun-12-2012, 9:10pm

the seller listed the '75 F5 for a BUY IT NOW at $6500 with no takers but only received 1 offer below that and they declined that offer. Then next time around the seller went to straight auction and it ended up at $3950 after 17 bids. A record price paid for a mid70's F5. And like I said you could get a really good late 80's F5L for that price but I had no idea you could snag Les Paul's personal 1987 F5L for way less money than this one sold for. Amazing, simply amazing.