The Gibson Artist Model

**Jeff May** · May-24-2012, 9:10pm

I just received a new F5-G custom from the Mandolin Store. It's a great sounding and beautiful mandolin. The inside label say "The Gibson Artist Model". I know in years gone by there was a lot of discussion about how every F5 Gibson had the label that says "The Gibson Master Model" and the confusion it seemed to cause when they started making the high end Master Model. If I read some of Charlie Derrington's old posts correctly he felt that it was sort of a historical tradition to call them all master models and he was reluctant to change that. So is this "Artist Model" designation new, and when did they start labeling them that way? Or have I just missed something somewhere along the way? Sorry if this has already been discussed. I looked but didn't find anything.

**George R. Lane** · May-24-2012, 9:23pm

Jeff,
Congrats on the F5G. Hope it quinches your thirst for that bluegrass sound.

**Jeff May** · May-24-2012, 10:34pm

Originally Posted by George R. Lane

Jeff,
Congrats on the F5G. Hope it quinches your thirst for that bluegrass sound.

Thanks George. I hope it does too. MAS has a pretty tight hold on me though.

**MikeEdgerton** · May-24-2012, 10:37pm

It must be a recent change. My F5G says master Model on it. To my knowledge it hasn't been discussed yet.

**Jeff May** · May-25-2012, 12:01am

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

It must be a recent change. My F5G says master Model on it. To my knowledge it hasn't been discussed yet.

My 2008 F9 says master model too. I guess I can call Dennis and Brian and see when the change happened.

The F5G is also labeled Custom Shop #24 on the second label that Dave Harvey signed and dated, so maybe it's just those(?).

**MikeEdgerton** · May-25-2012, 8:27am

Mine doesn't have a second label with a signature. Dennis might know. Give him a call.

**Jeff May** · May-25-2012, 11:36am

I talked with Dennis this morning. He's not sure when the main label in the F5Gs and F9s was changed to say "The Gibson Artist Model". All of them he has in the store right now say that on the label.

**Bernie Daniel** · May-26-2012, 2:29pm

I think its a good move by Gibson -- having "Master Model" on everything including A-9's and F-9's and then also having top-of-the-line Master Model models (for lack of a better description) like the MM and DMM was a continuous source of confusion. Looks like the flood at least provided Gibson a change to buy new shop equipment and to clean up some lose ends like that. And the new mandolins seem to be show stoppers -- congratulations on your new Gibson, Jeff! Pictures and a sound files to follow?

**Jeff May** · May-26-2012, 10:07pm

Originally Posted by Bernie Daniel

I think its a good move by Gibson -- having "Master Model" on everything including A-9's and F-9's and then also having top-of-the-line Master Model models (for lack of a better description) like the MM and DMM was a continuous source of confusion. Looks like the flood at least provided Gibson a change to buy new shop equipment and to clean up some lose ends like that. And the new mandolins seem to be show stoppers -- congratulations on your new Gibson, Jeff! Pictures and a sound files to follow?

Thanks Bernie. I think it's a good move for them too. I'll post photos when I get a chance (out of town at the moment). And yes, I'm really happy with the mandolin.