1942 f-5 on craigs..I think not.

**vhughes2000** · Jul-19-2012, 3:56pm

http://lexington.craigslist.org/msg/3149894093.html

**JeffD** · Jul-19-2012, 4:05pm

I dunno. I saw a 1940s F4 for $5,500, with HSC.

I don't know what to expect from 1940s Gibson mandolins actually.

**vhughes2000** · Jul-19-2012, 4:12pm

There's a 42 f-5 on ebay right now for 20,000.00..If it's real it's way underpriced.

**sgarrity** · Jul-19-2012, 4:12pm

F4 and F5s are totally different animals as far as pricing goes. There weren't many '40s F5s built. Barry Mitterhoff playes one. As far as value.....in good shape I'd think $25-40k. Of course in this economy.......it's anyone's guess!

As for this being original......the scroll looks off and the back sure is plain.

**mrmando** · Jul-19-2012, 4:14pm

There aren't many examples out there, but Sergio Lara's old '42 F5 happens to be on eBay right now:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1942...item43b15246ae

The one on CL has the wrong headstock script; it has a flowerpot where it should have a fleur-de-lis; the large headstock scroll is the wrong shape; the fretboard has dots where it should have blocks; string spacing at the nut is wrong; the tailpiece logo is way off. Seller's a bit clueless, claiming that the instrument has "best maple" when in fact the maple is entirely plain with no figure to speak of. Case is from the early 1980s or thereabouts. It is a fake instrument, probably built sometime in the 1970s. I am not sure what makes the seller think it is from 1942, specifically.

**vhughes2000** · Jul-19-2012, 4:14pm

I see the same thing..bad scroll and plain back..and not the right tailpiece cover.

**bootinz** · Jul-19-2012, 8:33pm

another example of why you can't believe everything you read on the internet. that's how world war 1 got started.

**mrmando** · Jul-20-2012, 1:15am

That's right. Who can forget those immortal words of Archduke Ferdinand: "Have no fear, my darling ... Travelocity says that Sarajevo is lovely this time of year!"

**mrmando** · Jul-20-2012, 4:00am

The same seller now has a Vega cylinderback listed:

http://lexington.craigslist.org/msg/3149945384.html

This looks legit, but I don't recall ever hearing of one selling for anything approaching the amount he's asking.

**Troy Engle** · Jul-20-2012, 12:12pm

Looks like an 80's Kentucky converted to look like an F-5. I think even the case is right for a Kentucky. Maybe they don't know what they have. Looks nothing like a 40's F-5. The dead give away is the neck joint. Real f-5's have a different joint with straight binding paralele to the 15th fret or so.

**Troy Engle** · Jul-20-2012, 12:13pm

Could be an Ibanez as well.

**mrmando** · Jul-20-2012, 12:26pm

That is definitely an '80s Kentucky case. In fact, here is an Aria Pro II with the identical case:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aria-Pro-II-...item19d35dd7c1

**f5loar** · Jul-20-2012, 5:01pm

This one just screams FAKE. Not sure why you would even call it a 42 other than the lack of (the) in logo. It looks nothing like any 42f5. Agree it's some type of 80s import so $6000 for a $400 mandolin is a really good profit for the seller.

**mrmando** · Jul-20-2012, 5:07pm

Unless the seller paid big bucks for it originally, thinking it was the real thing ...

I haven't heard back from him since I told him it was fake.

**mandobassman** · Jul-20-2012, 6:00pm

Originally Posted by vhughes2000

There's a 42 f-5 on ebay right now for 20,000.00..If it's real it's way underpriced.

I know the seller of that '42 F5 on eBay, and I know the previous owner. I played it several times when he owned it. The current seller has had that mandolin on eBay for a very long time. He had it listed for $33.000 for a long time. I was told, when my friend owned it, that there were only 3 F5's made in '42 because of the war, and this was the only surviving one. That alone, I would think, would add a little value. It is one of the best F5's I have ever heard or played. I played in a band with this guy for years and had lots of opportunity to play it. Maybe the excess wear on the top is turning people off, but it shouldn't. It's a killer mandolin.