Northfield F5S, in the house................... [Archive]

darylcrisp

Apr-10-2016, 2:30pm

arrived around 3 weeks ago, simply stated,

absolute wonderful instrument. build, feel, sound,looks, it has it all covered in spades.

the loudest NF I've played(Collings loud), yet plays very lyrical soft and loud.

wide nut version, I love the back which looks one piece but is a very well matched 2.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/darylcrisp/DSC08764.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/darylcrisp/media/DSC08764.jpg.html)

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/darylcrisp/DSC08769.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/darylcrisp/media/DSC08769.jpg.html)

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/darylcrisp/DSC08770.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/darylcrisp/media/DSC08770.jpg.html)

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/darylcrisp/DSC08777.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/darylcrisp/media/DSC08777.jpg.html)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/darylcrisp/DSC08773.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/darylcrisp/media/DSC08773.jpg.html)

Mark Miller

Apr-10-2016, 3:03pm

That is an absolute beaut!

bigskygirl

Apr-10-2016, 3:32pm

Wow! That is a beautiful back, can't hardly tell it's two piece. I do like those S models, they look, play, and sound great!

Johnny60

Apr-10-2016, 4:23pm

Enjoy it Daryl!

Clement Barrera-Ng

Apr-10-2016, 7:06pm

Looks great Daryl - is it one of the ones from Tejon you were looking at? Congrats!

darylcrisp

Apr-10-2016, 7:18pm

Looks great Daryl - is it one of the ones from Tejon you were looking at? Congrats!

C
yes, if you remember the black top got my attention, but when Sean sent soundclips of both, I migrated quickly to this one-it had what I wanted-much more impressed upon its arrival. the NF i experience just keep getting better and better in all areas. this one is epic.

when i first opened the case it started singing-its super responsive and certain areas in the house cause it to make sounds when i pass thru with it in hand(especially if other music is playing). I've never had this happen before. i have heard a few acoustic guitars do this, and they too were very responsive and happy instruments.

d

Nick Gellie

Apr-11-2016, 4:37am

Where do you get the spondoola for all these acquisitions? We can't keep with it. What happened to the Collings MF?

Johnny60

Apr-11-2016, 4:40am

The responsiveness is what I love about my own F5S. It has this great combination of depth and richness of tone, coupled with response and sustain. There's some real complexity to the notes, especially on stuff like cross picking.

That back looks great on yours, Daryl.

Darren Bailey

Apr-11-2016, 5:51am

Trying to keep my envy in check during lent and then I go and set eyes on this beauty! I got my hands on three Northfield last year and every one of them was a winner.

darylcrisp

Apr-11-2016, 7:26pm

Where do you get the spondoola for all these acquisitions? We can't keep with it. What happened to the Collings MF?

MF is still home and very present-its simply a great mandolin also. these two compliment each other very well, each one offering a very different tone. both exhibit excellent playability and setup. i'm thinking to keep them both, at least until the time comes i decide to let one fly.

right now, in my price line, the only two instruments that would have me sell one of these:

1)Northfield F2SB (CottenMusic in nashvegas had one a few weeks ago that was excellent, i dillydallied around and it left quickly-wide nut version also)
2)Northfield Octave-this has my attention locked on-i'm working thru the reality of, do i honestly have time for something else so different(NO), but these look to be very interesting.

d

Al Trujillo

Apr-11-2016, 9:23pm

Good for you Daryl - sweet NF. Last time I checked they may have sold the black one as well.

Good people at Tejon...have to keep my marriage safe so running into that shop could be a problem for me.

Clement Barrera-Ng

Apr-11-2016, 10:45pm

2)Northfield Octave-this has my attention locked on-i'm working thru the reality of, do i honestly have time for something else so different(NO), but these look to be very interesting.

I remember seeing a photo of the octave they were going to bring to IBMA last fall. I know you had recently talked to the folks at NF - had they intimated on what's become of it?

And funny you should mention octaves - Lately I have been missing the sound of an octave mandolin / cittern / bouzouki, and have been casually looking around for one (though I'm pretty sure I want an oval hole model as oppose to an f-hole one like the NF). Who knows maybe we'd both end up with one not too far into the future... that would be neat.

darylcrisp

Apr-11-2016, 11:15pm

Good for you Daryl - sweet NF. Last time I checked they may have sold the black one as well.

Good people at Tejon...have to keep my marriage safe so running into that shop could be a problem for me.

John and Sean are excellent to work with. I really like TejonStreet. Clement was the one who originally directed me to thier shop, and it was regarding the first Northfield i purchased(which i sold almost a year later due to MAS, missed it, so here we are again).
They sold all 3 Northfields that were in stock in a 2 day period all of a sudden.

I'm on the big wheel plan. I once invested a certain amount of $, and that amount goes round and round based on what i buy/sale/trade. Rules are, i can own under the amount i have invested(and have some $ in the instrument fund), but i can't own over that amount. Hence the necessity of "one comes in, one goes out".

d

darylcrisp

Apr-11-2016, 11:20pm

I remember seeing a photo of the octave they were going to bring to IBMA last fall. I know you had recently talked to the folks at NF - had they intimated on what's become of it?

And funny you should mention octaves - Lately I have been missing the sound of an octave mandolin / cittern / bouzouki, and have been casually looking around for one (though I'm pretty sure I want an oval hole model as oppose to an f-hole one like the NF). Who knows maybe we'd both end up with one not too far into the future... that would be neat.

i really like that one that Emory plays, i'm figuring thats a mahogany back-sides appear so. maybe Diane can ask Emory when she has a next lesson. i wonder if that was a prototype and may be the one you are asking about?

i have zero balance in my instrument fund as i type. if anything comes in, i definitely have to let something go.

d

9lbShellhamer

Apr-12-2016, 9:37am

Nice! I have a NF-F5S and a Collings MT2, and I feel their tones really compliment each-other. I can't imagine having one without the other.

Manfred Hacker

Apr-12-2016, 11:15am

Enough said about external beauty.
We are ready for some audio/video now :mandosmiley:

bigskygirl

Apr-13-2016, 1:17pm

Emory is playing the mahogany OM in the video. Spoke with Peter this am and there are going to be some maple ones and if you notice in the video there is a round hole one lying to the side. Of course I am biased as to Northfield and Emory so I think it sounds great and I put myself on the list for one this summer!

Ken Waltham

Apr-13-2016, 3:23pm

Clement Barrera-Ng

Apr-13-2016, 4:11pm

i really like that one that Emory plays, i'm figuring thats a mahogany back-sides appear so.

Emory is playing the mahogany OM in the video.

I didnt' realize there was already a video show-casing the OM, so I just went and found it. It sounds really good.

Here's the link to the video in case anyone else hasn't seen it: https://youtu.be/6KMs4tvl7oY

darylcrisp

Apr-13-2016, 4:31pm

I didnt' realize there was already a video show-casing the OM, so I just went and found it. It sounds really good.

Here's the link to the video in case anyone else hasn't seen it: https://youtu.be/6KMs4tvl7oY

Clement, here is a short note provided by NF monday on the Octave specs/starting price/woods.

update from NF regarding these:

We are expecting the first few octave mandolins to be going out the door in about two months.
We are about to add a page to our website that will go over the specs and pricing.

We are making two variations, a Mahogany back, sides, and neck version, and a maple back, sides, and neck version.
scale length: 22”
nut: 1 and 3/8”

octaves are starting at $3800
they are excepting deposits now, if interested contact:

Peter Bagale
585-233-1104
Northfield Instruments

darylcrisp

Apr-13-2016, 4:39pm

That is a really nice looking F5! They seem to have gotten a lot of stuff right, the lines look correct, the colour is good, it just looks super. What is the price point for the ones that are fully bound? They are very intriguing.

Ken
I've purchased both my NF from Tejonstreetmusic, i don't know the cost factor of fully bound, maybe give them a call-they reply with info in reasonable time.
http://www.tejonstreetmusic.com/

here are specs from the NF site regarding the S model(http://www.northfieldinstruments.com/mandolins/qsq-series)

i'm thinking, based on that spec list, you would need to go into the Big Mon to get fully bound(http://www.northfieldinstruments.com/mandolins/qsq-series)

i know some folks on here have the MasterModels and those are fully bound i think, but i don't see a spec list for MasterModel. So i'd say email or call Northfield to find out-they reply quickly, usually in a day or so.

Peter Bagale
585-233-1104
Northfield Instruments
orders@northfieldmandolins.com

darylcrisp

Apr-13-2016, 5:02pm

Enough said about external beauty.
We are ready for some audio/video now :mandosmiley:

totally agree. i need to check into making a soundclip/video. pictures are fine, but i'm with you on regarding how something sounds.
i've never made a soundclip or video, need to add that to my "to do" list.

d

Michael Bridges

Apr-13-2016, 5:19pm

Beauty! Congrats on what looks to be a winner.

tomsain

May-11-2016, 10:29pm

Awesome mandolins! I love my F2S black top oval hole. Sweet sounding and easy to play. Highly recommend checking them. Congrats on the Big Mon. I bet it's going to be great.

DataNick

Jun-16-2016, 7:46pm

Thread Bump:

Didn't want to start a new thread, but has anyone noticed how that now after a few years a used Northfield is going for less than a Nashville made Flatiron Festival F?

Pretty interesting and something to consider: it appears that for better or worse, pac-rim models depreciate more than US made mandos; whether or not that's fair is another question...but something to keep in mind when purchasing. It seems to me that the Northfields use to hold their value better....

f5joe

Jun-16-2016, 7:53pm

DataNick

Jun-16-2016, 7:54pm

You're probably right in an overall sense f5joe....aaah econ 101...

9lbShellhamer

Jun-16-2016, 9:57pm

You're probably right in an overall sense f5joe....aaah econ 101...

Nick, yes definitely right!

I traded in my Northfield to acquire my Gibson. The Northfield was truly an incredible instrument. I even liked it as much tonally an Ellis a5 I played at Carter when I bought it new in Nashville this past new years. Not to detract from Ellis, they're incredible, I just say that to illustrate how great the Northfield tone and balance are.

I traded in my Northfield, and I'm shocked how low the selling price is down to at the retailer it's at now. I'm tempted to buy it back. Ha ha ha my wife and pocketbook would kill me but it's a sweet mando for steal. I think a new one I mint should go for 20%less than retail, but they're not. I miss the Northfield, but I LOVE my Gibson!

Getting back to economics, maybe the market really is flooded. I got a decent deal on my Gibson , which was still pricey to me, but a deal nonetheless, and the Northfield hasn't moved which shocks me. I truly believe the market is just slow right now. I think it might be summer, who knows, but not much is moving in the classified.

DataNick

Jul-01-2016, 11:38am

darylcrisp

Jul-05-2016, 1:30am

More slow mandolin market as it relates to Northfield fodder:

$2195 Retail? Are you kiddin me?...That's right at used F9 range & slightly below a used Flatiron Festival(Nashville vintage)

Used Northfield NF F5Se (http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/99945#99945)

that might be one of the older ones, if so, possibly with flat fretboard and smaller frets-may be the reason for the lower pricing(newer ones in the past 2 years tend to have ivoroid top binding and the modern setup(radius FB and larger frets).
this shop had a nice used Collings MT just a while back listed for $1750 if I'm remembering correct-that's a good price as well.

I've noticed a glut of really nice guitars(all price points) for sale on the AGF and most are not moving unless the price drops to unrealistic values. I think a combination of the economy, along with our availability of nice looking, nice playing instruments at almost all pricepoints, has saturated the market.

d