1951 F-12 Versus F-5 Construction?

[pdawg]

Would a 1951 F-5 and a 1951 F-12 share construction techniques and build quality
other then cosmetics and scale length?
Thanks and Happy New Year

[mandroid]

Wild guess; both Gibson Kalamazoo , same year ? Why wouldn't they be?

[lenf12]

The scale lengths should be the same for both the F-12 and F-5 at ~13 7/8". The question is whether it is a 12th fret or 15th fret neck join. I don't remember when Gibson switched to the 15th fret join but it was around that time (1951, my birth year). Otherwise, they are both similarly built aside from the cosmetics. F-12 = poor man's F-5. My main mandolin is '56 F-12 which thanks to Randy Wood is a killer sounding box.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[William Smith]

1949 was the transition year for the short neck and long 5 scale neck. The 51 F-12's may have the fret board glued to the top unlike the F-5 thats elevated off the top, the top elevated helps big time, I just don't remember when the 12's after 49 were elevated off the top?, But if they are elevated in 51 its all just cosmetics!

[f5loar]

Same materials used except in neck. The '51 F12 would be a mahgony neck. The F12 is lighter in weight, and generally sounds better than same year F5.