View Full Version : Gibson A-5?
Willie Poole
Jul-17-2006, 1:34pm
The one and only Loar A-5, was it a varnish finish? If so can the new A-5`s be bought with a varnish finish? I was reading the description on your web site and it states that they have a lacquer finish..I wonder how close these are to the original?.....Willie http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif
Klaus Wutscher
Jul-18-2006, 4:13am
Not wanting to step on ayones toes in responding first, this is my take on it:
The only known Loar A5 does have a varnish finish. It also differs quite a bit in its measurements from F-5s of the day. It is said to be a cannon (I never played it).
Todays A5s are the same body size and dimensions as the F 5 but without the scroll. So, they are structurally different from the loar A 5 and finished in laquer.
There were suggestions some time ago on the board that there may be a market for an EXACT copy of the Loar A5. The response was that at this point, the retooling would not be cost- effective for Gibson. I for one would love to see such an instrument offered by Gibson.
JEStanek
Jul-18-2006, 6:43am
Here is the Loar A5 (s/n 74003) from the Mandolin Archive (http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/show_mando.pl?51)signed on 20 September 1923.
Jamie
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-18-2006, 8:03am
The body shape is that of an oval hole Gibson "A" from the period. #However the Loar A5 is 1-3/8 deep like the Loar F-5 instead of 1-1/2" like the oval hole A's. #The majority of modern builders truncate the "A" body shape when building a long necked A-5 to bring the bridge and F-holes back toward the widest part of the body.
Hence, the Loar A-5 has more interior volume than modern A-5's and the bridge is placed at a point not necessarily at the center of the top's "flex" area. #This accidentally results in a very unique sounding instrument while retaining the overall Loar sound.
John Flynn
Jul-18-2006, 8:06am
There were suggestions some time ago on the board that there may be a market for an EXACT copy of the Loar A5.
The Crafters of Tennessee "Prodigal A-5" by Mark Taylor claims to be a reproduction of the Loar A-5. As most of you know, Mark's father Tut Taylor once owned the Loar A-5. Also, Bill Bussman's F-hole A model uses the Mark Taylor PA-5 specs.
Klaus Wutscher
Jul-18-2006, 8:46am
I played a Prodigal 5 at IBMA last year. That particular mandolin was good, but definitely overpriced imho. I seem to recall that Mike Compton has/has sold a prodigal 5 too.
AW Meyer
Jul-18-2006, 11:28am
Compton's prodigal is for sale at the 12th Fret in Toronto.
(Sorry for hijacking the thread.)Scroll down to the second item:
12th fret (http://www.12fret.com/used/index.html#MAND&BANJ)
I haven't washed my hands since Tut let me play it a few years ago. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif