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Jonathan James
Apr-28-2008, 8:11am
Don't know if anyone else caught this, but Dave Harvey from Gibson had a cool prototype with him in the instrument tent at Merlefest. In essence, it was a F5/F4 hybrid with double-torch headstock inlay, reddish F4-like one piece back, dark top, bound F-holes, aged binding and aged varnish. Very cool looking, cool sounding mandolin. Don't quote me, but believe he said they were only going to build about 15 of these and they'd go somewhere in the $15-16K range. WISH I had my camera with me at the time...

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 8:28am
I've seen pics of that mandolin. Maybe fron NAMM?

JEStanek
Apr-28-2008, 8:28am
Was it a short necked (10-12 frets to body vs 14-15) f-hole instrument or is the hybridization just coloring and inlay?

Jamie

bradeinhorn
Apr-28-2008, 8:49am
i believe they are f-5 neck with oval hole.

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 8:51am
The one I saw was an ff hole instrument

MikeEdgerton
Apr-28-2008, 9:26am
Correct me if I'm wrong but this doesn't sound like an F4, it's sounds like an F5 with the Torch and Wire headstock and bound f holes. If it's a long necked model what makes it like an F4 other than the headstock inlay?

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 9:32am
These pics were in the NAMM Thread, taken by Ted E.

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 9:33am
Top

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 9:34am
Back

danb
Apr-28-2008, 9:39am
what the heck is going on with that top texture?

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 9:40am
It's crackled to the extreme, that's for sure!

MikeEdgerton
Apr-28-2008, 9:46am
Maybe this is like what the car manufacturers do when they are trying to disguise a new model.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_400/car_photo_200011_7.jpg

Jonathan James
Apr-28-2008, 9:50am
that's the one. Dave Harvey said the entire varnish is "aged" (read: crackled).

Ken Olmstead
Apr-28-2008, 10:33am
That may be one of the least appealing mandolins I have ever incountered. I guess I would have to reserve harsh judgement before seeing it "in the flesh," but it does not look like it is for me. Just my opinion, I have the utmost respect for Dave Harvey and his crew!!

John Hill
Apr-28-2008, 10:38am
Oh yes, I remember that mandolin. A fairly hideous contraption.

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 10:40am
If it only had a nice oval sound hole......

Ken Olmstead
Apr-28-2008, 10:45am
If it only had a nice oval sound hole......
...and did not look like it was covered in "Rhino Lining." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Gutbucket
Apr-28-2008, 10:45am
Played it and it was a hoss! I'd buy that particular one at Merle in a heartbeat. Dave was very imformative and a pleasure to pick with. Now if I only had the cash.

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 10:46am
Hahaha....that's good. And a very apt description! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

johnnymando
Apr-28-2008, 1:29pm
David brought an f4/5 prototype to a Roanoke weekend camp that he was teaching in 2005 or 2006. It was a round hole with an f5 length neck and an elevated finger board.
I played it and it was awesome. Much louder than any vintage f2 or f4 that I've ever played. He said that it was one of a kind at the time.

sgarrity
Apr-28-2008, 1:32pm
That manodlin was sold through Carmel Music a while back. I think Grisman owned it for a while maybe?

MikeEdgerton
Apr-28-2008, 2:11pm
Apparently it's not a prototype anymore.

It's Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=53332;)

bradeinhorn
Apr-28-2008, 2:20pm
this came up a while ago. namm time i think. see an earlier thread.

Glassweb
Apr-28-2008, 2:22pm
That may be one of the least appealing mandolins I have ever incountered.
Wake up... little Gib-son... wake up!!

f5loar
Apr-28-2008, 3:36pm
I saw it and heard it in the hands of Dave and I didn't think it knocked me out since it looks strange to see a pre20's black top with F holes. It did sound great and really quality wise was fine. Gibson did make some long neck F4s in the 20's with regular round holes which makes sense to do so. This to me would have looked better as a round hole. While I think it's great they are doing these proto-types I am still waiting on the Dawg Fern, The Dean Webb '56 model,The Apollon Special, The Donna Stoneman '54 F5 model, and The Jethro Burns Custom A5. These are people who have or did devote their entire career to the Gibson mandolin and got no repect from Gibson for doing so. Yet someone like Adam Steffey who never owned a Gibson in his short career gets his own Gibson signature model and he still plays another make. Go figure.

Michael Gowell
Apr-28-2008, 5:05pm
f-5 loar - that's very interesting about long-necked F-4's built by Gibson in the 1920's. #I've never heard any reference to them - can you link us to a photo?

f5loar
Apr-28-2008, 5:23pm
I've got photos but unless you come here to show me how to post them here it's a lost cause. The serial number was 89979 which puts it around 1929.

mrmando
Apr-29-2008, 2:04am
I've got photos but unless you come here to show me how to post them here it's a lost cause. The serial number was 89979 which puts it around 1929.
Well, are you able to e-mail a photo?

MikeEdgerton
Apr-29-2008, 8:10am
Already offered, he needs the image scanned as well.

Chris Travers
Apr-29-2008, 8:19am
Why is it sparkly? I don't like it.

f5loar
Apr-29-2008, 10:06am
I open my computer to anyone here who will come to my home and put the photo in my scanner and then push the correct 46 buttons to post the photo here. Heck I might learn something watching you do it.

evanreilly
Apr-29-2008, 10:50pm
Tommy, ole pal!! Bring that stuff next time you come to visit here!
It ain't no big thing! We be scanning!!!

Ken Berner
Apr-30-2008, 10:15am
The finish looks as if the mandolin has been in a fire, but I'll bet the price on it will not reflect a "fire sale" item!

Rich Michaud
Apr-30-2008, 12:02pm
I played the prototype at Merlefest at the Jackson's Music booth along with the other Gibsons including the DMM and the MM. Dave Harvey was extremely helpful and gave freely of his time, answering my questions and jamming with me to hear it played by someone else. It did it for me and I ordered it then and there. I am expecting the same tone or better per Dave from the one I ordered sight unseen. I will report back when the instrument arrives.. Rich Michaud

Mikey G
May-10-2008, 11:20pm
There's a few nice Master Models out there in that price range. Last year I bought a brand new '07 MM for $12.5k, so I guess you'd have to really want one of these to justify the price. For the same money, (or less,) I'd prefer the MM for sure.

goose 2
May-11-2008, 1:20am
Rich,

How does the victorian sound tone wise as compared to a good MM or DMM? I get the feeling that it is a Master Model with different appointments. I this right?

Rich Michaud
May-12-2008, 11:16am
Goose-I haven't received it yet but I recall that I liked the tone better than the MM or the Distressed MM which were both excellent in their own right. Once I get my mitts on it I will be able to better describe the sound. I will get back to you on this. Rich

mando.player
May-12-2008, 12:27pm
Normal press release, mega sized pics:
http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp....in.html (http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2008/Gibson-Limited-Edition-Gibson-Victorian-F-Style-Mandolin.html)