Gibson F5G on ebay - not!

[jim simpson]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gibson-F-5-Mandolin-/180891856913?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1dfeb011

What is this? A 60's or 70's period Gibson or a fake?

[almeriastrings]

A 70's F5 with a hefty price tag for one of those...

Looks like they know nothing about mandolins and just lifted a modern catalog description from the F5G.

[Vernon Hughes]

I'd say with that big honkin heel button..fake.

[f5loar]

Not sure why they came up with the G thing but it is for sure a real authentic all original made in Kalamazoo 1974 Gibson F5. Not sure why they didn't put the year it was made either. Serial no. 110595 signed by Pres. Randel on 7/11/74. Pretty nice condtion but price is a bit high for a 70's.

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm going to guess they thought it was a G becuase it had the flowerpot headstock inlay.

[mtucker]

amazing to me they could honk up those scrolls so bad on 70's models after creating near perfection on the first F5's...pass that 'stuff' this way, Orville! :))

[pfox14]

Did they always use "The Gibson" logo on the 70s F-5s? Just curious

[f5loar]

yes starting with the new design in late 1970 the "The" was put back on the F5. To me the 70's F5 design was as if Gibson was copying the Japan imports BEFORE the Japan imports copied Gibson if that makes any sense. Fact is sometimes stranger than the truth. No real reason why they added the "G" for an F5G as the label inside clearly says it is just an F5.

[Bernie Daniel]

yes starting with the new design in late 1970 the "The" was put back on the F5. To me the 70's F5 design was as if Gibson was copying the Japan imports BEFORE the Japan imports copied Gibson if that makes any sense. Fact is sometimes stranger than the truth. No real reason why they added the "G" for an F5G as the label inside clearly says it is just an F5.

Didn't putting the "The" back on start in the early 1970's? Here is a pic of the headstock of a '72 F-12 -- but I almost bought a '72 F-5 back then too and it was identical except for a flowerpot instead of a fleur?

[f5loar]

Did I word it wrong? I said started in late 1970. Not late 1970's. Late 1970 would mean in the later months after July of 1970. That is when the new models went on sale to the public.