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I have a Gibson F5 fern with no tags. It has F5 penciled on the inside of one hole and a stamped “5302” inside the other. It looks like it has had some major work done on the scroll and back and has had a pickup added inside as well. Plays beautifully though! I’d love help identifying it if anyone has any ideas!
Link to pictures:
http://jebadave.tumblr.com/post/182896041493
Any ideas, yes we need some better photos on here! Some complete front and back-the whole body etc.., close ups of headstock, front and back. Just by the other pix it looks like an old copy?
I think the headstock photo is all we need to let us know this is a copy, and not a particularly elegant one.
Attachment 174929
Thanks so much guys! Here’s a link with some more pictures. http://jebadave.tumblr.com/post/182896041493
Looking at the rest cements the fact that it isn't real.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmando
It shows some age/looks pretty old so wonder who made it? Heck it may sound just fine, I'd like to hear it. I sure have seen worse copies.
If there is anything Gibson about this one it would be because it was the trunk of a car that drove through Kalamazoo, MI or it could have Gibson strings on it. I see lots wrong with it, but it's a nice vintage attempt and could be a really good mandolin with professional set up.
Oh well as you sayso I guess you just keep on playing the music..Quote:
Plays beautifully though!
add a (/) to your TRC..
Somebody thought they could only sell what they made ,
by having that known brand name on it, is my guess..
:whistling:
It wasn't that long ago when labeled "fakes" were the only ones that you could sell and everybody in the business built them, including the well known luthiers.Quote:
Originally Posted by mandroid
Howzit sound? I've seen plenty of ugly copies that still sounded great.
Is it from Colorado?
I can definitely see the poor quality in the details. The sound is really quite excellent though. One of my favorites I’ve played. I bought it in Colorado.
Yeah, a friend of mine owned it in the early 80's.
Amazing :) why did he get rid of it?
Actually, the body is pretty nice and appears to be a '50's F-12. I'm seeing typical birdseye and a mahogany neck of an F-12 The neck work is not too good with respect to the proper curves and symmetry The 5302 seem to be a Gibson Factory Order Number. It should sound good as you say it does
Thanks for your thoughts Darryl! I’m glad to have it and love playing it so it’s wonderful to get some new perspectives and ideas about it.
If Darryl is right and that is a Gibson FON it would date it to 1950.