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Thread: F-12

  1. #1
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default F-12

    What kind of a deal is this on an F-12 from 1965? NFI nor am I an interested buyer. Curiosity.
    https://reverb.com/item/5755008-gibs...d-tea-sunburst
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  2. #2

    Default Re: F-12

    F-12 is an odd bird, IMHO. On first glance, it looks like an F-5, but less well-appointed. F-5's from that period are not that well-regarded, so the only reason to buy an F-12 from the 60's would be price, IMHO. $3K is about triple my interest level, but YMMV.

  3. #3

    Default Re: F-12

    I'd let that one pass by.

    For that price, you can buy a Northfield "satin" series that is not only better-built, but probably sounds better as well...

  4. #4
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-12

    $2K maybe, $3K no way.
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  5. #5
    Certified! Bernie Daniel's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-12

    Quote Originally Posted by willkamm View Post
    What kind of a deal is this on an F-12 from 1965? NFI nor am I an interested buyer. Curiosity.
    https://reverb.com/item/5755008-gibs...d-tea-sunburst
    I agree others --more than I would want to pay. Hard to say what this one sounds like but there is a pretty good chance it would not compare well with a new mandolin that you could buy for less -- e.g., new Kentucky KM-1000. I bought one nearly identical to that one in 2004 for $2600 and ended up having a re-graduation performed on it. FWIIW, there are at least two other '50s era F-12s currently being offered by very respected sellers for about $3500 also. Perhaps for some reason the perceived value of these vintage Gibsons from this questionable era has gone up?
    Bernie
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  6. #6
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-12

    If one could get one F-12 from the 50's-60's for cheap I'd say go for it and pop the back off and have a top and back re-graduation done, maybe even tone bar spacing/shape, neck angle altered and you'd have a fine mandolin! Some 12's have pretty decent old wood. I'm a fan of conversions. If you could have around 4G in the finished product "just a reconditioned interior vintage instrument" they usually sound better than mandolins costing way more in my opinion, I've had Gils,Pags,Collings,new Gibsons that didn't come close to converts I've had done.

  7. #7
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-12

    Funk factor, pretty high.
    If you want to “rework” something, it might be worth it,
    Bgrasser, has very warm spot for them, me? Not so much.
    Timothy F. Lewis
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