New Northfield NF-5S

[Kevin K]

It's been awhile since I have posted here but felt this was worth sharing.
I had sold my Summit awhile back since I wasn't playing as much and bought a re-voiced Loar LM600. Peppy little mandolin and enjoyed playing it.
Well, as things turn out, I was asked to him out a group of friends and that became more of common thing and the group has been very busy this past year.
I have played numerous mandolins at shops or what friends had just to get an idea of what is out there and what appealed to me as far as sound.

I kept hearing some really good things about Northfield and how many owners were well pleased. Well......I'm proud to say, here's another owner that is well pleased as well.
Thanks to Brian at the Mandolin Store and Peter at Northfield for their time and help.

Now for a few details.
Standard Northfield F Shape and body construction.
Adirondack Red Spruce Top.
Figured Maple Back, neck and sides.
3 Piece hard maple neck.
Striped Ebony Bridge, Fingerboard, pickguard and endpin
Shaded Sunburst finish on F5-style, Sheratonesk Dark Brown back, sides, and neck on F2-style, with optional black or sunburst top.
Unbound Fretboard. Unbound Back.
Single-ply ivoroid top binding.
Solid Mother of Pearl dot position markers and peghead logo.
Schaller Tuners with black buttons.
Cast Tailpiece.
Strung with DAddario EXP74.
All materials from North America, seasoned and matched in our Marshall, MI shop. Assembled and varnished in our Qingdao shop. Set up and final inspected in our Marshall, MI shop

The sound is just incredible, I was shocked and impressed from the very first note. Great job on the sound, fit and finish and customer support!
Now...for a few pictures.

[Kevin K]

Here are a few pictures from The Mandolin Store

[yankees1]

Beautiful !! I'm sure it will sound great !

[Kevin K]

Here are a few that I took once it arrived.



Ready for action

[Kevin K]

Just practicing around the office and home, I was really impressed with the tone and volume but last night at band practice with the other instruments it really shined, very powerful, very toneful and was a joy to play. I look forward to much more music with this mandolin.

[9lbShellhamer]

Nice! Enjoy it!

[addamr]

Congratulations on a nice mandolin. I like the case too.

Adam

[Br1ck]

I have played quite a few of these now. My first was at a visit to The Mandolin Store. I was really liking the 900 Kentucky, then they handed me an F 5S. Thousand over a master F style Kentucky, but you could hear it, and if I were making the choice, I'd pony up the dough or look for a used one.

I like how they class the F 5S up a bit. Looks sharp and plays and sounds great. The oval hole is really sweet too. It would be a hard choice. Enjoy your new ax. Is there an envy imoji?

[Eric C.]

Mine will be in my hands tomorrow. Can't wait!

[Joey Anchors]

That is one fine looking NF! Congrats on the new baby.

[bigskygirl]

Congrats it's a beaut! Enjoy!

[Johnny60]

Enjoy it! I've had mine for 2 1/2 years now and absolutely love it.

[Kevin K]

I really love playing it, nice throaty sound, punchy, balanced and just very pleasing to the ear.
It's first time on stage was this past Monday night and while I have a few tweaks to do on the preamp setup, I was pleased with the way it did and look forward to this weekend and more playing.

[Bill Kammerzell]

My F5S arrived yesterday. The looks and sound are great. Came with the Airloom case. Thanks to Bradford and Franzke for the competitive pricing and great shipping. I also contacted Northfield at their customer service line. Had a couple of questions. Wish I knew who I spoke to, because they were so helpful and just truly polite. However I was outside jogging so I never heard their name clearly.
I waited a couple of hours to open the box as it was about 30 degrees F out when it arrived by FedEx. B&F packed it nicely. Just tuning it up it was clear that the tone was top shelf. It played so easily, with excellent volume and a really nice balance from the Low, mid to high range. The finish is really nice. Just a great build. Happy I was able to get this after having to sell my Weber River F-14. I am going to love playing this. Just a pleasure. Here's a picture of it dressed up with a McClung armrest and a Cumberland Acoustic tone guard. Not quite sure where I got the strap from? Already put a Northfield and Cafe sticker on the case. Leaving the pickguard on this one. Like the way it looks.

[Kevin K]

I am really like this mandolin, very pleased with the tone and volume as well as playability.
It rivals some of the more expensive mandolins I've played in volume and tone.

[mtucker]

My F5S arrived yesterday. dressed up with a McClung armrest and a Cumberland Acoustic tone guard.

Very nice and congrats to you both! Northfield is a solid choice.

Don't know how long the finish has baked since completed but you may want to consider giving it some time before using the guard if it's nitro lacquer or varnish.

I'm going to add one to my new axe but Tony Toneguard told me to let the finish set up about a year before adding the guard since the rubber baby buggy bumpers can raise he!! with new finish.

Since it's new varnish, I also try keeping mine out of the case as much as possible since I want the finish to set up and the material and glue on the lining of the case can raise stank with the finish. FWIW

[FLATROCK HILL]

Mine will be in my hands tomorrow. Can't wait!

Hi Eric, No wish to hijack this thread (Congrats to Kevin K of course!) but I'm wondering how you like yours.

[Br1ck]

It seems like the 5S has become the go to answer for those wanting a good F style at a livable price. Every one I've played has been very, very good.

[Kevin K]

Other Northfield owners, what strings are you using and what has been your experience? I have been using EXP74CM's and been quite pleased.
This passed week, I had some string spares, mixed brands, plain steel 11.5, and 16, reg phosphor 26 and 40, and I am liking this a tad better than the EXP.
I've tried the D'addario nickel bronze and did not like as well, just not my taste but might suit someone else better. Also, I have tried the N270 from GHS, pure nickel, they were not bad, but I missed the punch that phosphor bronze has.

[CWRoyds]

Other Northfield owners, what strings are you using and what has been your experience? I have been using EXP74CM's and been quite pleased.
This passed week, I had some string spares, mixed brands, plain steel 11.5, and 16, reg phosphor 26 and 40, and I am liking this a tad better than the EXP.
I've tried the D'addario nickel bronze and did not like as well, just not my taste but might suit someone else better. Also, I have tried the N270 from GHS, pure nickel, they were not bad, but I missed the punch that phosphor bronze has.

I really like the EXP74CMs i just put on my Northfield.
They are tight and solid, and give a powerful even tone.
I usually use EXP74s, but happen to have a set of the CMs, so I tried them.
I guess one just has to experiment.
Changing strings ain’t that hard.