Re: Montana Gibson Mandolin Specifications
Originally Posted by
Robert Smyth
I've got a 1994 Gibson F-5L Fern, serial number 4695079, signed by Bruce Weber, that I've had for over ten years now. I'd be curious how other F-5Ls from that era weigh up. Mine weighs 2.5 pounds with an Allen tailpiece and fingerrest installed. There were significant finish cracks on mine when I got it but I do know the previous owner didn't really take care of it very well (told story of dropping it on the lower point which broke off the binding). Anybody else have finish cracking?
The upper part of my bridge which rests on the thumbwheels has sunk over the years but I just take it off and sand it flat again, making sure I don't lose sight of the string grooves!
Battle scars aside, I always get comments about how great it sounds...it feeds my soul like no other instrument I have!
Oh, yeah, I've refretted it with EVO Gold fretwire...highly recommended!
Robert instead of sanding the top and making the saddle even weaker why don't you don't you instead add ebony (or rosewood) as reinforcement on the bottom side? That would be a permanent solution and it would look neat and no one would see the repair.
One of the big questions I have always had about this whole era is why did Gibson buy Flatiron in the first place? By 1978, Gibson had made huge strides, with Roger Siminoff's help, back to building great mandolins again. The F-5L was a pretty good mandolin after all.
Bernie
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Due to current budgetary restrictions the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off -- sorry about the inconvenience.
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