curious about 1960's Gibson A-5(the type Jethro Burns played)

[f5loar]

I remember a pic (in some '70s Oak Publication, I believe) of Jethro holding a '50s F5. Anybody know, if he played that one to any extend?

That photo is of Jethro's 1967 F5. It sold through Gruhns a few decades ago. If you look at the dozens of photos of the RCA H&J album covers you will see Jethro had quite a few Gibsons. I remember in addition to this '67 F5, a 60's Electric F5 (I know where it's at), a regular A5, a few EM200s and some older A and F models. And pretty sure he had a 70's F5 too before he started endorsing Washburn. Jethro endorsed Gibson in the 50's and 60's and likely got all he wanted free for the asking.

[JeffD]

A quote attributed to Jethro:

Buy the cheapest mandolin you can find; nobody will ever hear you anyways.

[Jeff Mando]

or the electric guitar equivalent -- when you use a fuzz pedal you can make a $3000 guitar sound just like a $100 guitar!

[Timbofood]

Thanks for the Jethro quote, Jeff!
There are some really hilarious quotes from him, that's one of the best!

[Jack Roberts]

I've got one, from 1958. It has a very thick top, warped braces, but it is playable. I played it for years before I bought my 'teens A-1, which has a much better sound. Here is a link to the old post with a picture:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?1845-It-doesn't-look-like-much

Since this picture I had it re-fretted and setup by MandoMedic, and I've changed to Daddario strings. I also figured out a way to put the pick guard back on. If you're interested, I'll take a new picture of it. I'm keeping it as it has a lot of character, but the sound doesn't quite carry enough to use when we play in public.

I still play it once in a while when I get the urge to sing "The Battle of Cucamonga". The coolest thing about it is the hot pink fur inside the case.

[Timbofood]

Buddy of mine had an '02 Orville guitar that had become separated from its case and the only thing he could fine to fit was one or those hot pink numbers, what a look that was!

[Jack Roberts]

If I recollect correct, Jethro played a Fender Mandocaster as well. The guy could have given a lot of the MAS types fits over how many different mandolins he owned and played. I grew up listening to, and watching, Homer and Jethro, and I recall I had the whole Kellogg's corn flakes corny jokes commercial (Don't be corn-fused) memorized. I didn't know that there were any other types of mandolin besides that two-pointer that Jethro played until I stopped buying larger shoes every year.

[Jamie-boy]

Went to a workshop with Jethro 1980 at Woodsy's Music in Kent, Ohio. He was representing Washburn, but played a Gibson F5. He said when he was young, he decided that if he got good enough, he would never need to pay for another mandolin; that people would just give him instruments to play. He said that he never paid for another one after making that decision.

Glad I had the chance to meet him.

[j. condino]

I have a friend in who owns one from approx. 1968- bright red and dipped in finish thicker than a stratocaster. It has the thickest top I have ever measured on a mandolin- 8+ mm thick around the bridge. That is in the range of most carved upright basses. It sounds ok acoustic, but it really excels at high volumes like the Merlefest main stage levels, where a more sensitive mandolin could have a lot of issues. Everything about that era two points are different- super thick tops, heavy finish, stubby mahogany necks- like they gave the project to a guitar builder and said, "... make one smaller and put 8 strings on it; use the scraps from the es335 dumpster..."

As funky as those Gibsons were, D'Aquisto's interpretation of the two point mandolin from the same time period is a whole different world of style.....

j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com

[f5loar]

Went to a workshop with Jethro 1980 at Woodsy's Music in Kent, Ohio. He was representing Washburn, but played a Gibson F5. He said when he was young, he decided that if he got good enough, he would never need to pay for another mandolin; that people would just give him instruments to play. He said that he never paid for another one after making that decision.

Glad I had the chance to meet him.

Jethro was a long term endorser for Gibson, which means he got them Free for the asking. And yes he had that Fender Mandocaster too which I'm sure he got than one Free too. Other than a bunch of Gibsons, that one Fender and a few Washburns that was it.