Gibson F5 Mandolins: New David Harvey builds

**DataNick** · May-13-2016, 1:58pm

I'm starting this thread to catalog for posterity new mandolin builds that David Harvey posts to Facebook, etc. I'll try to fill in some recent posts from the last year or so as well. Enjoy and MAS Alert!

Batter up: new F5G Custom Goldtop

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**bigskygirl** · May-13-2016, 2:11pm

Wow, that back is gorgeous!

**Clement Barrera-Ng** · May-13-2016, 7:13pm

Nice. Is this one yours Nick? The gold top is very nice - like the Les Paul.

**Charles E.** · May-13-2016, 7:38pm

That's some bling there. The back reminds me of Lyon and Healy mandolins from the 20's.

**Stephen Cagle** · May-13-2016, 8:31pm

My gosh!!!! That's so nice!!!!!

**Marty Jacobson** · May-13-2016, 10:06pm

Wow, if signed Loars were made that nicely, they'd be worth a ton of money now.

**Glassweb** · May-13-2016, 11:38pm

Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson

Wow, if signed Loars were made that nicely, they'd be worth a ton of money now.

say what? no way you can compare this "golden idol" to an original Lloyd Loar F5... no way!

brother, what you got here is "fools gold"...

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-15-2016, 2:33am

I'm not sure that i'd go for a Gold Top myself,i like to see the wood,but,the back & sides could make up for a whole lot of Gold paint,it's incredible !. I don't really like 'cut off' fingerboards either,but the fit & finish look perfect.
The finish on the back is just like the Maple neck on my Stelling banjo. It should have been American Walnut,but when it turned up,it had a Maple neck 'stained' as Walnut. It looks like dark chocolate marble -awesome,
Ivan

**9lbShellhamer** · May-15-2016, 10:00am

Gibson is making the best stuff they've ever made right now. David Harvey is making incredible mandolins.

**DataNick** · May-15-2016, 3:23pm

Originally Posted by Clement Barrera-Ng

Nice. Is this one yours Nick? The gold top is very nice - like the Les Paul.

Nope! I've got no dog in this fight...

**J Mangio** · May-15-2016, 6:16pm

I'll pass on the Gold.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-16-2016, 2:41am

From 9lbshellhamer - "Gibson is making the best stuff they've ever made right now.". I think that many folk (inc.me), would agree wholeheartedly on that point. Dave Harvey really seems to have a firm grip on 'what's needed' re.Gibson mandolins & he's doing his best to produce 'the best' Gibsons for many years. As a consumate mandolin player himself,i doubt if anything not up to standard will get past him,
Ivan

**Drew Egerton** · May-16-2016, 7:27am

The gold seems like an odd choice, I wonder if it was made for someone specifically? Maybe a big name country star that's going to hold it and strum it sometimes lol.

**Astro** · May-18-2016, 7:12am

Yeah but in a hundred years, that thing is going to look sooo cool

**Don Grieser** · May-18-2016, 7:47am

If it's good enough for Sam....

**Don Grieser** · May-18-2016, 10:54pm

For those who don't remember, Gibson made 2 Gold Tops some time ago. One went to Sam, one was for sale on Reverb (might still be). Something different.

**Luna Pick** · May-18-2016, 11:11pm

Have to say, after first impact it's growing on me a little, made better by seeing that one in real life with Sam playing it. Wonder what the new one sounds like, and where it's headed.

**Jim Hilburn** · May-19-2016, 7:27am

Yeah, seeing it on film with all the reflections, it looked a lot better to me than the stills.
They're just one step away from Candy Apple Red. Overspray the gold with red translucent dye so you see the gold through the red. I never had the guts but always wanted to see it on a mandolin.

**Don Grieser** · May-19-2016, 7:50am

The new one may have more gold on it. Or it's the florescent lights.

Would love to see the candy apple red finish, Jim.

Wouldn't buy one in either color, but enjoy seeing something other than the sunburst.

**JeffD** · May-19-2016, 8:10am

Gold somehow seems appropriate. Or at least not inappropriate. I think of the classic electric guitars, the 57 Les Paul Goldtop and the like. Why the heck not. It can look so cool. It can become iconic.

**T.D.Nydn** · May-19-2016, 8:55am

It reminds me a lot of the gold top Les Paul's also...if Gibson called it the Sam Bush "Gold Model" , they would probably sell more of them,,either way,, I kind of like it ,and I would even buy one...