Gibson F fretboards, flat, radius or both?

[mandolin breeze]

Just wondering, (mostly interested in the F5L in particular) . . . are the standard, from the factory fretboards flat, radius or both? Does the year matter?

[GTison]

All flat unless otherwise stated as a custom order or aftermarket work.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I raised this same question with one of my Cafe e-mail friends a few months back. I was told that the Gibson 'Sam Bush' models have a radiussed fretboard 'as standard'. I can't doubt the info. that i was given, as the person who gave it to me owns a 'Sam Bush' model Gibson. However,looking at the spec.of the 'Sam Bush' model on the Gibson website,a radiussed fretboard isn't specified - so,it may be that it can be ordered with one or the other - flat or radiussed,
Ivan

[multidon]

The Jam Master series, no longer made, also had radius fretboards. All other models have always had flat boards AFAIK. Never heard about the Sam Bush models having radius boards, but I don't necessarily disbelieve it. I just don't know.

[jimbob]

My Bibey model is flat. I had also heard the Bush models were radiused, but only played one and cannot remember. I really don't notice much difference between the flat boards and curved boards.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I played a friend's Gibson 'Sam Bush' mandolin shortly after he got it last year. I took it for granted that the f/board was flat. I had no trouble at all playing it,but then,i had no trouble playing my once owned Weber "Beartooth" "A" style mandolin which did have a flat f/board. Flat / radiussed = no problems with either. I can't remember if the SB f/board was flat or radiussed,
Ivan

[almeriastrings]

The "Sam Bush '34 Fern" certainly has a wider, radiused board and I am pretty sure the regular "Signature" version did too. The 'normal' Fern's (unless custom ordered) have flat boards.

OK... just checked the Gibson site.

Confirmed. It does.

Look at the lower left, under HARDWARE and see "special note".

"Wide-neck/Radiused Fingerboard/Sam Bush String Spacing/Sam Bush Strings"