I was down in Seattle yesterday with my friend who was buying a "Gypsy" style, DuPont guitar from Joe and Julie who run the amazing archtop.com
Besides having an amazing assortment of jazz guitars they also had hanging on the wall one of the most spectacular mandolins I have ever seen/played - a Gilchrist "F4.5"
For those of you who are a bit confused this is Steve's updated, deluxe version of the legendary Loar-era truss-rodded F4s. What makes Steve's model an upgrade is a beautiful curly maple neck, a July 9th style WBW binding on the sides of the body and headstock and the most amazing one-piece back I've seen in a while. Add to that a gorgeous mahogany finish, exceptional tone, balance and playability and you've got perhaps the best round hole mandolin I've ever seen or played and I've seen, owned and played a lot of them. This is the same style build as Mike Compton's legendary Gilchrist F4.
I have zero financial interest in this mandolin, but I felt it deserved a shout-out because it is such a spectacular instrument. Not to mention the fact that the price has just been reduced! Ah, if only I had the funds... it would be gone! Check it out at archtop.com
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