This Gibson mandolin deserves it's own page for its back side

[Mandolin Cafe]

Helping Frank Solivan place a classified a few moments ago. No financial interest in this one, told him I won't take a donation from him if it sells, and I think it will. Frank has been a long-time friend of the Cafe and I'm an admirer of his work. This is a Gibson F5-GT (Gold Top) Mandolin he's owned for several years and played it predominantly for a period of time I'm not totally in the know on. There's a link to a video in the ad of him playing it, but it's the back side that's worthy of our collective gawks. Please wipe your drool so it doesn't hit your keyboard.

[tree]

Yes it does.

If that thing had block inlays I'd be SORELY tempted because it would make dandy little Les Paul. You'd want to figure out how to hold and play it so the audience could appreciate the back!

[vetus scotia]

Can't find any video of Frank playing the Gold Top, but if you use your imagination and watch this youngster, well, you get the idea.

[Stompbox]

Perfect but for the gold hardware (for me)

[MikeZito]

Wow . . . just, WOW!

[Denny Gies]

A real beauty, thanks for sharing.

[Skip Kelley]

Yes sir, that’s some fine looking maple!

[Mandoplumb]

I've seen better looking backsides, but that is probably the best I've seen on a mandolin!

[Bertram Henze]

You'd want to figure out how to hold and play it so the audience could appreciate the back!

I use backside beauty for my own visual comfort while playing, and when the audience breaks into applause I think to myself "you ain't seen nothing yet"

[Steve Ostrander]

Holy tiger stripes, Batman!!

[Paul Busman]

Yes it does.

If that thing had block inlays I'd be SORELY tempted because it would make dandy little Les Paul. You'd want to figure out how to hold and play it so the audience could appreciate the back!

You could at least set it on an instrument rack with the back showing when you're not actually playing it.

The gold top is so visually uniform that turning the mando around and showing the wild back would be more of a contrast/shock than if the top was a burst.Good choice.

[T.D.Nydn]

That neck is exceptional..

[Bogle]

Lumber that beautiful should have binding on it to coordinate with the front!

[Richard Mott]

Can anyone identify what the finish style is on the back? It is just beautiful but looks very different, at least in the photograph, from the usual Gibson color.

[slimt]

I like all of it. Very nice.

[O. Apitius]

Yes, that's very callipygous.

[dang]

That’s awesome, I can’t remember the last time I had to look up a word

[tree]

Totally worth looking up callipygous. Note to self: work this into a conversation soon, but with care.

[Gary Hudson]

Totally worth looking up callipygous. Note to self: work this into a conversation soon, but with care.

I could work it into a conversation. I'm pretty sure the face slap would come much later.

[soliver]

Wow

[Ginzodude]

Honored to have just picked up one of the 7! Thank you Frank! (For the record, I didn't find this from the MandolinCafe classified)

[DocT]

Sweet!