Re: 1977 Gibson F-5 Questions
Mike Edgerton's list of Gibson label signers shows Spinoso as 1976:
Lloyd Loar (1922-1924) *
Stanley E. Rendell (1970-1975) *
Carl Spinoso (1976) *
Wilbur D. Fuller (1978) *
Richard J. Doan (1978-1981) *
Aaron Cowles (1978-1984) *
Herman Meints (1979-1980) *
Rick Brown (1980) *
Marvin Lamb (1980) *
Donald L. Doans (1981)
Jerry Rowland (1981) *
Jim Triggs (1986-1989)
Greg Rich (1989)
Steve P. Carlson (1986-1993) *
Rick Gembar (1994)
Bill Monroe (1991-1995) *
Phil Brug (1993-1994) *
Bruce D. Weber (1993-1997) *
Bobby Osborne (1993-1996) *
Larry Barnwell (1994-1995) *
Paul Schneider (1997-1998) *
Simeon C. Daley (1998-2001) *
Charles Derrington (1987-2005) *
Danny Roberts (2001-2005) *
Doyle Lawson (2003?)
Casey Q. Sullivan (2005-2007) *
Ricky Skaggs (2007-2008)
David W. Harvey (2007-2015) *
Sam Bush (2012) *
Implies you could be right about the aftermarket "L" designation. Hypothetically the mandolin could have hung around in inventory for some time, and not been sold until the F-5L was introduced in 1978 (?). Also, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the inlay patterns are pre-F-5L, and characteristic of G's early-to-mid-'70's instruments.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks