Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    I am currently building my first mandolin and was inspired by Levon Helm's playing, singing, attitude toward music, etc. Can anyone tell me the make and model of this mandolin as pictured in the images from Levon's performance at the Newport Folk Festival some years ago? it is what I am basing my current project on. Thanks.

    -Mark
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	LHMandolin.jpg 
Views:	393 
Size:	10.3 KB 
ID:	176854  

  2. #2
    TBI survivor Richard J's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Twin Cities, MN.
    Posts
    150
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    I think, therefore, I pick.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    486

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    I think it's a Gibson F5 Jam Master.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    I think that might be larry campbell's gibson f-9. video is from 2008 and i don't think the jam masters were out yet.

  5. #5
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,078

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard J View Post
    The link leads to a youtube video from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, where they misidentify Levon Helm's old F-4 as an F-5. Don't believe everything you see on the internet.

    Mark's picture is too blurry when magnified to say anything for certain, but I would say F-9 would be a reasonable guess.

    I've also seen video of Levon playing a Martin A. I would guess that he owned and used several mandolins during the course of his career.

    I met him briefly in 1980. He was a very nice fellow. My drummer was acquainted with him, and sent his card backstage when he did a show in Providence. Even though he was dog-tired and road-weary, he took 20 minutes to sit with us after his set.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    Amy Helm also plays what looks like an F-9 in addition to Levon's Flatiron F. Maybe it is the former.

  7. #7
    Notary Sojac Paul Kotapish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Alameda, California
    Posts
    2,484

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    I had the pleasure of opening for Amy Helm a few years back. She was playing a Gibson F-9 at that show, although it was a bit lighter and more gold than the one Levon is holding above.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	amy.jpg 
Views:	185 
Size:	115.7 KB 
ID:	176866
    Just one guy's opinion
    www.guitarfish.net

  8. #8
    Registered User Dave Hicks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Hoosierlandia
    Posts
    705

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    (This is kind of an old thread, though perhaps not zombified quite yet.)

    Does anybody else play the chord form that Amy is using in Paul's post? I assume she is in standard tuning, so that would be a C5.

    I saw her play a couple days ago, and tried out a C in this format - it's not very intuitive for me!

    Dave Hicks

  9. #9
    Registered User Dave Hicks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Hoosierlandia
    Posts
    705

    Default Re: Make/model of this Levon Helm mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Hicks View Post
    (This is kind of an old thread, though perhaps not zombified quite yet.)

    Does anybody else play the chord form that Amy is using in Paul's post? I assume she is in standard tuning, so that would be a C5.

    I saw her play a couple days ago, and tried out a C in this format - it's not very intuitive for me!

    Dave Hicks
    Moved to a more appropriate subforum.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •