Re: What to expect, F5S?
Love the F5s.
I have played a lot of Northfields, and own an Artist 5bar.
I owned an F5s for a short time and it might be the favorite mandolin I have played in terms of sound, but unfortunately that particular one had a thinner nut width than most Northfields. Most have 1 1/8" nut, but this one was something like 1 3/32" and was just too narrow for my fingers. I was heartbroken to send it on its way, but I needed a mandolin that was right for me. Unbelievable tone. When I played it in the store, I played it against every mandolin they had including several high end Collings, Labeda, Gibson, and others. The F5s beat them all in tone, for my personal taste. Loud, tight, dry, punchy, and just plain awesome.
I have found the F5s to be a bit dryer in tone than the Big Mon.
A great bluegrass mandolin.
I actually liked that it was a simple design too.
The woods were very nice, and the construction was excellent.
You will love it.
Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)
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