It's a 1956 F-12 (s/n A24586, FON V-6292) that apparently went back to Gibson at some point (I suspect during the early to mid 1970's) for a neck replacement. The "new" neck is maple rather than mahogany with the F-5 headstock leading me to conclude it's a replacement rather than an original variation on their standard specs from 1956. It appears that Gibson or the then owner elected to re-use the original fingerboard. I have owned this mandolin for about 10 years and sent it off to Randy Wood to have it revoiced (regraduate the top and back) and the tone bars (logs) replaced with properly sized and tuned tone bars. This work was done in 2008 and is one of the best decisions I've made to improve its tone and volume. This mandolin is soft and sweet or loud and mean and everything in between. It also has that checked nitro lacquer finish that just exudes vintage mojo imho. I love it!!! Thanks for asking "ourgang".
Len B.
Clearwater, FL
Visit www.fox-guitars.com - cool Gibson & Epiphone history and more. Vintage replacement mandolin pickguards
Thanks Len. Kind of what I was thinking. Nice mando for sure. A friend of mine played a great F-12 from the 50's.
What The ....
There are some fine looking sofas in this thread!
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Which Gibson is your keeper, Mike?
Mike Snyder
Wow! You'll have to get those out next time.
'20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com
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