Loar Picture of the Day

[danb]

3 Loars Front..

[danb]

And Backs

[danb]

Back to 73485.. I just wanted to point out a very interesting thing about the top. The spruce on the treble side is a very clean quarter-cut with nice silking figure, with an unbelievable 45-50 grains per inch. (that makes the tree that half of the top came from a bare minimum of 250 years old)! The bass side is slightly slab cut in contrast, similar to the look of John Reischman's Loar

[danb]

H5 on top, F5 below

[danb]

This is a detail I don't think we've had a photo of before. This shows the notches in a TP cover that was originally intended for or fitted to an L5/K5 with a trapeze tailpiece. The notches accomodate the bars of the trapeze..

[bluegrassplayer]

On the post with the three backs, what is that above the tuners on the one in the center?

[danb]

Newly photographed, Sidebound July 9 #74002

[danb]

Gorgeous..

[danb]

It shows the slight greenish hue to the binding that indicates a light lacquer topcoat, seen on several other july 9s

[danb]

On the post with the three backs, what is that above the tuners on the one in the center?

I think it's a vintage strap anchor

[danb]

Here's Sidebound July 9 #73994

[danb]

Near-mint condition. It's amazingly clean, including large expanses of the top & back that have a glass-like finish with only the lightest varnish crazing in the recurve area and near the scroll

[danb]

Near mint..

[danb]

Beautiful..

[danb]

Photography tips- these were with an add-on flash unit aimed at a wall to my left while shooting straight ahead. Seems the best trick is to be ~10-15 feet from a white wall and bounce the flash off it in an otherwise nearly completely darkened room. I found since I got my speedlight (I shoot a Canon EOS 20D) that the focus on macro shots is MUCH better from the focus assist grid projected by the flash. Some of these were handheld, some on a cheap tripod I bought for the occasion.

[mandopete]

Once again - Dan you are the man. Excellent (as always) photographs!

[carleshicks]

That is now my second favorite mandolin that color is beautiful. Dan is 74002 realy that dark it almost looks like a 24.

[danb]

73994 is arguably the most desirable Loar in existence after Bill's. It's a July 9, sidebound, and is just in spectacular condition with great tone. 74002 is no slouch either, both of those mandolins are absolutely top of their class.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Minor clarification to the notched tailpiece cover. This only appears on the K5. The L5 tailpiece was entirely different.

[Darryl Wolfe]

It shows the slight greenish hue to the binding that indicates a light lacquer topcoat, seen on several other july 9s

Sorry Dan, I'm not sure I fully agree on that one. I believe the side bound Loars simply have a slightly transluscent binding. Binding that Stew-Mac sold it the early 80's was an exact match and had the same hue to it.

[mandophil(e)]

Dan:

No doubt 73994 is a great Loar condition wise and I'm sure it sounds fantastic. I'm not sure about labels like "most desirable" though. I'm sure there are a few folks who might quibble with that.

[Darryl Wolfe]

I can relate to that. There are several mandos that we have not posted pictures of. 73985 is the cleanest nicest July 9 I have seen. And 74000 is certainly mint also

[danb]

Of course Phil, I'm just stating my opinion. Clarifying, I think a great-sounding mint july 9 is top of the pecking order in terms of price and want factor in the market as a whole, but I'd rather have 76547 myself

[Darryl Wolfe]

Good response Dan. This desirability thing is very subjective. I have a statement in the "Journal" about 76549 that says "Regardless of personal preferences, this is the mandolin that the F5 Journal would place in a time capsule as the most representative example of what a Gibson F5 mandolin was intended to be. "

I personally prefer July 9 23's

So "most desirable" is subjective at best and must be qualified.

[mandophil(e)]

I know there are some folks who think Feb 18 '24's are at or near the top of the pecking order. Reischman's Loar has been called the best sounding one on the planet, and I'm sure would be pretty desirable as well.