Just arrived: serial no. 16720, stamp no. 1985.
Just arrived: serial no. 16720, stamp no. 1985.
love the super flowerpot inlay!
Phyn
Love them inlaid Handel tuners...
Nice back, too...
A closer look at the top, from a different angle:
Nice clean tailpiece cover:
Stunning! It makes my F2 look like it needs lipstick and eyeshadow
Michael Lettieri
What a great lookin axe. What year is it?...Kerry
It's a 1914. Funny thing is, my A1 is also a 1914 and has a serial number very close to this one. So they were probably in the factory at the same time, 90 years ago. It's like a reunion around here!
Clearly, it hasn't been played much. Very little wear on the original frets. Even the case is in great shape with its handle intact.
Oh my! To my rather old-fashioned sense of aesthetics, these early 2-point, oval-holed pieces were the visual pinnacle of the F-style art. Those crazy 3 points were just...well...crazy, and the Loars and post-Loars are just way to new-fangled. I trust you are beaming with pride, FrankenMouse.
Oh what the hey, one more photo.
This is truly a dream mando ... congrats and enjoy!
In my own vision of heaven, there is one of those!
Chris
Absolutely STUNNING!
Man! I'm speechless.
When I first started out on mando,you could find F4s for under 1200 $. I did'nt know anything about them and wondered why luthiers did'nt cut the tops off them and put a F-hole top #on. Thoughts like that now are like pre-kindergarten! Tell me (or maybe start a new thread ) all about the Handle tuners.Are they not selling for enormous amounts right now? Who rebuilds them ? And how about some close ups of them. I wonder if anyone is doing quality reproductions of them?(Boy could THAT be a high end niche market!!!)....KerryBy the way ,that is a TERRIFIC looking axe! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Gorgeous! Is it ok if I copy the pictures at the mandolin archive Frankenmouse?
Hi Dan,
Certainly. Let me know if you'd like other views or higher res shots. I had to reduce the resolution to fit them here, and the degradation shows in some pics. Perhaps I should try again to get photos which capture its true color. In real life the back is deeper, more like chestnut. Only in bright sun does it look so red.
Kerry,
Good idea, I'll take some close-ups of the tuner buttons and post them shortly. (Cut off the top?? Now that's funny!)
Everyone else,
Thanks for the kind words!
Mike
I think this was the era when Gibson was doing their finest workmanship. The script inlay was certainly much nicer than during the Loar period.
Oh, man, really nice....
A closer view of the tuner buttons...
congrats on a superb mandolin purchase...simplely stunning!
Look up (to see whats comin down)
I think you made a good investment when you bought this instrument. I also bought one of these earlier this year (see archive). The sound of these mandolins can be pretty amazing. I also play an old F5 and actually prefer the sound of the F4 for some things, especially the old timey sounding fiddle tunes.
Frankenmouse- yes please, please send me the higher resolution shots and I'll do an archive record of your F4
Man, these old F4's are beauties. Uncle Ken that one you have is mighty purty too. I like that violin-esque top it has. That black top is awful nice too though.
42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
# # # :::::::
---Ryan Stackhouse---
Nice !
I donīt like it ....
... and NO Sir , I AM NOT ENVIOUS
Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues
My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH
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