Trying to put a finger on this F5 copy... it's a good one...

[fretbored]

Hello all... i've had a few threads on this mando in the past, but I think this forum might get me a little more mileage. After spending an amazing few hours with f5loar a few Fridays ago, he suggested that this forum might get more of the 'right' eyes and brains working...

Below are links to the other threads that have the detail and pics of this F5 copy... if there is any way a board admin can move a thread to this forum category, I would much appreciate it!

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...gets-discussed

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...Gibson-F5-Copy

[fretbored]

Here are a few pics from my visit with f5loar...



f5loar with my mystery mandolin... playing some Monroe licks I believe



My mandolin on the couch with some good company... from left to right: 4/25/1923 Loar F5, 7/9/23 Loar F5, mine, 3/31/24 Loar Fern w/Virzi, non-loar Fern (forget the date on this one)



The above mandolins plus a Kentucky KM-1500 on the right... it wasn't bad!

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm not nearly as interested in the mandolin as I am in that t-shirt.

[f5loar]

Lost in the 60's. I take care of my mandolins and vintage T-shirts.

[Jim Nollman]

I'm mostly interested in learning how the Kentucky 1500 compared to all those classic Gibsons. And what year was that outsider made, which also seems relevant.

[fretbored]

The Kentucky 1500 was a decent mando in my book. Not like the others by a long shot (!), but decent. I used to have a 675 and like anything mass produced, there are some good ones that turn up and some bad ones, i'd imagine...

I don't know the details of when it was built... if i'm remember correctly, it was a pretty recent one...

[f5loar]

the 1500 is about a year old and IMO one fine import. Nothing whimpy about it. It's got what it needs to stand up on stage and cut the grass you need it to cut. Excellent quality in workmanship and materials used to build it.