Gibson F-5 Carved Top Mandolin (1951)
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Item # 12456
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Gibson F-5 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-8593, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
The F-5 has always been Gibson's top-of-the-line mandolin and the standard by which all others are judged, in bluegrass related circles anyway. This F-5 dates to the beginning of the 1950s and while less well regarded in retrospect than pre-WWII examples is still a beautiful and very high quality instrument. At the time this F-5 was made interest in the mandolin was starting to pick up again, mostly due to the burgeoning popularity of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and the recently spun-off Flatt & Scruggs band. While Bluegrass as a genre was still gestating, bands were starting to emulate Monroe's sound and so needed a mandolin, and the one they ultimately wanted was a Gibson F-5.
After a long layoff during the war years, the F-5 re-appeared in Gibson's line at the dawn of the 1950s. This example was shipped in September 1951, one of 22 total sold that year. One reason for this limited production was the price; a new F-5 listed in 1950-51 for $395, raised to $415 in 1952. In the early 1950s that was a LOT of money for a mandolin; at the time old Gibsons from the 1910s and '20s were fairly plentiful on the used market. Many thousands of the lesser models survived, but vintage F-5's were ALWAYS rare and hard to find. Still, an F-5 was the ultimate goal for any aspiring bluegrasser (and even still some classically oriented players) and there was nothing else comparable available new from ANY manufacturer.
The F-5 having just recently gone back into production, the specs were still evolving and this mandolin shows some transitional features. It retains Gibson's classic asymmetrical body with an upper scroll, two points on the treble side and f-holes. A lovely dark sunburst finish graces all surfaces, the maple back has some beautiful burl figure. The top and back are single bound, while the headstock is triple bound. The maple neck is of one-piece construction, not the more familiar 3-piece laminate. It is topped with an ebony fretboard, single-bound with a side stripe. There are pearl block inlays from the first fret, and a treble side extension with a total of 29 frets raised above the body. The laminated beveled edge pickguard has a gold-plated support, the gold-plated tailpiece cover is the simple clamshell design with the Gibson logo engraved.
The headstock retains the classic Style 5 abalone "flower pot" inlay under the post-war Gibson "joined dot" logo with an open "b" and "o". The gold-plated openback Kluson "pre-Deluxe" tuners have unusual pearly plastic buttons specific to this time period. While admittedly not as magnificent as a Loar this now 70+ year old mandolin is a very fine player with a powerful and well-developed sound, bright and cutting but still retaining the classic Gibson warmth underneath. This is the nicest post-war F-5 we have had, an interesting early example with a far better than average sound.
Overall length is 28 in. (71.1 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This mandolin is in truly superb condition for a 70+ year old instrument; we rarely describe vintage instruments as near mint but this one is really pretty close. The all-original finish shows a few superficial marks here and there it remains in exceptionally clean condition for its age, showing very little wear at all. The mandolin simply appears to have been hardly played since new.
The finish shows some typical light checking overall with superficial handling marks and tiny imperfections but really early 1950's instruments do not come much cleaner than this. There is perhaps some minimal shrinkage to the tuner buttons but no deterioration, and very minor plating wear to the gold tailpiece cover. The frets have been given a little attention with a light G&P to level them and this mandolin plays "like buttah".
The original case is also very clean with just some minor exterior wear. The "Eau Du Gibsone" vintage Kalamazoo minted smell is truly enticing when it is opened. Although by reputation the 1950s is not considered a great era for Gibson mandolins this is a fine sounding instrument that is nicely aged in and will likely blossom in depth and range with some actual playing time. The original hangtag is included, with some added writing saying the mandolin was "bought 1949" (not correct but close!) and documenting the prices then and in 1973. This is pretty much a time capsule piece, well into the 21st century they really don't come much better! Overall Excellent + Condition.
The F-5 has always been Gibson's top-of-the-line mandolin and the standard by which all others are judged, in bluegrass related circles anyway. This F-5 dates to the beginning of the 1950s and while less well regarded in retrospect than pre-WWII examples is still a beautiful and very high quality instrument. At the time this F-5 was made interest in the mandolin was starting to pick up again, mostly due to the burgeoning popularity of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and the recently spun-off Flatt & Scruggs band. While Bluegrass as a genre was still gestating, bands were starting to emulate Monroe's sound and so needed a mandolin, and the one they ultimately wanted was a Gibson F-5.
After a long layoff during the war years, the F-5 re-appeared in Gibson's line at the dawn of the 1950s. This example was shipped in September 1951, one of 22 total sold that year. One reason for this limited production was the price; a new F-5 listed in 1950-51 for $395, raised to $415 in 1952. In the early 1950s that was a LOT of money for a mandolin; at the time old Gibsons from the 1910s and '20s were fairly plentiful on the used market. Many thousands of the lesser models survived, but vintage F-5's were ALWAYS rare and hard to find. Still, an F-5 was the ultimate goal for any aspiring bluegrasser (and even still some classically oriented players) and there was nothing else comparable available new from ANY manufacturer.
The F-5 having just recently gone back into production, the specs were still evolving and this mandolin shows some transitional features. It retains Gibson's classic asymmetrical body with an upper scroll, two points on the treble side and f-holes. A lovely dark sunburst finish graces all surfaces, the maple back has some beautiful burl figure. The top and back are single bound, while the headstock is triple bound. The maple neck is of one-piece construction, not the more familiar 3-piece laminate. It is topped with an ebony fretboard, single-bound with a side stripe. There are pearl block inlays from the first fret, and a treble side extension with a total of 29 frets raised above the body. The laminated beveled edge pickguard has a gold-plated support, the gold-plated tailpiece cover is the simple clamshell design with the Gibson logo engraved.
The headstock retains the classic Style 5 abalone "flower pot" inlay under the post-war Gibson "joined dot" logo with an open "b" and "o". The gold-plated openback Kluson "pre-Deluxe" tuners have unusual pearly plastic buttons specific to this time period. While admittedly not as magnificent as a Loar this now 70+ year old mandolin is a very fine player with a powerful and well-developed sound, bright and cutting but still retaining the classic Gibson warmth underneath. This is the nicest post-war F-5 we have had, an interesting early example with a far better than average sound.
Overall length is 28 in. (71.1 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This mandolin is in truly superb condition for a 70+ year old instrument; we rarely describe vintage instruments as near mint but this one is really pretty close. The all-original finish shows a few superficial marks here and there it remains in exceptionally clean condition for its age, showing very little wear at all. The mandolin simply appears to have been hardly played since new.
The finish shows some typical light checking overall with superficial handling marks and tiny imperfections but really early 1950's instruments do not come much cleaner than this. There is perhaps some minimal shrinkage to the tuner buttons but no deterioration, and very minor plating wear to the gold tailpiece cover. The frets have been given a little attention with a light G&P to level them and this mandolin plays "like buttah".
The original case is also very clean with just some minor exterior wear. The "Eau Du Gibsone" vintage Kalamazoo minted smell is truly enticing when it is opened. Although by reputation the 1950s is not considered a great era for Gibson mandolins this is a fine sounding instrument that is nicely aged in and will likely blossom in depth and range with some actual playing time. The original hangtag is included, with some added writing saying the mandolin was "bought 1949" (not correct but close!) and documenting the prices then and in 1973. This is pretty much a time capsule piece, well into the 21st century they really don't come much better! Overall Excellent + Condition.