Gibson F-2 Carved Top Mandolin (1910)
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Item #6167
Gibson F-2 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1910), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, black top, dark stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black rigid foam case.
With Orville Gibson's portrait still staring out sternly from the soundhole, this early 3-point F-2 mandolin is a fine example of the Kalamazoo company's early work. Not long after this instrument was built, Gibson's engineers made substantial changes to the design, eliminating the third point on the body on the upper side and more crucially giving the neck angle more break which coupled with a taller bridge gave the mandolins a brighter, more powerful tone. The earlier F-style mandolins like this one have a very sweet tone, with a bit more classical character. The craftsmanship on the instrument is particularly fine, and touches like the finely inlaid pearl logo, engraved tailpiece and inlaid tuners lend it a delicate nouveau look. Collectors have long prized these early 3-point F-style models, but many players have also found the more delicate sound and antique character has its own discreet charm.
Overall length is 27 in. (68.6 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This mandolin is very well preserved overall considering its more than 100 years of existancen and still a lovely instrument to play. All hardware is original except as noted. The neck is very straight and the frets are still in quite good condition. The only alteration is the original pickguard clamps have been neatly replaced with more recent violin chinrest clamps, a neat solution. There is a slight repaired lamination seam seperation on the throat of the neck/headstock area and a typical old heel repair, everything is solid with minimal touch-up. The pickguard itself has a repair to the very top end (where it is mounted to the fingerboard) and a small area cut away a bit below the soundhole where perhaps a pickup was mounted long ago. The finish is original with some average wear; the only heavy loss is to the back of the neck behind the first few frets from years of play. There is an area of disturbed finish on the top where it looks like a sticker or something similar left a mark. Eminently playable; strung with flatwound classical strings for a very sweet sound- Includes both a modern rigid foam case and the original tooled leather end-opening case. Very Good + Condition.
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With Orville Gibson's portrait still staring out sternly from the soundhole, this early 3-point F-2 mandolin is a fine example of the Kalamazoo company's early work. Not long after this instrument was built, Gibson's engineers made substantial changes to the design, eliminating the third point on the body on the upper side and more crucially giving the neck angle more break which coupled with a taller bridge gave the mandolins a brighter, more powerful tone. The earlier F-style mandolins like this one have a very sweet tone, with a bit more classical character. The craftsmanship on the instrument is particularly fine, and touches like the finely inlaid pearl logo, engraved tailpiece and inlaid tuners lend it a delicate nouveau look. Collectors have long prized these early 3-point F-style models, but many players have also found the more delicate sound and antique character has its own discreet charm.
Overall length is 27 in. (68.6 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This mandolin is very well preserved overall considering its more than 100 years of existancen and still a lovely instrument to play. All hardware is original except as noted. The neck is very straight and the frets are still in quite good condition. The only alteration is the original pickguard clamps have been neatly replaced with more recent violin chinrest clamps, a neat solution. There is a slight repaired lamination seam seperation on the throat of the neck/headstock area and a typical old heel repair, everything is solid with minimal touch-up. The pickguard itself has a repair to the very top end (where it is mounted to the fingerboard) and a small area cut away a bit below the soundhole where perhaps a pickup was mounted long ago. The finish is original with some average wear; the only heavy loss is to the back of the neck behind the first few frets from years of play. There is an area of disturbed finish on the top where it looks like a sticker or something similar left a mark. Eminently playable; strung with flatwound classical strings for a very sweet sound- Includes both a modern rigid foam case and the original tooled leather end-opening case. Very Good + Condition.
