Gibson F-2 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1912), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 17005, black top, dark stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This more than a century old mandolin is a somewhat worn in but still fully playable piece of Art Nouveau with a lovely sweet sound. When this beautiful scroll-body instrument was made in mid- 1912 the F-2 "Artist Model" was the next to the top of Gibson's mandolin line, and at $75.00 "net" price quite expensive by period standards. It is built to the same structural design as the top-line F-4 only lacking some of that model's fancier decorative elements. The single key difference is the F-4 was the only early Gibson built with maple back and sides; like the rest of the line the F-2 is built of birch despite what the catalogs said! This sometimes gives them a slightly softer tone, sweeter and not as strident; sometimes it seems to make no difference at all!
The "V" profile mahogany neck has a bound, dot inlaid ebony fingerboard. The fittings are standard for the period with a raised celluloid pickguard and clamp, "The Gibson" slanted pearl headstock logo, Handel tuners with inlaid celluloid buttons, the engraved tailpiece cover and a solid ebony bridge with individual compensated saddle pieces. In 1912 many of these design elements wear recent developments, and the Gibsons from this period represent the first full flowering of these incomparable and at the time absolutely unique mandolins. This F-2 looks beautiful with its lovely gleaming ebony top and sounds even better, ready to celebrate its next 100+ years.
Overall length is 26 1/4 in. (66.7 cm.), 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm.) width, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 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 pre-WWI mandolin has survived the last century well with some minor repair, showing general wear but remaining a lovely instrument to play. The original thin varnish finish shows typical minor micro-checking and light wear, with some discreet touch up on the top around the scroll, above and below the fingerboard and off the lower body point. This is only visible on close inspection. There are small dings, scratches and dents but no really heavy wear. The neck finish remains original with some areas down to the wood mostly on the sides. The headstock face shows some heavier checking, many small dings and scratches and one patch to the finish down from the top edge inside of the scroll.
There is a repaired split coming down off the top edge if the headstock halfway between the point and the scroll; this was not detached as many have been and the repair is relatively inconspicuous. The top has what appears to be an ancient grain split repair just above the fingerboard, also very neatly sealed. Several of the back/side seams have been resealed as is typical on Gibsons of this era. A couple pieces of fingerboard binding have been patched in with grained ivoroid, including the bass side from the nut to the 5th fret.
The hardware is original and complete including the tuners, tailpiece, and bridge; A correct vintage pickguard and clamp are fitted but these originated on another mandolin with an older style clamp. The bridge has three small holes neatly drilled in the base, which was something folks would occasionally do decades ago. The fingerboard has been refretted with period appropriate wire. This is a very sweet and enjoyable mandolin with a mellower sound than some, generally well preserved and superbly playable with a comfortable action. It still rests in the original shaped HSC, well worn but serviceable. Overall Very Good + Condition.
