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musical instrument details
1923 Gibson F4 Mandolin - right there in that Lloyd Loar sweet spot
Estimated price for orientation: 3 600 $
Category: Mandolins
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Gibson Number of Strings: 8 Body Style: F Style
Now look, you know what you want. You're not looking for something to put into a museum. You're not looking for something to take out when that musician friend comes over and brag. You don't care if this or that may not be original. Why? Because you're a player.And SOUND is what matters. And if you know Gibson mandolins that you can afford without mortgaging your house, the 1922-24 Gibson F4's are the cream of that crop. The tap-tuned tops help the Gs growl like a pack of wolves and the Es sing like a choir of angels. You strum it and it rings f...o........r............e......................v...........................e...........................r. If you are looking at this, you know what they go for. $6k-$7k, retail. You also probably know that the the non-Loar F4s in great shape can approach $5.5k. And here sits this nugget for half that. You think, shoot, there must be something wrong with it. And you'd be right, there was something wrong with it, once.You see somewhen in the last 90 years there was an issue with the neck. Must've been pretty serious because it was replaced. But the owner must have really loved it because the headstock plate was pried off the old and attached to the replacement. Easy breezy, right? Well, here's the thing -- the neck put on doesn't have a truss, like a 1923 should -- but the headstock plate has the shorter flowerpot so to accommodate the cover, so they did the best they could. You can make out the outline where the truss rod cover would have been. Could it have been done better? Probably. Now I can't confirm that the neck is Gibson, but it sure looks like it. I can say that the fretboard isn't period, or possibly Gibson at all due to the fret markers.I had the repair looked at and a local luthier said the neck isn't going anywhere. But when I tried getting it valued, I got a "well you've got half a mandolin"....least I have the good half. Because if you want SOUND the body is where it is at. The only work I've had done to it is to reattach a smidge of binding that came loose, glue down a back brace, and reset the pickguard. There are no cracks at all. BUT due to the pickguard reset, there are 2 extra teeny holes in the side, which nobody will see because you'll be playing the darn thing, not taking selfies with it.There you go. If you want the sound of a Loar-era F4 without paying full price for it, this is the one for you. It comes with a non-orginal F-style case.
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Gibson |
| Number of Strings: | 8 | Body Style: | F Style |
Now look, you know what you want. You're not looking for something to put into a museum. You're not looking for something to take out when that musician friend comes over and brag. You don't care if this or that may not be original. Why? Because you're a player.And SOUND is what matters. And if you know Gibson mandolins that you can afford without mortgaging your house, the 1922-24 Gibson F4's are the cream of that crop. The tap-tuned tops help the Gs growl like a pack of wolves and the Es sing like a choir of angels. You strum it and it rings f...o........r............e......................v...........................e...........................r. If you are looking at this, you know what they go for. $6k-$7k, retail. You also probably know that the the non-Loar F4s in great shape can approach $5.5k. And here sits this nugget for half that. You think, shoot, there must be something wrong with it. And you'd be right, there was something wrong with it, once.You see somewhen in the last 90 years there was an issue with the neck. Must've been pretty serious because it was replaced. But the owner must have really loved it because the headstock plate was pried off the old and attached to the replacement. Easy breezy, right? Well, here's the thing -- the neck put on doesn't have a truss, like a 1923 should -- but the headstock plate has the shorter flowerpot so to accommodate the cover, so they did the best they could. You can make out the outline where the truss rod cover would have been. Could it have been done better? Probably. Now I can't confirm that the neck is Gibson, but it sure looks like it. I can say that the fretboard isn't period, or possibly Gibson at all due to the fret markers.I had the repair looked at and a local luthier said the neck isn't going anywhere. But when I tried getting it valued, I got a "well you've got half a mandolin"....least I have the good half. Because if you want SOUND the body is where it is at. The only work I've had done to it is to reattach a smidge of binding that came loose, glue down a back brace, and reset the pickguard. There are no cracks at all. BUT due to the pickguard reset, there are 2 extra teeny holes in the side, which nobody will see because you'll be playing the darn thing, not taking selfies with it.There you go. If you want the sound of a Loar-era F4 without paying full price for it, this is the one for you. It comes with a non-orginal F-style case.