DESCRIPTION

It’s time to pass this ridiculously gorgeous object to someone who will love it as I have, take care of it (as I have) and realize that you don’t live forever so you never really own anything. If you are lucky enough to acquire something nice you are merely a steward. People think just because they buy something they own it. They are wrong.

This was the nicest of these I could find several decades ago. These things were never cheap. At the time I preferred this tone over the F-5. The bluegrass people tell me I’m wrong. Sobeit. I like the sound of this better and I don’t know why blue-grassers don’t agree. It is pretty much identical w/ the Loar models of ’24/25 re wood, finish, structure. In their evolution I think the main thing that affected tone was the advent of the truss rod. I’ve played the pre truss rod models and while they are gorgeous luthier masterpieces they don’t sound as good as this thing. Ditto for anything Gibson made in the 1930s.

I never played this much. I took it out a only rarely and used it on one album. I’m not really a mandolin player. A few years ago when I realized that I was rarely playing it I replaced the strings with the lightest gauge available. That didn’t help the sound but I think it was a good thing to do for the instrument. Nevertheless, it has a fine straight solid neck so you can string it however you wish. Even with these light strings this thing is very good sounding— abundant power; shimmery tone.

this is something I loved and I’d sleep better knowing it went to a player. I’m pricing this a little bit below retail/book. But if you happen to be looking for an old F-4 I’ll take the Pepsi challenge with this one over anything else anywhere.

Also note that I gave it a suspended TKO case years ago for safety. But I kept hold of the original case. I’ll ship it in the TKO and send the old one in a separate box.

CONDITION

Every aspect (parts, etc) is original and it has zero repairs. There are a few spots (in photos) that might appear to be cracks which are not. The line on the back of headstock is where Gibson laminated the scroll and it goes nowhere. In hand you can see the seam below the bridge but there’s no evidence it was ever open or repaired. A couple other places might appear to be small cracks but they are non-thru finish lines. There’s some pick scratches around the sound hole. Note little square the discoloration on the pick guard where the little block below is laminated. This is a touch of so-called celluloid rot emanating from the little block. I have a trick for making this stable so it lasts another 90 years. The full pick guard has no rot whatsoever. Note that I removed the guard so you can see there are no surprises underneath. There is a little line near the point but this is non-thru finish.

Just call me if you wish a more complete in-hand condition report. (314 222-1110)

To anyone who thinks I might be some sort of money-grubbing BS artist I refer you to the 20 year feedback history on Ebay for montaineantiques. No way my moral compass has a monetary equivalent.

PRICE

HOLD