Gibson F-4 Carved Top Mandolin (1912)
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Item # 10302
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Gibson F-4 Model Carved Top Mandolin (1912), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, natural top, cherry stained back and sides finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a great looking and lovely sounding early two-point F-4 with the unusual and rarely seen catalog option of a natural finish top. This model was Gibson's top of the line mandolin and company's flagship instrument in the 1910s. This one dates to the beginning of 1912, when the scroll-body F-4 had just been fully perfected, having recently evolved from its earlier 3-point body form. In either mode it is an utterly distinctive creation, by almost any standard the finest mandolin in the world in 1912. With a sharper neck angle and higher bridge the mandolins of this period offered a more powerful tone than earlier Gibsons, and with an aggressive sales policy the company was able dominate the market for mando-family instruments through the 1910s.
Although a high-end piece compared to the bowl-back mandolins it competed against the F-4 is not overly decorated with what Gibson called "flumadiddles". The company believed the instrument's inherent art nouveau elegance spoke for itself. The body, neck and headstock are bound in lovely grained ivoroid and finished in a very light varnish, ambered on the top and subtly sunbursted on the back and rims.
The double-flowerpot pearl and abalone inlay on the headstock and the inlaid Handel tuner buttons exude gilded age grace and class. The 2-piece maple back has pronounced flame figure as do the sides. The laminated mahogany neck is fairly slim for this period with a pronounced "V" profile. This instrument would have been the top choice for any virtuoso mandolinist in the just pre-WWI age, and today is still a superb mandolin and an iconic creation. This one shows some scars from well over a century of use but like a fine old violin is still a wonderful instrument to play.
Overall length is 26 in. (66 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 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 is a lovely F-4, a beautiful-sounding mandolin showing some general wear from use over the last century but still a very fine player's instrument. The finish overall shows typical micro-checking of the thin varnish and an assortment of small dings, dents, and scrapes. There is a none of the often-seen pickwear to the top which for its age is VERY clean; the back has some scuffing mostly in the center. The back of the neck is worn down to the wood over some of its surface, but all remains original with no visible overfinish work.
The is one TINY spruce grain split on the top off the lower point which appears to be the only crack on the instrument. As is typical some of the back/side seams show signs of re-gluing long ago. The mandolin has been refretted with correct style wire; the binding on the edges of the fingerboard has two small cracks off the fret ends bit is all solid.
The instrument is fitted with what appears to be an older reproduction pickguard using the original clamp. The bridge is original, the saddle inserts have been replaced but the originals are in the case pocket. The hardware is otherwise original and complete including the tuners and tailpiece, which have just minor signs of aging. This is a very sweet and enjoyable mandolin to play with a sparkling sound and a most comfortable action. Orville Gibson himself would have likely been pleased with the way this one has weathered the century; it really does feel like a centuries old played-in violin. The original early-pattern HSC is included, with a second handle spelling the still-attached broken original and some old string packets inside for good mojo. Generally Excellent - Condition.
This is a great looking and lovely sounding early two-point F-4 with the unusual and rarely seen catalog option of a natural finish top. This model was Gibson's top of the line mandolin and company's flagship instrument in the 1910s. This one dates to the beginning of 1912, when the scroll-body F-4 had just been fully perfected, having recently evolved from its earlier 3-point body form. In either mode it is an utterly distinctive creation, by almost any standard the finest mandolin in the world in 1912. With a sharper neck angle and higher bridge the mandolins of this period offered a more powerful tone than earlier Gibsons, and with an aggressive sales policy the company was able dominate the market for mando-family instruments through the 1910s.
Although a high-end piece compared to the bowl-back mandolins it competed against the F-4 is not overly decorated with what Gibson called "flumadiddles". The company believed the instrument's inherent art nouveau elegance spoke for itself. The body, neck and headstock are bound in lovely grained ivoroid and finished in a very light varnish, ambered on the top and subtly sunbursted on the back and rims.
The double-flowerpot pearl and abalone inlay on the headstock and the inlaid Handel tuner buttons exude gilded age grace and class. The 2-piece maple back has pronounced flame figure as do the sides. The laminated mahogany neck is fairly slim for this period with a pronounced "V" profile. This instrument would have been the top choice for any virtuoso mandolinist in the just pre-WWI age, and today is still a superb mandolin and an iconic creation. This one shows some scars from well over a century of use but like a fine old violin is still a wonderful instrument to play.
Overall length is 26 in. (66 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 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 is a lovely F-4, a beautiful-sounding mandolin showing some general wear from use over the last century but still a very fine player's instrument. The finish overall shows typical micro-checking of the thin varnish and an assortment of small dings, dents, and scrapes. There is a none of the often-seen pickwear to the top which for its age is VERY clean; the back has some scuffing mostly in the center. The back of the neck is worn down to the wood over some of its surface, but all remains original with no visible overfinish work.
The is one TINY spruce grain split on the top off the lower point which appears to be the only crack on the instrument. As is typical some of the back/side seams show signs of re-gluing long ago. The mandolin has been refretted with correct style wire; the binding on the edges of the fingerboard has two small cracks off the fret ends bit is all solid.
The instrument is fitted with what appears to be an older reproduction pickguard using the original clamp. The bridge is original, the saddle inserts have been replaced but the originals are in the case pocket. The hardware is otherwise original and complete including the tuners and tailpiece, which have just minor signs of aging. This is a very sweet and enjoyable mandolin to play with a sparkling sound and a most comfortable action. Orville Gibson himself would have likely been pleased with the way this one has weathered the century; it really does feel like a centuries old played-in violin. The original early-pattern HSC is included, with a second handle spelling the still-attached broken original and some old string packets inside for good mojo. Generally Excellent - Condition.