This Gibson A-5 Master Model mandolin is modelled after the classic Fern and Master Models and sports the tapered ‘snakehead’ headstock and Cremona sunburst in nitrocellulose lacquer. A and F style mandolins were invented and patents applied for by Orville Gibson in the early days of the 20th century, the first production examples appearing in 1902.
Master Model
The Gibson F9 mandolin is a ‘no frills’ model featuring a carved and tuned spruce top and flame maple back, flame maple sides and neck, and an Ebony fingerboard, bridge and head plate with Mother of Pearl script Gibson logo. Only the top is bound, and the instrument sports a satin finish in a vintage brown tint. As stock, there is no pickguard.
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MORE →Here’s a very rare treat – a Gibson F5 Master Model mandolin, built at the Nashville custom shop, signed by Charles Derrington and dated September 26, 2003. Orville Gibson revolutionized the instrument building worlds at the end of the 19th century, brining Violin concepts and construction methods to both mandolins and guitars. This was the beginning of all the arched-top guitars and mandolins that are now common to us. In 1919, Lloyd Loar joined Gibson, and before he left in 1924 produced significant designs including the F5 mandolin. The instruments Loar worked on are among the most sought after.
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MORE →The Gibson Byrdland Florentine Cutaway model has been in production since 1955 though Gibson also offers the original sharp Venetian cutaway. It is based on a thinline version of the classic L5-CES body, but with a short scale length of 23.5 inches, two inches shorter than the L5. The Byrdland was introduced as a custom model for two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland.
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MORE →The Gibson Byrdland thinline archtop electric appeared in 1955 and represents a functional adaptation to traditional archtop electrics. Two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland were approached by the Gibson president, Ted McCarty for ideas on new products. As busy players, Byrd and Garland wanted a shorter scale length of 23.5 inches to allow complex, extended chord shapes.
This instrument has sold
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