F5 Comparison: Brentrup F5C and 1923 Gibson F5 #73992 (Loar)

[Larry S Sherman]

After attending Loarfest Hans Brentrup decided to make a 20's Loar F5 classic replica model, which in time became known as the F5C. He combined graduations and other measurements from John Reischman's famous Loar and 73732, which he had access to for a year or more.

Both of these excellent Loars were topbound, but otherwise very different from each other visually (one was a Feb 18 1924, the other a July 9 1923). Hans said "When I first decided to build them (F5C models) I used the photos of #73992 for documentation. I've tried to adhere to the tradition of the instrument." This July 9, 1923 Loar has many of the classic Loar visual details, including being sidebound. Best of all there are lots of excellent pictures on the Mandolin Archive of this beautiful instrument.

I thought it would be interesting to recreate some of these photos to see the visual inspiration and to compare details:

Headstocks



Larry

[Larry S Sherman]

Backs, Loar on left, Brentrup on right



(I will try to always keep the Loar to the left, and Brentrup to the right going forward)

[Larry S Sherman]

Front shots

[Larry S Sherman]

More front shots

[Larry S Sherman]

Neck and Fretboard details

[Larry S Sherman]

Random

[Larry S Sherman]

[Larry S Sherman]

[Larry S Sherman]

Many thanks to the amazing Mandolin Archive and Darryl Wolfe for documenting the details of Loars and Gibsons in general.

Larry

[red7flag]

Larry,
Thanks for the great comparison pictures. Hans does the deal.

[Jstring]

Thanks, Larry...I enjoyed seeing those pics!

There are many amazing builders, but I don't think anyone does a more perfect scroll than Hans Brentrup. The scroll is flawless on every Brentrup I've ever seen (it's even tighter than the Loar in your pictures)

I may be a little biased as a Brentrup owner....When I'm not playing my F4 I stare at it a lot....

[Larry S Sherman]

I may be a little biased as a Brentrup owner....When I'm not playing my F4 I stare at it a lot....

I am the same way. I am NOT objective. And I have mando crushes on my instruments.

Larry

[JFDilmando]

he does a wonderful job of proportion... and I like the way he has gone his own way for stain, and not tried to "copy" the prototype to a tee. He has gone the darker outer route and the brighter interior yellow coloration, rather than the browner and lighter outer Loar coloration on the July 9.... It is good to see builders, being true, in hard spec and adding their own interpretation in color.

The pic you have of the point, looks like it flares at the point.... is that due to a wide angle lens? or does it really thicken out at the point like it appears ?

[Larry S Sherman]

The pic you have of the point, looks like it flares at the point.... is that due to a wide angle lens? or does it really thicken out at the point like it appears ?

It's just camera angle.

Larry

[FLATROCK HILL]

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post those comparison pictures. Fascinating!

[stevedenver]

yes Larry many thanks
and
do you offer your own thoughts on sound and playability comparision, as the risk of you know ....
(I guess a no win no matter).

but
I have heard from more than a few non Brentrup owners that Hans' 5C and PMLs are about as close to a Loar as one can get , if one can generalize.

[Larry S Sherman]

Do you offer your own thoughts on sound and playability comparison? I have heard from more than a few non Brentrup owners that Hans' 5C and PMLs are about as close to a Loar as one can get , if one can generalize.

I have been very close to many Loars as a listener, but never as the player. I do think the F5C has that Loar sound, but until I play a few myself I can't say exactly how they compare tone wise.

As you mentioned, I have talked to many folks that played or owned Loars that bought Brentrups since Hans was able to capture the tone they were looking for.

Larry

[Darryl Wolfe]

Thanks you for the post. I am a bit flattered. Looks like he used one of the guards I sent him too ha. Beautiful mandolin

[JAK]

At the Loarfest that Larry mentioned I had a chance to hear the Brentrup F5C compared to a Loar, as both were at the same booth being played. Personally I preferred the Brentrup, because it had more presence, to my ears. Both had very rich tones. It's definitely in the ear of the beholder, as has been discussed many times. If I remember correctly the owner of the Loar had purchased an F5C; sometimes you can have the best of both worlds....