Opinions On The Gibson F5G

[MikeEdgerton]

I've been playing my F5G for 10 years now. It spoke me to me when I picked it off the wall at Mandolin Bros. and I seriously doubt I'll ever part with it. Not only does it bark it woofs. You hit that G chop chord and you feel it resonate in your chest cavity.

[Hudmister]

Love my Sept 12, 2014 Dave Harvey signed custom F5G with ebony fret-board. These instruments are now made with rosewood fret-board. Anyone wanting ebony will have to contact Gibson and arrange to have one built.

[Riffjiff]

I Bought My New Gibson F5G 2016, in Aug from Morgan Music, and I must say "God I Love it"! I knew I was going to get a master grade instrument just didn't know it was going to be a Gibson, I was out to find "The One" no matter who the maker was. I been around a lot and have seen and played a lot of mando's and right now Gibson is making some of their best mandolins, Like a friend of mine told me, "Gibson had to turn out old style quality or else it was going to be the end of the line for the company, there's too many top quality builders out there making mandolins just as good" Morgan's staff were great, no high pressure, If anyone is thinking about buying an F5G, here's my advice Just buy a new one. Right now their as good as the classic's, the used one's in good shape are still as much as a new one. You will not be sorry, at least I'm happy, I have a Wynn and Two Eastman's also, sadly, I won't be playing them to much as I can't keep my fingers off of my New Gibson!!

[DataNick]

...The Gibson F5-G was developed at Gibson, Montana by Steve Carlson in 1988(and named by Bruce Weber).The F5G and Steve Carlson.
Montana Gibsons are Flatiron in spec(carving patterns, graduations, neck profile and angle, neck joint, etc.)...

Since this thread got re-opened I feel compeled to state that I was completely wrong about the Flatiron spec statement.

After talking personally with both Bruce Weber and Steve Carlson, Bozeman Gibsons in fact were constructed to Gibson spec per Jim Triggs personal inservicing, and were built separate from Flatiron methodology and were in fact patterned on Charlie Derrington's Loar as well.

Montana Gibson Mandolin Specifications

Just thought I'd correct my previous speculative error...congrats Riffjiff...

[Pilot172000]

Just bought my first F5G. I am anxious to see how it turns out!

[BrianWilliam]

David Harvey is the man!

[Mike Snyder]

Harvey has certainly cleaned up the build quality. The recent years sound is loud and clear. I have an '05 that is a fairly ugly build, finish flaws, goopy binding inside the scroll and a very lumpy arch to the top. What she does have is volume. Tone is in the ear of the listener. Maybe mine has a bit less finess, tonally, but so does my playing. My preference is dance tempo tunes of virtually any origin as long as it played with fervor. The F5G ( I have never played a dog, and I seek them out. G,s not dogs) has the range to do waltzes and all the "pretty" tunes (grimace) and the balls to hang in a session with multiple fiddles, banjos, concertinas and whistles and be heard throughout. Lots of headroom. So it's not a Nuggett or a Diamond. Damn fine mando for the money and I'll keep mine.


P.S- Some folks say you can play bluegrass with it.

[BrianWilliam]

Back from the dead for a trivia question: what type of spruce is used in the Harvey era F5Gs?

[oliverkollar]

Back from the dead for a trivia question: what type of spruce is used in the Harvey era F5Gs?

Sitka for everything but Master Models, which I believe are Red Spruce.

[BrianWilliam]

Thanks Oliver!

[William Smith]

Yes Sitka tops on all unless specified. I had an 01 G and it was a Hoss! Great mandolin I bought new, I got rid of it in about 04-05, sure wish I had her back! It had a very loud chop and was real good across the board. I'd recommend them if you can do without all the fancy stuff like the F-5L etc..

[J.Albert]

Brian asked:
"Back from the dead for a trivia question: what type of spruce is used in the Harvey era F5Gs?"

Back around 2003, Gibson built a special run of around 45+ F-5g's for a [now closed] chain of stores called "Music Machine" out west.

These had some special features -- Adirondack tops, bound fingerboards, and the finish was called "Flame Burst" (similar to Cremona Brown). Three were done in varnish, the rest in lacquer. They were designated on the label as "F5-FB" (just checked mine).

[KGreene]

My Sept, 14th, 2014 is just about the best I've ever heard (I'm also told this from very many reputable players). It has a huge bark and a nice cut... Further, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone as customer friendly as Dave Harvey and/or Danny Roberts.

JMTCW

[almeriastrings]

The F5-G's and F-5L's are living proof you don't "need" a Red Spruce top to make a top-notch bluegrass machine....

[roberto]

Last summer Sierra Hull played my F5G, Ethan was sleeping by her side on a couch at the hotel hall, he woke up and said he thought she was playing her MM.
So proud of my F5G!!

[lflngpicker]

I have a 2015 F5G signed David Harvey, which I love!