What does the ' L ' in Gibson F5L stand for.
I've just acquired an F5L and have no idea what the L stands for.
Great instrument BTW signed by Steve Carlson in 1990 almost 28 years old and looks brand new.
Dave H
What does the ' L ' in Gibson F5L stand for.
I've just acquired an F5L and have no idea what the L stands for.
Great instrument BTW signed by Steve Carlson in 1990 almost 28 years old and looks brand new.
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
Hi Dave,
Glad you like it. I beleive its Loar, siginfying Loar specs, but others with more expertise on Gibsons will come in I'm sure.
Trevor
Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.
Hi Dave - I'm pleased that you went for the Gibson - it looked to be a very nice instrument indeed. As Trevor says,it was meant to signify it being built to 'Loar' specs. - but ''which Loar'' ?. They were all different. The bottom line is does it sound good ?,
Ivan
Weber F-5 'Fern'.
Lebeda F-5 "Special".
Stelling Bellflower BANJO
Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.
It sounds fabulous Ivan, thanks for the heads up, and great service again from Trevor at TAMCO.
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
I believe in 1978 when Gibson reconfigured the F-5, they were trying to get back to the early days of the "Loar" type construction so that's where the L came into play.
Pretty much all L's are great sounding, I had a 1980 that was Wayne Benson's but the original owner thought it wasn't up to potential so it was re graduated by? I don't remember, maybe Bob Shue? Great Score if you is happy!
So what”s the G in F5G stand for then? Maybe it means “good enough”, as in “Only a Gibson is good enough”?
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Congratulations on the F5L . . . but I am just stunned at the fact that 1990 was 28 years ago!
Damn, I'm getting old . . . .
OK, these questions were answered by Roger Siminoff (the L stands for Loar) and Bruce Weber (the G stands for Gibson). The original messages are here on the cafe someplace. There is a Cafe member that will pop in at some time and say that the L stands for Lacquer. He always does and he will be wrong as he always has been. Siminoff was there for the creation of the F5L and Weber was there for the creation of the F5G. I'm going to believe those two gentlemen.
By the way, I believe Steve Carlson confirmed the F5G information in a later post.
Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Jul-05-2018 at 7:24am. Reason: Corrected my old memory
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
The Siminoff article is here.I offered the idea that we could call this "new" instrument the "F-5L" - the "L" in honor of Master Lloyd Loar.
The thread attributing the G from Bruce Weber is here. Steve Carlson joins later in this same thread.Just received a text from Bruce that reads: "I came up with the F5G. The G stands for Gibson."
Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Jul-05-2018 at 12:37pm.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I heard DataNick play his F5L with his band at the 2018 bluegrass festival in our region and it sounded great on the mic! He even let me grab it for a few minutes. I love the neck and the deep woody bass.
2014 BRW F5 #114
2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model
YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"
Hi Dave. I went down from Northumberland a few days before you as I asked Trevor to hold it for thre days. I was sorely tempted but the fingerboard extension pick click just annoyed me and these Gibson F5s seem to have it and it is a long extension.
Fabulous condition of course and Carlson signed. I thought I could get it scooped but just didn't go for it on the day and couple of days later you must have bought it.
Enjoy
JimmyP
You have all heard my stories about those stories but, when “production” started, I thought “Lord” make it happen! Prayers were answered well enough to make this thread interesting! Rather like “LSMFT”(either translation) but, if you’re old enough to even understand that, we can be happy.
There are good ones and, “not so” good ones, rather like Loar production dates so, it will always be a “win some, lose some” purchase won’t it?
“Life gets tejus, don’t it?” With great respect te “Doc” Watson!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
When I got this instrument it looked virtually unplayed, it's got more marks on it in the week I've owned than the original owner put on it in 28 years.
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
Congrats. These are 'classic' mandolins... they really do have 'that' sound.... the Carlson ones have their own thing going on, and tend to be excellent.
Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
Northfield Big Mon #127
Ellis F5 Special #288
'39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.
I saw the mandolin on the TAMCO website & had thoughts about buying it myself - however !. I play purely for my own pleasure these days,simply because there's nowhere local to play. To consign such a mandolin,that under other circumstances,i'd have bought without a second thought,to ''never be seen / heard by others'' would have simply been greedy. I knew that Dave had expressed a desire to own one,so i e-mailed him about it,& he bought it. I must say that i'm absolutely delighted for him.
Quote - " ..and great service again from Trevor at TAMCO." What would your expect from Trevor ?. He's a ''gent''.
My own heart still yearns for an Ellis F5,but i'll have to content myself with my little Ellis "A" style which still astounds me !,
Ivan
Weber F-5 'Fern'.
Lebeda F-5 "Special".
Stelling Bellflower BANJO
Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.
All is revealed: https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...s_001217.shtml
Linked to in Message #9 above.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I had a similar question awhile back, DataNick offered a very concise and helpful response - perhaps you'll find it useful too . . . . https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...-a-Gibson-F5-L
Thx again DN
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