Vintage necks

[custer]

I'm hoping someone here can answer this question for me. I play mainly celtic music on my 1917 Gibson. I would like to branch out and start playing in the local bluegrass sessions. My question is this, are there any vintage mandolins with F holes that would have a neck similar to the one on my 1917 Gibson? I prefer the heftier neck of my old Gibson to the thinner necks that seem to be more popular.
Cheers!

[rcc56]

Gibson reduced the size of all their necks shortly after the F-5 was introduced. Finding any vintage f-hole mandolin of quality with a large neck profile is going to be a long shot at best, perhaps an impossibility.

Some of us do play bluegrass on oval hole mandolins.

My only other suggestion is to look at older modern era mandolins [1975 or later] made by individual makers or small shops to see if you can find anything that suits you.

[UsuallyPickin]

Look into the Sam Bush Model F5 Gibson. The neck on those instruments is wider and chunkier. R/

[Charles E.]

Not sure about "vintage" F style mandolins but I have noticed that Weber necks tend to be fuller then most.

[Bruce Clausen]

Maybe a thirties Stradolin. Neck width is 1-3/16 inch (my old A-2 was 1-1/4), but with a rounder shape (less of a V) than your Gibson. Some of them are mighty good sounding mandolins.

[William Smith]

30's Gibson A models, A-1's and A-50's the smaller bodied A's some have bigger V type necks.

[Br1ck]

Not sure about "vintage" F style mandolins but I have noticed that Weber necks tend to be fuller then most.

What he said, but not nearly like a vintage Gibson. I go back and forth without too much trouble. You should be able to adapt. The larger issue is the money you'll spend to get the quality tone you're going to want.

[mandroid]

A 1234, & F 234, would both be such that 12th fret is over the body instead of A & F5 where the 12th fret is on the neck...

If You want that combination shorter wider neck & F sound holes ...some builder of new Mandolins can satisfy that

Perhaps ask around via contacts thru the Builders Data Base on this site ?

Once you find them , they may clone the neck on yours and make one just as you wish..






.....

[Vernon Hughes]

I just finished up this short neck F style for a customer who also likes the feel of the vintage gibson A models. Joins the body at the 12th fret and has the fatter feel he was looking for. I could build another!

[William Smith]

Boy Vernon that looks and has the flavor just like a sweet jacked up "In a fantastic way" Old Gibson F-7! Even looks like the 34-35 Gibson type top sunburst! I'm drooling buddy!

[custer]

I just finished up this short neck F style for a customer who also likes the feel of the vintage gibson A models. Joins the body at the 12th fret and has the fatter feel he was looking for. I could build another!

I checked out your website. Beautiful work!

[Vernon Hughes]

I don't really have a website as such, yet, but I do post my build progress on facebook under my name or the hughes mandolins page. I have a couple youtube videos as well.If you might have interest,lets talk!

[custer]

30's Gibson A models, A-1's and A-50's the smaller bodied A's some have bigger V type necks.

I'm thinking in my case that vintage might be a good way to go. There is just something very cool about playing a vintage instrument. They seem to have a vibe about them.

[Eric Platt]

Another vote for an older Strad-O-Lin for larger necks. Mine has a neck that's bigger than either my 1910 A or 1929 A Jr. As said above, it's round, rather than V. Width at the nut is approximately 1 3/16".

However, the neck is still not as big as a pre 1910 Gibson neck.