Re: Gibson F9 2004
Not exactly sure what "set up to be played with an amp" means; I'm assuming that some sort of pickup was installed. As far as I know, Gibson doesn't install pickups on their mandolins, unless by special order, or on an after-market basis if an owner sends their mandolin back to have a pickup installed. The great majority of pickup installations on acoustic instruments, such as the Gibson F-9, are done either by their owners, or by a dealer or instrument repair shop.
My guess would be that, unless the neck's been modified after-market, you have the "standard" neck profile that Gibson provides. As to the strings you should use, feel free to experiment; remember that your F-9's action can be adjusted -- bridge height, neck relief -- so if you find another string brand that doesn't seem to work as well with the mandolin's current set-up, you can tweak the set-up as well as buying a different brand of string.
You sound like you're quite satisfied with the F-9 "as is," so the only suggestion I'd make, is to stick with light gauge strings when you run out of the "freebies." The irresponsible way that I do string replacement, I'd say you have a two-year supply already, but most serious pickers change their strings much more frequently than I do.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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