Hey Josh,
Like several here, “dark and throaty” made me think of an Ellis A5 or even an oval. But if you’re committed to an F5, then I’d look for a small builder who is under the radar and then tinker with setup, strings, picks, and technique. One that caught my eye is Craig Wilson, who I understand to be an accomplished picker and former Loar owner who seems to know what he’s doing:
https://wilsonmandolins.com/
One of his F5’s is on consignment at Elderly:
https://www.elderly.com/collections/...lins-wf-5-2012
Let me know what you think!
Best,
Patrick
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