I've recently turned my attention to a Loar-era F4 that's in the family. By all appearances a fine example -- VIRZI equipped, original case, and hardly a blemish. And it sounds good (getting better and better and better :-)! Upon closer examination of the top, however, I wonder if there might be structural issues. Maybe I'm just so accustomed to judging a mandolin top in the context of iconic F5 features, such as the raised fingerboard, bridge placement, and f-hole orientation that are associated with Loar's design evolution. I don't believe there is any critical structural damage -- it hasn't caved in or anything. But the undulations in the profile of the instrument, especially around the bridge, make me wonder how robust this mandolin is structurally. I'm not sure.
Also, I found a bridge saddle in the case that might be the original? The cut is rougher and appears smaller than the one that's installed. I wonder then if the bridge base is the original.
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