Re: 1974 Gibson F5 - what's top of the market?
Originally Posted by
Bluegrasssubvet
I was serving in the USN aboard a nuclear submarine in 1973. I had only learned about bluegrass a few years before. I bought a 1973 F5 and taught myself to play while serving. These mandolins were very tinty sounding. Being new to the music, I didn't know any better. And during this time frame they were not a lot of dealers other than Gibson, so I naturally thought I was buying the best. I played the mandolin up until about 2000/01 when I talked with Randy Wood about making improvements. I shipped the mando to him. He removed the back, replaced the tone bars, sanded the top and back, removed some of the wood from the inside of the neck. When the mando was returned, it had been improved greatly, and was also lighter. I have a 1988 F5L and the sound between both is very similar. These 70's mandos are bad sounding but they can be improved upon.
Welcome to the Cafe! Love your story!
I'm a field geologist (and an engineer too.). Mandolin travels with me and they've been to a lot of places. Never a beater either! Just a real instrument!
I'd love to hear submarine stories! The engineer in me and the whole experience is quite unique (well unless you are in the Navy, eh?).
If you are like me (similar age it seems), you are in or close to retirement! I'll join those ranks in a few months and can't wait!
f-d
‘papα gordo aint no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
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