2,4, and 5... Where's 1 and 3?

[Tom Coletti]

It seems like the most talked about Gibson F archtops and subsequent archtop brands revolve around the F2, F4, and F5 models, and the common A's are the A1, A4, and A5. I've seen/heard a few A2's but only a couple A3's online and maybe one F3, and I haven't been able to find any information on an F1. Does an F1 even exist? Or was the F-style mandolin (presumably the early 3-point design) only introduced when the -2 models came out, therefore skipping the F1 and starting with the F2? Also is there a reason for the -3 models being relatively uncommon or not standing out above the others?

I'm really interested in these early mandos but this -1 and -3 gap has me quite puzzled...

--Tom

[pheffernan]

My 1924 A didn't even warrant a number!

[mrmando]

If ever there were such things as F1s and F3s, they did not exist for long. Nothing to talk about, so it's no surprise nobody talks about it.

ah, yes: the last known F3 shipped in 1905:
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/...andolins.pl?f3

F7s, F10s and F12s did exist, but aren't talked about much either.

There are plenty of A3s out there. They can be real nice if you can't afford an A4.

[AlanN]

Between the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company and The USAF, the USAF wins every time

[Timbofood]

Mrmando, that the begs the question...
6,8,9 and "This one goes to 11?"

[allenhopkins]

There apparently was a Gibson "F" (no number suffix) model that preceded the F-2. It appears in the earliest Gibson catalog, according to the Mandolin Archive, but no image exists. This would be the supposed "F-1," I guess.

Not been able to find any references to an F-6 or F-8. The F-7 was a standard '30's Gibson model, sort of a short-necked F-5, in the '30's. The F-9, as we know, is a relatively recent addition to the Gibson line. The F-10 is a rarity, no sign of an F-11, F-12's are not uncommon.

[Timbofood]

I forgot about the recent addition of the 9!