1914 Gibson F4 # 28875

1914 Gibson F-4 28875. FON 2882. A veritable time capsule! Extremely fine original condition, great sounding early Gibson F4! In all the years we have been buying and selling mandolins, we do not recall ever having acquired such a fine example from this early in the 20th century. Imagine receiving the 1914 catalog (see below) and ordering the top of the line? Well here it is, 110 years later! When Orville Gibson became a de facto non-entity in the company that bore his name, Factory Superintendent George D. Laurian (who was an acoustical engineer before that title was invented for Lloyd Loar) redesigned the mandolins, making them lighter, easier to play and, in our opinion, much better sounding instruments. In other words, (and in our opinion) it was the early ‘teens before Gibson mandolins became the instruments that made the name endure for over a century. Specifications include ivoroid-bound ebonized peghead overlay inlayed with double flowerpot of abalone with green and gold highlights; “The Gibson” script logo in mother-of-pearl; three piece neck (straight cut mahogany with ebony center splice); Ivoroid binding on top and back and on fingerboard; Ivoroid and wood rings around oval sound hole; elevated pick guard with point and cam clamp; red mahogany sunburst with varnish finish; spruce top; maple back and sides; inlaid button Handel tuners; nickel plated hardware; and original Geib and Schaefer case, also in showroom condition. This is not only a beauty, but an excellent sounding F-4. The neck angle is perfect, fingerboard flat and action is textbook correct with the original one-piece bridge. (The only flaw on the entire mandolin is on the peghead where a small square (1/4 inch) of the top coat of varnish was damaged by one of those awful clip-on-the peghead tuners. Other than that, when it arrived here, it was like new.) After a week with a few hours of playing-time each day, the sound has emerged full, big, and powerful with a bass as deep as a well. From the abalone cross inlays in the tuner buttons to the pristine case, this is an immaculate example of the early Gibson factory at its best. Whether you are a player or museum curator, I do not know of a better early Gibson F4 mandolin anywhere, now available at the ridiculously low price of $6500. (Includes free shipping)