Lloyd Loar Mandolin Gibson F-5 # 72060: The Green Hornet
Gibson F-5 #72060, the one I call "The Green Hornet". This mandolin was signed and dated by Lloyd Loar on Feb 8, 1923 and issued by the Gibson Mandolin and Guitar Co. of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The signature label, serial number label and Virzi label are all in excellent condition and appear to be original, intact and unaltered in any way. Gibson F-5 # 72060 is in extremely fine condition and is a very early example of the installation of the Virzi tone producer (Virzi # 10479). There have been no repairs, and remarkably, this mandolin is completely original including frets and bridge! By this time in the early stages of the evolution of the Loar F-5, the tuners sported the famous arrow end plates and typical Loar engraving with pearl buttons. An interesting and unique aspect of this mandolin is that the ivoroid binding has aged to a green hue. This is an atypical aspect found on a few F-4 mandolins from the period, but to our knowledge this is the only F-5 with such a deep green patina. The original Geib and Sons case is included, also in excellent condition. Gibson F-5 #72060 has a wonderful tone, volume and response, absolutely one of the best F-5 mandolins we have ever encountered and a wonderful example of the Virzi tone producer doing what it is supposed to do.
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