Mandolin & Mandolin Family

The Gibson F-2 was, in its time, the least expensive Florentine model mandolin.  It has the large body scroll on the upper bass bout and the two large body points on the treble side.  The headstock is wide at the top with a small scroll on the bass, a larger scroll on the treble and a huge dangerous looking point at the top of the headstock slightly off center to the right.   This headstock is inlaid “The Gibson” in script mother of pearl at an angle and there is nothing else inlaid or provided on the headstock except a glossy black ebony headplate that shows some crazing lines.

Hand carved and graduated from the finest mountain spruce and northern maple for the best tonal characteristics. The KM-805 has a radiused rosewood fingerboard for comfortable easy play and the traditional “torch-style” peghead inlay for those who like a more simple vintage look.

We are pleased to say that a posting on Mandolin Café back in January 2005 from “dunbarhamlin” provides greatly appreciated background on this style Vega mandolin.       He says:  “Ooh nice. Looks like a 201 (the cylinder backs being designated 202, 203, 205 and 207, according to furniture and ornamentation).  Whilst woods do change, the catalogue I have which features it offers the following specification:

Every Kentucky mandolin is meticulously hand-crafted from the finest materials to produce the finest possible instrument for players of every level. Taking advantage of our strength in the market, as well as our extensive knowledge of musical instrument construction, Saga has reintroduced the KM-160 A-model mandolin.

Every Kentucky mandolin is meticulously hand-crafted from the finest materials to produce the finest possible instrument for players of every level. Taking advantage of our strength in the market, as well as our extensive knowledge of musical instrument construction, Saga has reintroduced the KM-160 A-model mandolin.    

 

The full-blown Florentine body and headstock mandola is, of course, the alto voice of the mandolin family.   It is tuned C G D A from lowest to highest course.   It is so sweet, so full, so fully packed with plectral pulchritude that we don’t see why everybody doesn’t want one.    This extremely high quality, hand-made example has the following features:  • Solid Carved European Spruce Top • Solid Carved Highly Flamed Maple Back • Solid Highly Flamed Maple Sides • Solid Highly Flamed Maple Neck  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $2499 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:  

The Loar LM-220 mandolin is assembled with a solid carved spruce top and solid maple back and sides.  The maple neck has a comfortable rounded v-profile to fit in the hand perfectly.  For players who prefer a more streamlined look, the LM-220 has a single layer of ivoroid binding.  High-quality Grover tuners, nickel hardware and an extremely thin polyurethane lacquer finish all combine to make this professional-quality instrument an amazing value and a first for the professional mandolin market.

This mandolin has the following features: Solid Carved European Spruce Top, solid Carved Highly Flamed Maple Back, Solid Highly Flamed Maple Sides, Solid Highly Flamed Maple Neck, Vintage Profile Tone-Bar Bracing, Dot Fretboard Inlays, Unique Headstock Decor, 3-ply Binding, Genuine Bone Corners, Graph-Tech Nut, Nut Width = 28.75 mm

This is an extremely fine and also beautiful late example of this style, which model moniker was discontinued in 1943.   Being that is made later in the timeline it has some sophisticated features that the F-4s made in the teens and ‘20s don’t have.

Our 1940 Gibson F-4 mandolin sounds wonderful – it has that deep, throaty thing going strongly and vigorously.   It has the punch and presence that most associate with the F-5 model mandolin – a far different vocalize than one associates with the far more prolific F-4 mandolins of the teens.    It is an incredibly good deal, quality wise and price wise, at only . . .

John D'Angelico is famous for his archtop f-hole jazz guitars -- it is safe to say that he is the most famous independent builder of that type of instrument in the world, often compared to Antonio Stradivari, the violin guy.   Possibly there are compared so often because in his lifetime Mr. Stradivari is said to have built 1,100 violins while John D'Angelico built 1,164 guitars and mandolins.

The Gibson F-7 was a fairly short-lived but extremely well regarded model, made for just six years between 1934 and 1939. What it is, essentially, is a Gibson prewar F-5 mandolin with simpler appointments, and having a neck that joins the body at the 10th fret. In terms of the simpler appointments, this model has single-ply crème celluloid side, neck, headstock and pickguard binding, unbound twin lower case f-shaped soundholes.  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $12,887 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: 

Warm, round, inviting tone, coupled with superior playability- these are the hallmarks of our Hyalite Mandolins. Perfect for Celtic and jazz players, the Hyalite is an affordable instrument for the serious musician.

Bring your talent and enjoyment of music to any setting, and let the Bitterroot do the heavy lifting. The playability of our radiused fingerboard and the Bluegrass muscle of our tone bar braced, aged spruce top combine with a traditional look to create the best and most affordable workhorse mandolin on the planet.

The Weber List Price is $2123

This is an extremely handsome mandolin, similar in some ways to a Gibson A-50 model, including having the adjustable truss rod feature, except having crème top binding while the A-50 also has back binding, and also having a flat back and not the A-50’s arched back. The top is, however, arched and finished in a glorious prewar sunburst; f-holes are unbound, the bridge is ebony and adjustable (possibly a replacement since the fingerboard is magnificent Brazilian rosewood and usually they match).

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bill Monroe’s birth and extraordinary life, we introduce the Limited Edition Kentucky Master F-model Mandolin. This Centennial features a special pearl-inlaid likeness of Bill above a banner commemorating this hundred-year milestone and his signature in gold script below.