1918 Gibson F4 Mandolin #41013

Summary

1918 manufacture date (traditional estimates)
1917 shipment date, according to Spann's Guide to Gibson
Mandolin, Style F4
Serial 41013
Factory order number unknown

Description

This mandolin is, on the surface, freer of the usual signs of use and wear than are most. It does, however, have a rosewood adjustable bridge, and it is missing its pickguard and the pick guard’s lifelong companion, the side clamp. It does have the big inlaid double flower pot with "The Gibson" inlaid in abalone above, and the abalone and nickel-silver wire inlaid "Handel" buttons (8 delightful nouveau flowers set against a celluloid sky) with their etched metal back plates. It has the original “The Gibson” slide-on tailpiece with floral etching. The back of the neck appears oversprayed and so is the area along the creme ivoroid fingerboard binding. It is the opinion of Peter Becker of our repair shop that although the instrument was probably sent back to the Gibson factory in the mid to late ‘20s and refinished in Loar’burst brown sunburst, the instrument nevertheless shows all of the patina of age that one can ask for in an aged patina. The top color matches the back and sides perfectly, and it shows light normal scratches, it has the big rope-pattern double marquetry with the ivoroid stripe in-between and the celluloid binding on the oval sound port, and the tiny hairline crack from the lower point that many F-2s and F-4s have. The human mind (if we could only find one) wants to embrace that the finish is original but, um, it’s not. The ebony fingerboard, with the 6 pearl dotmarkers in 5-fret positions, gleams with manic bonhomie. The action is low and comfortable, and the sound is luxurious, smooth and lovable, and you will, as well, be imbued with the same attributes after playing just one chord

Categories

Categories this instrument is a member of

• Cremona Brown (Loar style) finish
• Refinished instrument
• Handel inlaid tuners

Source

From Mandolin Bros..
Mandolin Bros. have a truly drool-worthy inventory, and are well known for Stan Jay's thoughtful, and often poetic instrument descriptions