Summary
1940 manufacture date (traditional estimates)
1940 shipment date, according to Spann's Guide to Gibson
Mandolin, Style F4
Serial 96390
Factory Order number: 565F
Description
This is one of most scarce versions of a Gibson F-4. Gibson F style mandolins from the 1930's and 40's are extremely rare. By then, the mando craze from the teens and early 20's had faded away. This particular mandolin features a simple pearl Gibson logo in the unbound peghead and Nick Lucas style inlays in the fingerboard. Has a sunburst top, chocolate brown stained maple back and sides, a checkerboard pattern soundhole rosette, and a squared off fingerboard instead of the normally seen extension. The fingerboard is elevated off the top like the F5. The condition is overall excellent. No repairs, crack or other structural issues noted. It retains all of it's original hardware except the missing pickguard. The tuners, bridge, tailpiece and cover are all correct. The best thing about this mandolin is the sound!! It is really a great sounding mandolin. It has a very deep throaty bass response. The playability is great. As a general rule, the F-4/F-2s from this era are consistantly good sounding. I have had lots of all of them and these are real sleepers. This is surely one that you can walk up to the guy with the super clean 1923 model that he just paid 12 grand for and absolutely blow it away.
