1923 Gibson F-4 Mandolin – Used

F-4 models from the Lloyd Loar era just don’t turn up very often, and this one has all the desirable features that set those examples apart from the F-4s made earlier. This includes a truss rod, neck that’s 1 1/16″ wide at the nut, and original adjustable bridge (both base and saddle have patent stamps). We’ve known this example for over a decade, as Frank Ford did a repair to a crack in the headstock scroll in 2012. This is not a long-neglected closet find, instead it’s seen lots of playing over the years and there’s what we call “honest wear” to the finish as a result as shown in these photos. Original Waverly “spear-point” tuners with faux-onyx buttons, original pickguard & tailpiece with cover, and original finish throughout. Playability is excellent, in part thanks to a refret in 2021 that gave a very slight radius to the fretboard (neck binding was removed to do refret, so little binding splices were added near the nut to compensate for original binding shrinkage). This mandolin was played for many years without the pickguard in place, so there’s finish wear, and a small clear pickguard, under the original elevated ‘guard. An excellent Loar-era F model for players who appreciate the 1922-’24 high point in Gibson mandolin production.

Factory Order Number (FON) is 11852, a number listed in Spann as for F-4 started in 1923.

Comes with the original hardshell case, plus a sturdy but lightweight rectangular Hiscox flight case.