Yesterday, Gibson officially announced the debut of their latest limited edition, vintage-styled instrument – the Victorian F-5 mandolin. Only 15 of these unique instruments will be made, which combine features and appointments from both the F-4 and F-5 models that revolutionized the mandolin world in the 1920s.
Each will be constructed of figured maple for the one piece back, sides and neck, with a red spruce top, all assembled with hide glue. The top will have bound F-holes finished with a black face and a dark red sunburst back, reminiscent of the mandolins made by Gibson in the nineteen-teens.
The fingerboard will be ebony with an F-5 scale and an F-4 extension. A double flowerpot inlay adorns the headstock which will also feature Waverly arrow-point tuners. The pickguard and clamp are styled like those on the vintage F-4s and the mandolin is protected with an aged varnish finish.
The Gibson Victorian F-Style Mandolin carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $17,777 with hardshell case, and orders must be placed through an authorized Gibson retailer.
More photos and additional details can be found on the Gibson Original Acoustic web site.
Thanks to John Drummond of Banjo.com and Jeff Sullivan with First Quality Musical Supply for their assistance in getting the details on this new mandolin from Gibson.
