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Celebrating 100 Years of the F-5 Master Mandolin





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The 1923 F-5 Master model reissue mandolin by Gibson Custom revisits the sound and looks of Lloyd Loar’s historic Gibson F-5 Master mandolin design. The company crafted this ode to the past using studious scans of original models built and signed by Loar himself. Period-accurate detail is evident throughout, especially with this mandolin’s eye-catching Cremona Burst finish and intricate headstock features, including a stunning “Torch” inlay work and an antique “The Gibson” logo made with mother-of-pearl. Vintage fidelity continues far beyond the 1923 F-5 Master model reissue’s sharp looks. Meticulous details down to the reissue’s period-correct red spruce top fuel a playing experience rarely found on this side of the 21st century. While red spruce is less widespread these days, the species is the key to the sound of countless prewar Gibson instruments, from mandolins to acoustic guitars. For a celebratory look back at one of the greatest folk instruments ever made, look no further than the 1923 F-5 Master model reissue mandolin from Sweetwater!





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Fueled by data, crafted with heart





The F-5 Master’s versatile sound is legendary, but so are its detailed body curves, cutaways, fingerboard extension, and headstock. Pinpointing the details of the original F-5 Master meant that Gibson Custom needed to search for authentic points of reference. Gibson Custom luthiers scanned not just one, but several signed Loyd Loar originals to catalog their precise measurements and account for variations between models. You can rest assured that designers went to commendable lengths to capture what an F-5 Master looked, felt, and sounded like many moons ago.





Versatile tonewoods inspire a revolutionary sound





The 1923 F-5 Master Model reissue mandolin is handsomely built to the exact specifications as the originals using only period-accurate tonewoods. The inaugural F-5 Master brandished a red spruce top that optimized the instrument for cutting resonance across highs and lows. Likewise, this reissue features a red spruce top that readily cuts through multi-instrument ensembles as it brings assertive runs to life. Maple back and sides support red spruce’s bright, warm sound with a quick response that lets muted chords sound full with a satisfying, percussive thump.





The mandolin’s landmark innovation





Was the F-5 Master really that innovative? Absolutely! In 1919, when Lloyd Loar joined Gibson as an acoustic engineer, the average person wasn’t listening to recorded music at home. Hobbyists spent lots of free time making music and often played the ubiquitous mandolin, which was portable and a relatively easy instrument to learn. But Loar was a professional, not a hobbyist. His F-5 Master revolutionized mandolin acoustic performance, distinguished the mandolin’s voice, and even raised the profile of mandolin players nationwide. Loar replaced more primitive mandolin soundholes with an F-shaped design that made melodies more assertive and violin-like in presence. A lengthened maple neck and central bridge placement teased wider frequency ranges and more dynamic sensitivity from each string. Finally, Loar focused on enhancing top vibrations for additional volume. He developed spruce bracing for the sound chamber and elevated the fingerboard’s upper-fret extension (instead of fastening the extension to the spruce top using glue, thus dampening top vibrations). These changes all define the patented mandolin sound we know and love today.





Gibson Custom 1923 F-5 Master Model Reissue Mandolin Features:


Incredibly faithful to the legendary innovations of Lloyd Loar’s 1923 F-5 Master design


Period-accurate re-creation of the original’s Cremona Burst finish


Period-accurate red spruce top captures the character of prewar Gibson instruments


Maple back and sides fuel bright clarity and snappy dynamic response, bound with ABS


Built using scans from multiple authentic 1923 F-5 models


Maple neck with matching finish and the original’s supportive neck carve


Ebony fingerboard with ABS binding


Silver-plated hardware, including vintage-style tuners


Includes a replica original case and deluxe custom case candy