2003 Gibson F5FB Flame Burst Mandolin
(Serial No.31218040) Excellent condition. I recently bought this mandolin from a well known professional NC picker who is buying a Loar. This was one of his go-to stage mandolins. This instrument is part of a series that was built by the Gibson Custom Shop for a store called Making Music up in Washington state. They had about 40 of these built. The mandolin appears very similar to the F5G. However, in addition to the F5G trim, this mandolin features an Andirondack red spruce top, highly figured maple back and sides, lacquer finish, top bound only, and the back has a sunburst finish. Tuners are silver plated Waverlys with pearl buttons. The mandolin has been speed necked - that is, finish has been removed from the back of the neck to stop your hand sticking in high humidity and to speed up picking. Outstanding sounding mandolin with strong volume and tone. Has a deep woofy bass, strong midrange, and glassy high trebles. Good bluegrass chop when needed. Here is a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont. Its set up perfectly. Comes with the original hardshell case.

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