1975 C.E. Ward F5 Mandolin
(Serial No. 7501-73) Excellent condition, sunburst lacquer finish. All original finish and hardware. The late C.E. Ward of Charlotte, NC was well-known for building high quality banjo necks and mandolins. I've owned several of his mandolins and they were all well built and finished, but not all had a decent sound. This is the strongest one I have played. It has clear ringing trebles, a good woody chop, and powerful volume. This will cut a banjo. It is modeled on the traditional F5, with beautifully figured maple back and sides, solid spruce top (probably Sitka) with tone bar bracing, cream binding, nickle Gotah tuners with pearl buttons, peghead is inlaid with The Ward logo and a torch in pearl, pearl truss rod cover, engraved CE Ward tailpiece cover, and an ebony fretboard and bridge. The nut is 1 1/8 inch and the fretboard is flat. Finish has been removed from the back of the neck to aid picking speed. The end of the fretboard is scooped to eliminate pick click. No cracks or repairs noted. Excellent sounding mandolin with good response all across the strings and up and down the neck. The mandolin was recently set up so it plays like butter and has a strong bluegrass chop. Here is a short video clip of this mandolin played by Richie Dotson of Acoustic Box LLC here in Chesterfield, VA. Comes with a shaped hard case.
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