- three-point body, oval soundhole, top body binding, pickguard, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended and dot inlays, scroll-style peghead with veneer, available in Golden Orange finish, mfg. 1902 only.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two- or three-point body style, oval bound soundhole with two wood rings, top body binding, pickguard with stylized inlay, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended and dot inlays, scroll-style peghead with star and crescent inlay, available in Red finish, mfg. 1902-1934.
In 1904, several changes took place including a single bound fingerboard, tuners mounted at a right angle, and the peghead inlay was changed to read "The Gibson." In 1908, an elevated pickguard was introduced and a Golden Orange finish was available. In 1910, the body was changed to a two-point from a three-point. In 1914, Red, Black, and Golden Orange were all finish options. In 1918, a Dark Sunburst finish was introduced. In 1922, a truss rod was introduced and the Lloyd Lora era began and was done by 1924.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- three-point body, oval bound soundhole with two wood rings, top border with white and green rope type, top body binding, pickguard with stylized inlay, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended and dot inlays, scroll-style peghead with star and crescent inlay, available in Black finish, mfg. 1902-mid 1900s.
This model only appeared in the 1902 catalog. It was probably produced into the mid- to late 1900s.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two- or three-point body, oval bound soundhole with two wood rings, top body binding, top border with white and green rope style, pickguard with stylized inlay, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended and dot inlays, scroll-style peghead with star and crescent inlay, available in Black finish, mfg. 1902-1943.
In 1908, an elevated pickguard and a flowerpot inlay was introduced and a Golden Orange finish became available. In 1910, the body was changed to a two-point from a three-point. In 1911, a double-flowerpot peghead was introduced. In 1914, Red, Black, and Golden Orange became finish options. In 1918, a Dark Sunburst finish was introduced. In 1922, a truss rod was introduced and the peghead went back to the single flowerpot design. In 1936, the soundhole rosette was changed to a checkerboard.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point body style, f-holes, triple bound body and pickguard, two-piece maple neck, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended, bound peghead with The Gibson logo and flowerpot inlay, silver hardware, four-per-side tuners, features Master Model or Loar labels, available in Cremona Brown Sunburst finish, mfg. 1922-1943, reintroduced 1949-1980.
The F-5 is by far the most desirable and collectible mandolin by Gibson. It was the first mandolin to feature parallel top braces, a bound pickguard that is screwed into the body at a right angle, a maple neck, and a raised fingerboard with 15 frets to the body. In 1924, a few models appeared with a Virzi Tone-Producer but it was discontinued by 1925. In 1928, the Master Model label was discontinued. In 1929, block inlay was introduced. In 1932, a regular Gibson logo appeared. In 1949, when it was reintroduced, it featured a one piece mahogany neck and a beveled edge laminated pickguard. In 1961, a five-piece neck was introduced. In 1970, the whole mandolin was redesigned. The F-5 is so highly sought after, it is recommended that several professional appraisals are done on these instruments before buying or selling. The first known F-5 is currently on display at the NAMM museum in Carlsbad, CA.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- similar to the F-5 except is a reissue based most closely off of the 1925 design, spruce top, maple back/sides/neck, ebony fingerboard with treble side extension and dot inlay, abalone fern headstock inlay, triple bound body, double bound pickguard, gold plated hand-carved hardware, hand stained Cremona Sunburst finish, mfg. 1978-current.
Between 1988 and 1991, silver plated hardware and a flowerpot inlay were available.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- similar to the F-5L, except is not as elaborate in design, double bound top ivoroid, reproduction flowerpot inlay, tuned parallel tonebar, nickel plated hardware, 4-per-side tuners, available in Cremona Sunburst finish, mfg. 1993-current.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- similar to the F-5L, except has a black line on the side of the binding as opposed to the top and is signed by Bill Monroe on a label, limited edition run of 200 instruments, mfg. 1991-96.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- similar to the F-5 models, except is the highest standard production mandolin made by Gibson, features spruce top, maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard with treble side extended and dot inlay, tuned parallel tonebar, flowerpot inlay in peghead, four-per-side tuners, silver plated hardware, available in Cremona Sunburst finish, mfg. 2003-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- reproduction of the Lloyd Loar era mandolins from 1922-24, spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard with MOP inlays and treble side extension, traditional mandolin headstock with flowerpot inlay, silver plated hardware, Cremona Sunburst finish that is aged with finish checks and playing wear, mfg. 2004-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point F-style body shape, spruce top, AAA flamed maple back and sides, two f-holes, black and white body binding, compound dovetail neck joint, flame maple neck, black and white bound 23-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black and white bound snake-style headstock with abalone fern inlays and four-per-side Grover tuners with white buttons, adj. ebony bridge, gold tailpiece, raised white and black bound tortoiseshell pickguard, gold hardware, available in Goldrush (Golden Amber) finish, mfg. 2006-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point F-style body shape, red spruce top, one-piece figured maple back, figured maple sides, two ivoroid-bound f-holes, ivoroid top and back binding, compound dovetail neck joint, figured maple rounded V neck, ivoroid-bound 24-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, ivoroid-bound snake-style headstock with abalone "The Gibson" logo and flower pot inlays, four-per-side nickel Waverly tuners with white buttons, adj. ebony bridge, nickel engraved "The Gibson" tailpiece, raised Victorian-style unbound tortoiseshell pickguard, nickel hardware, available in Ebony finish with Red Sunburst back and sides, mfg. 2008-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point body, select spruce top, figured maple back and sides, two f-holes, single bound top and back, mahogany neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlay (no treble side extension), single bound scroll-style headstock with choice of inlays and four-per-side tuners, bound raised pickguard, nickel hardware, available in Sunburst finish, 10 in. body width, 13.75 in. body length, mfg. 1934-39.
This model has features that are similar to the Nick Lucas guitar.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point body style, spruce top, maple back/sides/neck, ebony extended fingerboard, top black binding, scroll style headstock with Gibson script inlay, four-per-side tuners, tuned parallel tonebar, nickel hardware, available in Satin Vintage Brown finish, mfg. 2002-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point body, two f-holes, single bound body, pickguard with binding, ebony fingerboard with dot inlay with treble side extended, single bound headstock with vase and curlicue inlaid peghead, four-per-side tuners, nickel hardware, available in Black finish, mfg. 1934-36.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point F-style body shape based on a mid-1930s F-10, spruce top, figured maple back and sides, two unbound f-holes, white top and back binding, mahogany neck, white-bound 26-fret extended rosewood fingerboard with leaves and flowers inlays, white-bound snake-style headstock with MOP "The Gibson" logo and F-10-style urn inlays, four-per-side nickel Grover tuners with white buttons, adj. ebony bridge, nickel engraved "The Gibson" tailpiece, raised white-bound tortoiseshell pickguard, nickel hardware, available in Ebony finish with Red Sunburst back and sides, hardshell case and certificate of authenticity included, mfg. 2009-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point body, f-holes, single bound body, pickguard with binding, ebony fingerboard with dot inlay with treble side extended, single bound headstock with vase and curlicue inlaid peghead, four-per-side tuners, gold hardware, available in Red Mahogany Sunburst finish, mfg. 1931-37, reintroduced 1948-1980.
This model was introduced in 1931, but did not appear in catalogs until 1934. When it was reintroduced in 1948, it featured changes and new features: clamshell tailpiece cover, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with no treble side extension and dot inlay, smaller peghead with crown inlay and Cremona Brown Sunburst finish. In 1950, a "wriggle edge" tailpiece cover and a raised pickguard was introduced. In 1970,the body was triple bound, the treble side of the fingerboard was extended, and the Gibson logo and a fleur-de-lis inlay were all introduced.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two-point F-style body shape based on a mid-1930s F-12, spruce top, figured maple back and sides, two unbound f-holes, white top and back binding, mahogany rounded V-shaped neck with a compound dovetail joint, white-bound 26-fret extended rosewood fingerboard with leaves and flowers inlays, white-bound snake-style headstock with MOP "The Gibson" logo and F-12-style urn inlays, four-per-side gold Grover tuners with pearl buttons, adj. ebony bridge, nickel engraved "The Gibson" tailpiece, raised white-bound tortoiseshell pickguard, nickel hardware, available in Vintage Burst finish with Burgundy back and sides, hardshell case and certificate of authenticity included, mfg. 2009-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- three-point F-style body, solid black spruce top from Morningside Cemetery where Orville Gibson is buried, solid one-piece quilted maple back, figured maple sides, two unbound f-holes, tone bar bracing, three ply top and back binding, rounded profile figured maple neck, 29-fret single-ply bound ebony fingerboard with Orvillesque star and crescent/vine inlays, single-ply-bound scroll-style headstock with star and floral vine inlays, four-per-side gold Arrow-Point Waverly tuners with inlaid Handel buttons, adj. ebony bridge, gold engraved tailpiece, raised three-ply-bound tortoise pickguard with inlays and Orville Gibson portrait and signature, available in Vintage Autumn Amber nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 13 29/32 in. scale, new fall 2008.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
- two point F-style body shape, carved solid spruce top, figured maple back and sides, two unbound f-holes, black body binding, figured maple rounded V-shaped neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with no inlays, snake-style headstock with black overlay and scroll Gibson logo, four-per-side nickel Grover tuners, adj. ebony bridge, nickel engraved tailpiece, available in Natural Satin or Sheraton Brown finish, 13 29/32 in. scale, 1.1875 in. nut width, travel padded gig bag, mfg. mid-2009-present.
Unlock full access to Blue Book
You are currently viewing the free portion of the Blue Book of Guitar Values. To unlock full access, choose
a
subscription for more benefits including access to all guitar values, pricing history, create a collection
and
more!
