F4 MANDOLINS

This is an F4 model. The model designation comes straight from the old Gibson catalog of the 1920s. Like the Florentine, it has improved fret access over the A models. The sound of these is more focussed in the treble and midrange and is a little ‘tighter” and more penetrating than the A models. 

The scroll and point near the neck block are not just decorative. They enhance the strength around the neck joint, allowing finer graduation of the back plate in that area, which gives more vibrating wood - always good.

This mandolin is made from fine spruce and striking quilt maple which responds very well to the hand-rubbed vignette (“sunburst”) staining methods. Because it is back-sawn timber, quilt is not as stiff as the quarter sawn wood I normally use. It needs to be worked a little thicker for the same resonance. It generally produces a mellower sound. To see detail shots of this mandolin click on the picture.