Gibson F5 Lloyd Loar signed (Dec 11, 1923)

That surreal experience of playing functional art—equal parts historical object and inspiring musical partner. It is uncanny, and addictive!

There is, of course, no single "Loar" sound. While all Loar-signed F5 mandolins share a common blueprint, the Loars we have handled have all sounded different from one to the next, sometimes remarkably so.

This beauty, dated December 11, 1923, strikes a wonderful balance between the earlier, brighter bluegrass stingers and the slightly darker-voiced examples more associated with the 1924 batches. Depending on your attack, there is a lovely range of timbre on tap. When driven hard, it will cut hard with great midrange focus. For all that power, this mandolin rewards a light touch with a super satisfying, dare-we-say haunting tone. With that singular, dry, direct, throaty quality that only decades of life can deliver, there is a lot here to explore.

The condition is remarkable, even by Loar standards. The only significant wear is to the lower bout at the forearm contact area, and in the lower reaches of the neck where the fretting hand thumb would rest. An old, very slight center seam separation on the back has been filled with hide glue. Worm under Waverly tuners are original, as is the tailpiece. Overall, this is a remarkable example of the pinnacle and formative Loar-signed Gibson F5.

Two cases are included: a period (likely original) rectangular case as well as a Canadian-made Calton flight case. Payment requested by wire transfer or check.