Restoration

 

Gibson F5 mandolin #75686

Signed by Lloyd Loar February 18, 1924 (Virzi Tone Producer #10159 - removed)

Repair completed  February 2021

Repair issues

  • Non original neck (replaced by Gibson, 1980) Remains of original in the case.

  • Non-original lacquered/sprayed sunburst finish

Repair job

  • Remove non-original neck

  • Make new laminated headstock veneer and inlays to Nov ‘22 batch specs

  • Rebuild remains of original neck with new wings, headstock veneers and inlays

  • Re-build body dovetail cavity to match original neck dovetail - instal re-built original neck

  • Make new f’board extension support

  • Re-bind & re-fret fingerboard with original gauge .040” fretwire

  • Remove remnants of Virzi Tone Producer

  • Remove lacquer, re-finish with water stain and varnish finish

  • Fit with new Waverly tuners

  • Make new (patinated) hand engraved tailpiece cover to original specifications and style - solid nickel/silver plated

Notes
It appears this mandolin was originally assembled with a three piece neck (decorative ebonized maple centre strip only seen on a small number of November 28, 1922 Loar signed instruments), side black/white/ivoroid binding only seen on July 9, 1923 batch and a serial number and signature date of February 18, 1924. It is considered to be an original Loar era “composite” or “floor sweep” model.

The long-time owner and musician Dewey Murphy played this mandolin for many years with his brother Fred as the Murphy Brothers from North Carolina until he passed away in 2017.

When the mandolin was received by me for restoration, it was finished in thick nitrocellulose lacquer, the most recent in a number of re-fins in its life, and the original neck replaced with a new F5L neck by Gibson, circa 1980.
What remained of the original three piece neck was in the case, although with poorly done non-original inlays and veneers.
It was decided to re-build and install the damaged/reworked neck and return it to its original November 1922 specs by installing new headstock veneers and cutting all new inlays.

The lacquer finish was removed and restrained with original style cremona water stain and varnish/french polish finish. The Virzi Tone Producer had been crudely removed in the past leaving two remanent broken feet, which were also removed.

Photo 1. Original neck with ebonized maple centre strip.
Photo 2. Original neck (centre section) with non-original wings, veneer and inlays.
Photo 3. Pre 1980 with original neck and earlier non-original lacquer refin.
Photo 4. Post 1980 with replaced F5L neck and last Gibson lacquer refin.
Photo 5. Dewey and Fred Murphy. Circa 1982.