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   If you try to find a good deal on a Gibson f 5 somewhere, even one from the   
   60's, 70's or a newer f 5g, or even an f 9, you will get a good mando that   
   will maintain it's value if you ever need some scratch.   
   R   
      
   "Colin Irvine"  wrote in message   
   news:671o51dr7dpb1797g6mfahmai4df7t9hmk@4ax.com...   
   > On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:09:05 -0600, "SoK66"    
   > squeezed out the following:   
   >   
   >>Ok, to keep this as short as possible, I'm a veteran guitar player   
   >>(started   
   >>playng in '61 as a kid, graduate of North Texas in guitar, played with   
   >>numerous country, jazz & rock bands, etc.) who for years has had a desire   
   >>to   
   >>learn mandolin. The other day I started "kicking tires" at a local store   
   >>with some really nice mandolins. Wondered what folks thought about some of   
   >>the various brands & models, i.e., Weber, Collings, Gibson, etc., and the   
   >>relative merits of a style "A" vs. a style "F". I'd be willing to spend   
   >>some   
   >>decent bucks to get a really fine one. As an aside, they have two early   
   >>1900's Gibson stye "A"s, one for  for $1,100 the other for $2,500.   
   >   
   > You tend to get more bang for your buck with A models, for the   
   > ultimate go for an F. For a mellow sustain go for a round hole, for   
   > punch go for an f hole. Gibsons are certainly great (I'm over the moon   
   > with mine), and hold their value well, but there's no shortage of   
   > experts who'll tell you there are better instruments for less money.   
   > Ideally take someone with you who knows!   
   >   
   > --   
   > Colin Irvine   
      
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