1910 Gibson F-2 Black Top

When the F-5 rolled out in 1922, Lloyd Loar's new design revolutionized the mandolin, greatly expanding the instrument's role in American music. But that doesn't mean Gibson mandolins made before 1922 should be overlooked! Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd with a carved mandolin design, so from its outset, the Gibson brand was always ahead of the curve with mandolins. In 1910, Gibson updated its novel F body style—with the distinctive carved scroll—to the familiar 2-point design that became ubiquitous in the mandolin world. The F-2 was introduced in 1902, and this 1910 F-2 is an early example of that 2-point body shape. Typical of Gibson's pre-Loar mandolins, this 1910 F-2 features an oval soundhole with a single Transverse brace that runs the width of the top in between the soundhole and the bridge. It sports a black top finish, and the ivoroid/wood soundhole rings pop against the dark finish.  This 1910 Gibson F-2 has survived the last 114 years in nice