Gibson F35

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 06:37 PM

The happy side of it was that it really was neat to spend a full winter (NW Missouri) in a tipi. That part turned out to be a wonderful experience.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: PoppaGator
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 06:30 PM

Jeez, Melissa, if you were male, it would be easier to understand a guy not wanting you hanging around his wife. But judging by your Mudcat name, which is a female's first name (and, likely, your own actual first or perhaps middle name), I don't imagine that you're male.

Me, I usually like to have my wife's girlfriends hanging around. Call me crazy, but that's how I usually feel...

Seriously, though, your characterization of the guy as an abuser is a pretty broad hint at what was going down. And the idea of you living in a tipi, in wintertime, tells us that you were not exactly in a conventional whitebread suburban living situation; not hardly. Further details are not really necessary.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 06:10 PM

That sounds like a neat arrangement for consistency, PoppaGator. Besides, it's just fun to play someone else's treasures.

I think my sad story is probably not all that uncommon (except for the cretin burning my guitar) Abusers don't like being thwarted and he could kill two birds with one stone by burning my guitar/tipi on his wife's birthday. Guess he wanted me to leave, huh?
Weird and wrong, but I was where I should have been at the time.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: PoppaGator
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 01:11 PM

Melissa ~ sorry to hear your sad story. Sounds weird, and raises even further questions, but I won't ask.

Major thread drift:

Mention of the Guild guitar with similar model-numbers reminds me that I'll be playing a very nice old Guild acoustic, one retrofitted with a pickup, this coming Thursday evening as one of many guest-artists/duet-partners at Spencer Bohren's annual Christmas revue. Spencer won't "allow" any of us to use our own instruments if they have to be miked ~ the logistics of getting 20+ guests on and off stage without individual sound checks, tunings-up, etc., are just too daunting. Spencer has a half-dozen or so of his own guitars (lap-steel electrics as well as regular acoustics, set up in various different tunings), and I get to use his very nice Guild, which will be the designated stardard-tuned guitar for the evening's guests.

I'll sing one Dylan cover in G with Spencer's accompaniment on one of his lap-steels in open G (either Paint My Masterpiece or Lot to Laugh, Train to Cry), and then a medley of Mississippi John Hurt key-of-C numbers, with me capo-ed up two frets to allow Spencer to play along on his trusty acoustic 1951 Gibson in open-D.

It has definitely occurred to me that the Guild I'll be playing might very well be the same model used by one of my idols, someone I'll be "channelling" to the best of my ability ~ John Hurt himself. At least, it looks pretty much like what I've seem in MJH photos...

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 12:24 PM

A 70's/80's Fender isn't a particularly desirable instrument (you have to look at those from a decade earlier to find anything half decent). As Mooh says, there are far better guitars being produced today for not much more money.

All their F series guitars were produced in Japan post 1969. Those worth a look prior to this period generally had names rather than numbers although I don't think they actually produced acoustics prior to 1963.
Ray

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 06:35 PM

That's a shame.
For a minute there, it was almost as exciting as a firsthand account of Bigfoot!

Fender...what a disappointment!

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 04:04 PM

The Blue Book says the F series were produced from the late '70s to early '80s, flattop dreadnought. F3 to F115 were retail priced $149 to $895. Used market prices depend on condition and demand, $50 to $150. My guess is that anything over half that is questionable, even for mint condition. Fender is not known for its fine acoustics, and in todays market where there is a glut of decent entry level guitars (search, we talk about them all the time here), there are better choices.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 07:04 AM

Number 6.
You are correct. Here is a pasted message from my friend who got to see the guitar yesterday.

Hi Ad, I went & held the guitar in question today and
it is a "Fender" model of F35   I'm still interested in buying it as my personal starter guitar/ how much should I PAY??


My apologies to all for setting you on a wild goose chase. However Melissa you have picked up some information.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 05:48 AM

Melissa,
Yes, I am wary of using one particular source as a reference but George Gruhn's guide is probably as good as it gets and it does include the F25.
Ray

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Riginslinger
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 06:34 PM

Yeah, I'll have to admit, it didn't seem very thorough. I wonder if there's a better book out there for Gibsons.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 01:32 PM

Riginslinger...Lots of specific Gibson models aren't mentioned in "100 years", it kinda generalizes.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:59 AM

If he/you write down the serial number, you should be able to track down information on the guitar.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:40 AM

I just got home spending an evening of entertainment with my friend. We spoke about this mystery and he told me that he was assured by the person who wanted to sell him the "Axe" that it was indeed an F35. He plans to go and get it to confirm. I'm also hoping to verify. Will let you all know.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: number 6
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:32 AM

... or then he could be getting it mixed up with the Gibson (semi) accoustic 335.

Nice guitar ... I used to own one ... kinda regret letting it slip away.

biLL

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: number 6
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:25 AM

Beer ... Your friend is probably getting it mixed up with the Fender F35 acoustic.

biLL

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:16 AM

Mine didn't have a different label.
I have no idea where it was originally purchased, but there wasn't anything "off brand" about it.

It was a Gibson, and it was not listed in the several informational books people around me had access to at that time. If Gibson considered it a flop, it would make sense for them to edit it from some of their publications in the interest of being able to add a little extra pomp on their 'glory' models.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Riginslinger
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 09:31 PM

I just looked through a book entitled "Gibson Guitars: 100 years of an American Icon," and could not find any reference to an F35. On the other hand, I couldn't find any reference to an F25 either. On the other hand, it did say Gibson marketed guitars through Sears and Roebuck and other outlets that might have put a little different label on the products.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Songster Bob
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 08:34 PM

"Guild had an F series too, if I remember rightly."

Indeed they did. I had an F-20 once, a lovely little guitar (my first good steel-string guitar), that was made so early in the Guild history that the peghead was Gibson-shaped with a decal, Martin-style, instead of the plastic overlay of most Guilds since then.

And Mississippi John Hurt played an F-30 sunburst, as I recall.

The biggest Guild F-model was, I think, the F-50, a jumbo that often was made in maple as well as rosewood -- the maple F-50s were really nice guitars.


Bob

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:22 PM

Beer...The Blue Book is a annual release from Blue Book Publications Inc. which is "the industry standard for both up-to-date acoustic [& electric] guitar information and pricing." Pricing based on 100%, excellent and average conditions. Pictures. Descriptions. Base on trading (buying and selling).

www.bluebookinc.com

Guild had an F series too, if I remember rightly.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:17 PM

hate crime, PoppaGator...definitely personal.
Somehow, he didn't like me being around keeping an eye on his kids/wife. I was spending a winter in a tipi and he knew the guitar was my best and favorite thing.

Guest Ray:
I had an F25. It was a Gibson Guitar. It existed.
Beware of using one book as a definitive source...it could lead you into believing inaccurate things.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 02:04 PM

Some guy started a fire inside a Gibson flattop? What a shame, and very weird. Was he trying to do some kind of acoustic Jimi-at-Monterrey thing? Or was it personal, a kind of hate crime?

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 01:54 PM

The F35 doesn't feature in Gruhn's guide to vintage guitars - and Gibsons take up 6 pages of the index - so I think its safe to say that it doesn't exist. Beware of linking florentine exclusively with mandolins, they also made a florentine banjo.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 09:53 AM

This F35 is an acoustic flat top guitar.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 09:44 AM

F was the usual designation number for mandolins, it stands for ' florentine '

eric

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 08:49 AM

May I ask what a "Blue Book" is? Is it similar to a vehicle "Black Book"?

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 08:31 AM

Nope, Blue Book. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 07:47 AM

Mooh.
Did you find that information on the Net?

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:28 AM

The F-25 was produced from '63-'70 as part of the folksinger & gospel series, small body, spruce top, mahogany back/sides, reverse belly bridge, approximately 3350 made.

Don't know about the F-35.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 10:09 PM

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 10:06 PM

I promise I will keep you informed if I learn anything.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 10:01 PM

ah..you did the same service for me.
If you happen to find out anything interesting about the series, I'd really appreciate it if you'd post it (or a link) here so I can learn too?

Mine met an untimely end when an arsonistic jerk set a fire in it, but I'm still pretty curious as to why it was so hard to find any information on Hoot while I had it.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:39 PM

Wow!, thanks Melissa. You have now confirmed there is a "F" series. I haven't at this point researched to much as I'm busy with other things at this time.

Subject: RE: Gibson F35
From: Melissa
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:02 PM

I had an F25..and couldn't find it listed anywhere!
How lovely to hear of another F running loose in the world..

Looking mine up by serial number showed that it was worth about the same (a little bit less) as J45 from the same time.
Mine had a fuller sound than any other guitar I've played. The neck was wide and it was just a really good old guitar.

I loved mine.

Subject: Gibson F35
From: Beer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 08:32 PM

Has anyone heard of this model before? a friend of mine called and said he has the possibility of purchasing this model. I told him it must be a J35. But he insists it is an F35.
Beer (adrien)