1923 Gibson "Lloyd Loar" F-5 Mandolin-HOLY GRAIL ALERT! The Stradivarius of the Mandolin

Storied Sounds, Episode 5
Ever wonder what six figures+ sounds like? Wonder no more! This one lives up to the hype in every way; Reed might have even shed a little tear in his car on the way to returning this gorgeous specimen to its generous owner. You really have to play something like this to truly get it, but this video will get you as close as possible.
Demo is Huckleberry's Hope, written by Reed Jones and recorded by Audie Blaylock and Redline ft. Ronnie McCoury. Find it here:
open.spotify.com/album/40Jq8J...
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Thanks to Quist for the backing track used in the intro.

[@tomellis1857]

I replaced a broken pearl tuner button on this mandolin about 30 yrs ago. Its a great sounding mandolin

[@mandograssable]

Wayne Henderson made me a copy of the Loar in 1978. He had taken a Loar apart before and got all the measurements. He made a few mandolins in the beginning and even put The Gibson on the headstock with an original Gibson tailpiece cover. He even put the Gibson stickers on them for the inside and signed Loars signature and it looked identical. My Henderson with the Gibson headstock is the last one with Gibson on it. He did put a sticker inside of mine saying it is a copy of a Gibson made by Wayne Henderson. The rest of the mandolins he made he put his name on. I have played 4 Loars in my career and my mandolin sounds as good or better than any of them. It has the chunkiest chop you have ever heard. I have had people come all the way across a field at a festival and say what kind of mandolin are you playing? Don't get me wrong, I love Loars, but I love mine just as well and it only cost me 750 dollars in 1978. The Loar in this video looks and sounds great.

[@flatlander6734]

Immediately before watching this, I watched a video interview of Bill Monroe, who stated that he bought the Loar in Florida in 1941. Not 1945.

[@waltmarchant5255]

Really enjoyed this video. In my experience, the Loar mandolins cannot be appreciated unless you are fortunate enough to play one. I had the opportunity in 1977 & 1978 to play one of these instruments, when I was studying classical mandolin, and playing in the Baltimore mandolin Orchestra. The first time my mandolin teacher handed me his mandolin to use for my lesson, it was a religious experience. That instrument seemed to play itself. He bought his Gibson F5 new in 1924 (or 1923). He played it for more than 50 years before I was able to touch it. It was perfect every in imaginable way. I'll never forget the tone, or ease with which it was played. All these years later, that experience feels like it was yesterday. Your description of the Lloyd Loar F5 is a fitting tribute. It really is the Stradivarius of mandolins. Thank you.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Man those Loar ‘ Mandolins seem to all have the same beautiful tone- some bit louder/ more punch, but everyone incredible. David Apollon’ I believe acquired his Loar’ F-5 before Monroe? Great historical run-down on the Mandolin and Gibson’s early history. Austin Clark’ in Boise Idaho builds incredible F-5s. I played one of his at his shop- A Monster. I love my Elk horn’ F-5 Fern- and I didn’t have to sell the house!

[@deblane401]

The Verzi was invented by The Verzi Brothers. Loar worked for them before Gibson and her bought the rights to the Virzi disk,

[@davidsims1329]

That is a sweet sounding mandolin

[@robertshorthill4153]

Man, I've got to invent a time machine to take me back to 1924 so I can pick up a dozen or so of those F- 5 mandos, bring 'em back to present day and assure my retirement fund. A time machine would probably be outta the picture these days, alas. Too bad, so sad. I can see why that Loar in the case could bring 6+ figures. Man, she's a beauty.

[@peterjames2580]

Wonderful! Thanks do much for the sharing this mandolin. I have played only one Loar F-5 but they are a treasure!

[@adamzimmerman9459]

great video, what a wonderful instrument, thanks for posting these

[@darylcrisp1863]

awesome story, content, and playing. thank you for your time and effort to bring these swell cool episodes to us. loved the Gibson L00(1st episode)!!

[@b.k.nicholsonanddesperado7359]

Nice job! Appreciate the comments about Loars/musicians needing or not needing to have one, yet still acknowledging the differences. That one is special!

[@user-fz2jk1vm1s]

Play more! This was your chance to show what the thing could do. Thanks.

[@johndenniston5092]

Great description of high end instruments such as that particular Loar. I found your presentation and playing to be excellant!

[@Heavydutyrocknroll]

Man I'm so glad to have found your channel thanks to the video you did with Russ Carson. That is a fine example of a Lloyd Lost thank you for sharing that with us!

[@JacobHeadMusic]

Such a great presentation and demonstration. You definitely have to appreciate the history behind one of those.

[@Mason_Wright]

I honestly didn’t know that much about Loar’s. Now I do!

[@fractuss]

Nice shirt.

[@GregRearranger]

I was lucky enough to play Grisman's Loar at Merlefest in the late 90's or early 2000's. I was a stage manager and he thought I was a musician....he handed it to me and I strummed it - he immediately knew I was not a mando player, but I have the story forever :)

[@f5mando]

Great review, Reed, and I really dig the Huckleberry's Hope. -Ronnie nailed it, but you played the melody on mando!