Description
Exc++ condition • 1-1/16″ nut
Flat F.B. • “V” profile Nk
This 1981 RL Givens F-5 mandolin, #250, is a fine example of his work. Great materials, craftsmanship, playability and tone. No repairs, no problems. There is barely any sign of use on the frets. This is a 43 year old mandolin that is in great shape – even the original finish is nice condition. The finish color is a very pretty Sienna sunburst.
Traditionally made, using domestic Hard Maple for the neck, back and sides, local Engelmann Spruce for the top. Rosewood peghead overlay; Ebony fingerboard and bridge.
The Rosewood peghead overlay is bound with single ivoroid. RL Givens script logo inlay at top, with Fern inlay in center. Original Gold Gotoh tuners with matching pearl buttons. Back of peghead is blackened, with “bee sting” point. Bone nut. Flat Ebony fingerboard has pearl dot inlays and a double-cut fingerboard extension. The F.B. is bound with ivoroid and shows a black accent line below the main binding, seen along the sides.
The body is in fine shape with no repairs or problems. Bob Givens sourced his Hard Maple from local hardwood purveyors, but he cut local Engelmann Spruce for his tops. Givens created a demand for his select Engelmann Spruce tops and he made a business of selling this high grade Spruce to quite a few other mandolin, guitar and violin builders over many years.
The body is bound with ivoroid showing a black accent line along the sides. Original handmade Ebony 2-pc adjustable bridge and original 2-pc tailpiece.
This is a fully handmade instrument with no outside parts except tuners and tailpiece; no pre-made parts, no CnC cutting. All items produced by Givens’ shop. The peghead overlay, the fingerboard, the bridge, the neck, the body – all produced by Mr Givens in a bygone era of handwork.
This particular mandolin stands out from many other RL Givens F-models from the 1970’s and early 1980’s. It stands out for how clean and unscathed it is, and it stands out for great tone and playability.
And… it comes in a Calton DeLuxe flight case.
