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Late 50s maple F20 shadetop ...
- Thread starter Larsonguy
- Start date
Larsonguy,
I have a 57 Maple F20, it's a fantastic little guitar, much louder & articulate than any other F20 I've played. I love it. Best my memory serves, the maple laminate models were manufactured in 55, 56 & 57, changing in 58 to solid mahogany bodies. The early maple models generally fetch significantly higher prices.
They're not particualrly tough guitars, mine needed a lot of work: neck set, frets, bridge reglued, new bridgeplate & a lot of cosmetic work. Worth every penny & I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Mine has a narrow slim neck,
1 5/8 nut & short scale, neck feels sort of like a violin neck. Hard shell factory cases were rarely included with these little gems & are a bit difficult to find, somewhere in LTG archives are threads discussing new case availability from independent case mgrs.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
My experience
I have a 57 Maple F20, it's a fantastic little guitar, much louder & articulate than any other F20 I've played. I love it. Best my memory serves, the maple laminate models were manufactured in 55, 56 & 57, changing in 58 to solid mahogany bodies. The early maple models generally fetch significantly higher prices.
They're not particualrly tough guitars, mine needed a lot of work: neck set, frets, bridge reglued, new bridgeplate & a lot of cosmetic work. Worth every penny & I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Mine has a narrow slim neck,
1 5/8 nut & short scale, neck feels sort of like a violin neck. Hard shell factory cases were rarely included with these little gems & are a bit difficult to find, somewhere in LTG archives are threads discussing new case availability from independent case mgrs.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
My experience
Thanks Jeff ... so they weren't solid maple? I wonder why? The one shown in the OP is available at Gruhn's .. listed as '57-'58.. for $2,250. That would seem pricey for a laminated guitar? See under miscellaneous flat-tops ..
http://www.gruhn.com/
http://www.gruhn.com/
Yep, maple laminate, I believe the were initially marketed a student guitars.
I visited Gruhn's shop in Nashville recently, I don't think I've ever seen a comparable inventory of vintage instruments. Truly impressive, but I suspect not the place for a bargain shopper to frequent.
Far as Gruhn's price goes, I suspect if a fella showed up there, with a pocket full of $100's he might be able to negotiate a little. Maybe not, F20's of this era, particularly those in good shape, needing no repairs, don't come around all that often.
My wife found mine in the local paper's classifieds about 9 years ago for $350 & gave it to me for Christmas. I've since invested over twice the purchase price in repairs, plus a ridicuolous price for a new case, all total I have close to 2K invested in mine. No regrets but not what I would consider a shrewd investment, not that it will ever be for sale. Gruhn's asking price makes me feel a little better.
I visited Gruhn's shop in Nashville recently, I don't think I've ever seen a comparable inventory of vintage instruments. Truly impressive, but I suspect not the place for a bargain shopper to frequent.
Far as Gruhn's price goes, I suspect if a fella showed up there, with a pocket full of $100's he might be able to negotiate a little. Maybe not, F20's of this era, particularly those in good shape, needing no repairs, don't come around all that often.
My wife found mine in the local paper's classifieds about 9 years ago for $350 & gave it to me for Christmas. I've since invested over twice the purchase price in repairs, plus a ridicuolous price for a new case, all total I have close to 2K invested in mine. No regrets but not what I would consider a shrewd investment, not that it will ever be for sale. Gruhn's asking price makes me feel a little better.
The use of laminate in the 1950s in no way indicates a "student" guitar. Beginning in 1955 Gibson J-200s were made with a laminate maple body. It cost Gibson more to make the laminate than to use solid wood as it required more wood and labor to produce.
I run across these old F20s every so often. I love the sound but unfortunately the narrow nut and skinny neck are deal killers.
I run across these old F20s every so often. I love the sound but unfortunately the narrow nut and skinny neck are deal killers.
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