Federal agents search Gibson Guitar factory in Memphis

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee ^ | Posted August 24, 2011 at 1:06 p.m. | Kevin McKenzie

[Scoutmaster]

If I remember correctly, Loar stopped working just prior to 1923.

Actually, Loar worked for Gibson until 1924. Source. Here's a video of a 1924 Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson, and here's an article on the sale at auction of a 1924 Gibson Lloyd Loar.

Bill Monroe's famous Gibson F-5 mandolin, which I pictured above, was a 1923 Lloyd Loar. Source.

Mandolin Brothers, on Staten Island, is one of the world's largest dealers in stringed instruments. (I try not to go to Nashville without paying a visit to Gruhn Guitars, or to New York without taking the ferry over to SI so I can visit Mandolin Brothers). Stan Jay is the owner. Nice guy who (if I remember the story) got his start answering a newspaper classified ad to buy a mandolin. Turned out it was a Lloyd Loar that needed work and the woman had a matching Lloyd Loar mandola. He bought both and sold the mandola to start his business. He has a 1924 Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 Master for sale right now.

[Scoutmaster]

I believe the 1923 F-5 Lloyd Loar Gibsons are worth more than the 1924 models. In 1924, Gibson installed something called a “Virzi Tone Producer” in the F-5 mandolin. The 1923, without the Virzi, is supposed to have a better tone.

[McGruff]

In a related matter Gibson Guitars announces that they’ll be moving to China.

And the Greenies will wonder why.

[goat granny]

Thanks loads for the links. Very interesting...I don't play any instrument but my son-in-law told me if I ever see anything by Gibson buy it...He collects guitars and is self taught just like my granddaughter...(no talent for me :O( I am going to send her the links, I think she will love it..She's a graduate from U of M with a Fine Arts degree. That mandolin is never out of her sight she says....My son-in-law got it from me as a birthday present but my granddaughter latched onto it and plays beautifully...It has numbers on the sticker inside the mandolin but I don't remember too much as it has been a couple of years since I bought it...I do remember it was made in Kalamazoo, 1923 and I think one of the numbers was A 1 I think when I send her the links I am going to ask her to send me all the info from the mandolin....Great price 80.00 with case. He was asking 100 and said will you take 80 and he said sure.....Thanks again for the links...GG