A remake of an unproduced classic Gibson now has the stamp of one of bluegrass' finest.
The Gibson Inspired By Sam Bush Limited Edition '34 Fern Mandolin is based on an F5 Fern mandolin that appeared in Gibson's 1934 catalog. While the original mandolin was never produced, that didn't stop legendary American newgrass artist Sam Bush from falling in love with its design. With the help of Gibson master luthier David Harvey, the Sam Bush-inspired Limited Edition '34 Fern Mandolin has finally come to life.
This mandolin features many of the same appointments as the instrument depicted in the 1934 catalog, including the figured maple body chassis with a red spruce top, the mother-of-pearl block fingerboard inlays and the Fern peghead inlay made from genuine abalone pearl. The instrument's stunning nitro-cellulose lacquer finish—painted in a '30s Iced Tea burst color—is also faithfully recreated, giving the instrument its alluring vintage patina.
But Gibson wouldn't be calling this a Sam Bush Inspired mandolin if it didn't have Bush's personal touch. Starting with its figured maple neck, the new Inspired By Sam Bush '34 Fern features the wider, radiused fingerboard favored by Bush, along with the large fret wire that is his personal preference—all honed to Bush's exact specs. The ebony fingerboard also features a jazz "bird's beak" fingerboard end that ensures pick clearance.
Each Gibson Inspired By '34 Fern Mandolin is personally inspected, played, and has the inside labels signed by Bush to ensure his individual approval of every instrument. His signature also graces the back of each peghead, and each mandolin has a special certificate of authenticity, a picture of Sam with each mandolin and a Case Notes diary with comments about each mandolin personally written by Sam.
The mandolin body is built on a timeless Florentine-style design, offering crisp, focused projection right out of the box. The top is red spruce giving incredible Gibson tone in a simple, unembellished package. The solid flamed maple body and neck provide strong sustain, with a natural veneer.
The ebony fingerboard and adjustable bridge produce crisp, clean notes across the mandolin's 20 frets, while the 1-3/16" nut width and 13-29/32" scale add comfort for those barn-burnin' solos. The gold Grover tuners keep the Gibson Sam Bush 1934 Mandolin in tune. Other simple but beautiful appointments include a rounded V-neck, dovetail neckjoint, and a nitrocellulose lacquer finish.
