For Sale: ‘64 Gibson F-25

[usefultree]

1964 Gibson F-25 Folksinger guitar on offer. Happy to catch you up on the F-25 guitar model's backstory if it's evaded you. 12 frets, 2" classical neck, Gibson cash-grab on the folk boom - that's the one. But if this guitar hooks you (or like me you cut your teeth playing "Down by the River" on your parent's dusty closet classical guitar before ever raising the coin for your own instrument, and wide necks are your happy place), you're a lifer.



Purchased at the Philly Guitar Show (back in its epic days) in May 2002. Provenance unknown re prior life. One of my missions on that trip was to scout for a backup F-25 for a 1968 sunburst F-25 I acquired in 1994 from Howard County Maryland guitar majordomo Bruce Casteel. The F-25 (between the '68 burst and this one) has been my primary tool of expression over two decades - from my mid90s days kopping (but largely failing at) the technique of Kottke, Renbourn, M. Simpson, playing coffeehouse gigs and festival parking lot jam sessions, to my regression to the opposite of technique- just finding the tonal core of something and going after it, working with whatever's in the fridge that day, you know.

Definitively player grade. Like Waffle House hashbrowns - checked, crazed, scuffed, nicked, seamed - which, of course, is all precisely what has accelerated its way to the Celestial Realm of Tone. The '64 looks like it was stored in the back of a pickup truck for two decades - the bridge and fretboard are sunbleached - and looks and sounds like it was played thousands of hours. Action came iced, with a low saddle. After purchase DC/ MD repairman extraordinaire Mike Dove compensated and recut the saddle for better intonation (F-25s infamously retain the straight saddle of the model's classical guitar reference shape) - it's all otherwise utterly original AFAIK and as assessed by several techs and luthiers. The F-25 pickguard decals (which some confuse with flamenco tap plates b/c they look like them) removed before my watch - for a clean natural all-wood look.

I've never heard another F-25 like this. It's beyond the 12 fret sweet spot sound - which def. is a variable though. To my ears (and those who've heard it), it has the magic trebles and natural reverb of a mid 40s Gibson, a blend of 2nd and 3rd order overtones that comes only with old wood and old finish. The notes spring out. I'd contend its early days use - its era of unknown provenance - acted as a de facto torrefication/thermo-curing - and yielded its nonpareil tone.

Indie heroes Jeff Tweedy, Robyn Hitchcock, Damien Jurado, and Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) notably have all toured or recorded with a natural-top F-25 over the last two decades.

The 14.25” lower bout and 24.6” scale length make this a very easy player.

Soundclips - straight to iPhone mic from 2'. Faults are the archer not the arrow - but I think they communicate what's magical about this particular F-25 --- the inherent reverb, the 2d and 3d order harmonics intermixing, the shape of the trebs.

https://soundcloud.com/usefultree/ten-masts

https://soundcloud.com/usefultree/s-...he-old-guitars

excels as a campfire strummer - i’ll get something up on that count shortly.

(n.b. for some a/b testing - my '68 burst F-25 here: https://soundcloud.com/branyoner/vix1vftqs6pf - imho the '68 yields more volume and clarity, but much less harmonically interesting than the '64 and has little to no overtone blend).

Currently strung with Stringjoy natural lights. I honestly would be happy going back D'addario lights on this instr. - the Stringjoys to my ear aren't as game changing on the '64 as they are on my '68. I've had this in the shop for an annual checkup every year since 2002 save the first pandemic year when it was impossible to get on a repairman's calendar - and just passed muster at Austin Vintage Guitar's repair bench.

$2300 net to me. Ships from 78745 - if that's local to you I'd be glad to arrange an audition. Includes a simple but very serviceable classical guitar case --- one of those Made in Canada brown cases ubiquitous in the 90s - that I currently use for the '68. ca. 2017 I commissioned a custom-fit carbon fiber Hoffee case (~$1300) that I've used for the '64. I'm planning on using it for the '68 now - though if you're intested lmk and maybe we can find a handshake that motivates both of us.

[MBee]

Wow! That guitar sounds remarkable on your recordings.

[Fatfinger McGee]

I’ve got a 1963 F-25. Mine holds its own against any small body Gibson I’ve played. You can really dig in too, it’s loud as heck and doesn’t break up when strummed hard.

[usefultree]

now xposted (and scaled up for fees) on reverb ---- likely last bring^up^my^post^ by my own lights here for the duration _ https://reverb.com/shop/branyons-gear-locker

[usefultree]

Originally Posted by usefultree

now xposted (and scaled up for fees) on reverb ---- likely last bring^up^my^post^ by my own lights here for the duration _ https://reverb.com/shop/branyons-gear-locker

slipped to ~2K net to me ftw

[usefultree]

reverb reset w/ a touch of OBRO maneuver room

[usefultree]

reverb reset slightly south, and on vacation hold til 25th - actually more to do with the arctic weather pattern touching even central texas thurs-sat than any vacating, and not wanting to be on the hook for shipping in those conditions.

also some soundcloud clips of this instr. to the front. first two in FS, the last skip to 3.48 (unless you have an ear for banjo) for a few moments in campfire kumbaya mode ~

https://soundcloud.com/usefultree/ten-masts

https://soundcloud.com/usefultree/s-...he-old-guitars

https://soundcloud.com/usefultree/bu...the-freestater

[usefultree]

back from vacation hold - and hope this finds all well after the wx week.

only motivating here b/c hustling the coin to get a custom commission in under a maker’s 2021 price list - i’m sacrificing the best of ‘em. imho this f-25 is a rare 60s gibson that has the voice of 40s kits i’ve played.