Randy Wood F-5 Master Model 1998
1998 Randy Wood F-5 Master Model Supreme. If you were to persuade Randy Wood to build one of his varnish finish Master Model Supremes for you (which is now custom order only at $16,000) and played it hard five nights a week in a bar, beating the treble f-hole against an SM58 microphone, and then performing a set at a festival on Saturday afternoon and then jamming that night until daybreak Sunday morning…and kept this up for 22 years…then you would have a mandolin that sounded like this. Or you could just buy this one.
Many people recognize Randy Wood as the father of the F-5 copy; his first three mandolins are legends in their own right. They were built a half century ago and played on stage and in the studio by Red Henry, Roland White and Bill Monroe, respectively. No one has more experience repairing and restoring old mandolins than Randy Wood, and in those endeavors he has unlocked the secrets of what makes great mandolins sound great. Today, he continues to bring that knowledge to every instrument he makes. The characteristic tone of this well seasoned mandolin is exactly what Bluegrass players want: deep, rich on the bottom; coarse and woody in the mid-range and bell-like projection on the high end. Volume? This mandolin takes a back seat to no other instrument in the band, not even the most volatile Mastertone banjo. if you can imagine Outlaw Josey Wales, The Terminator and the cop from Die Hard all rolled up into a mandolin, this is what it would sound like.
Every aspect of this mandolin except the tuning machines was hand-built by Randy Wood in his shop in Savannah, Georgia early in 1998. It was originally sold by Mandolin Central to a great player who unfortunately is now retired. Features include Adirondack spruce top; well figured hard maple back sides and neck; engraved scroll peghead logo and flowerpot; ebony compound radius fingerboard with .10 width fret wire; custom made ebony bridge; Randy’s own patented brass tailpiece; Gotoh tuners; and 1923-style Cremona varnish finish. Neck width is 1 3/16 inch at the bone nut and 1 1/2 at the 12th fret. Original Calton case included. Play wear? You betcha. But just the right kind of play wear. Structurally, this mandolin is as solid as a rock and is ready for another quarter century of getting it done! Now available for $9,500, which includes free UPS shipping in the continental US and shared cost for many overseas destinations.