2007 Duff F5
Paul Duff is a highly regarded Australian luthier whose mandolin-building career began in the early 1980s. After discovering bluegrass Duff learned to play the mandolin, but the frustrations brought on by the inexpensive instruments that were locally available led him to building an F5 of his own. He quickly became passionate about the craft and now, over four decades on, he remains devoted to handcrafting mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos and archtop guitars with a traditional, hands-on approach. Duff’s instruments, rooted in the aesthetics and tone of the 1920s “Loar period,” are known for their meticulous workmanship and musicality.
This Duff F5 features an X braced Adirondack spruce top and a highly figured one-piece red maple back with sides that match. The highly figured maple neck is player-friendly with its Speed Neck finish (or lack thereof), scooped fretboard extension, and radiused fretboard. Its original abbreviated pickguard is in the case pocket. The instrument features a hand-rubbed Cremona sunburst stain and a thin French polish spirit varnish finish that’s aging quite attractively. Pearl headstock inlays and nut, Loar F5 style appointments, SM Golden Age tuners with ivoroid buttons, adjustable bridge and engraved, silver-plated James tailpiece.
An exceptional F5 by any measure, this Duff is sensitively built with X bracing to bring out more complexity, overtones, and bass-end presence than the more-common tone-bar built F-5, which tends to be dryer, more forward, less bassy, and usually has a bit more cut. As such, solo players and those who value a richer and more complex musicality will find a lot of favour in this Duff F5. It’s quite a beguiling instrument that is dynamically responsive to right hand energy and attack.
The instrument remains in excellent condition and is well set-up. There is light playwear to its very thin finish, but no areas of excessive finish damage. It looks pretty and has aged well. No repairs or modifications.
V-carved neck with 1-3/32” nut.
With original Presto Fiberglass case.
This Duff F5 features an X braced Adirondack spruce top and a highly figured one-piece red maple back with sides that match. The highly figured maple neck is player-friendly with its Speed Neck finish (or lack thereof), scooped fretboard extension, and radiused fretboard. Its original abbreviated pickguard is in the case pocket. The instrument features a hand-rubbed Cremona sunburst stain and a thin French polish spirit varnish finish that’s aging quite attractively. Pearl headstock inlays and nut, Loar F5 style appointments, SM Golden Age tuners with ivoroid buttons, adjustable bridge and engraved, silver-plated James tailpiece.
An exceptional F5 by any measure, this Duff is sensitively built with X bracing to bring out more complexity, overtones, and bass-end presence than the more-common tone-bar built F-5, which tends to be dryer, more forward, less bassy, and usually has a bit more cut. As such, solo players and those who value a richer and more complex musicality will find a lot of favour in this Duff F5. It’s quite a beguiling instrument that is dynamically responsive to right hand energy and attack.
The instrument remains in excellent condition and is well set-up. There is light playwear to its very thin finish, but no areas of excessive finish damage. It looks pretty and has aged well. No repairs or modifications.
V-carved neck with 1-3/32” nut.
With original Presto Fiberglass case.