Here we’re looking at a Capek F5 Professional mandolin built by Rost’a Capek during July of 2003 in Prague, Czech Republic. Capek offers several versions of the F5 style; the Basic is relatively simple, while the Professional uses highly figured woods and more elaborate inlays.

The Capek F5 Professional uses the well proven design by Lloyd Loar as a development of the F style invented by Orville Gibson in 1902. Gibson’s breakthrough was to merge mandolin and guitar concepts with violin family construction. The results were so dramatically better that traditional European mandolin designs were almost instantly obsolete.

The top is solid Spruce, the back is solid Curly Maple, both hand carved; the sides and neck are also Curly Maple. The bridge, head plate and bound fingerboard are Ebony. Position markers are Mother of Pearl dots, and the headstock has a very nice traditional torch inlay in Abalone and Mother of Pearl. The truss rod cover is a solid piece of Mother of Pearl, inlaid with Abalone. The Capek logo is Mother of Pearl. The tuners are gold coloured with pearlescent buttons and are very smooth; the tailpiece is also gold coloured and engraved.

We have previously had a Basic model, from a visit by Rost’a Capek and his wife, who live and work in Prague, Czech Republic. Capek has been building instruments – primarily banjos and mandolin family members – for bluegrass and jazz players for over 36 years. Given the long history of European craftsmanship, it’s great to see these instruments making it to North America.

This Capek F5 Professional Mandolin model is impressive. The build quality is very high and the instrument sounds great and plays extremely well. This mandolin is over twenty years old and has some natural lacquer checking and light play wear.

Includes the original hardshell case.

Capek F5 Professional Features:

• Neck: Maple neck with bound ebony fingerboard.
• Frets: 23 Narrow mandolin frets.
• Body: This mandolin uses the classic F-style scroll body, with carved spruce top, curly maple sides, and carved highly curled maple back.
• Gold plated, Engraved tailpiece, open tuners with pearlescent buttons.