* RETIRED SPRING 2006 *

Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments division joins forces with one of bluegrass' leading young mandolinists to create the Wayne Benson Signature mandolin. Based on the legendary F-5 scroll body design, the new model has a combination of distinctive cosmetic traits taken from Benson's specifications as well as suggestions from Gibson's luthiers, including a fingerboard without inlays to give it a "jazz" look, a Vintage Red Satin finish recreated from an historic F-4 model and an abalone fern headstock inlay like the F-5L "Fern."

The rich-looking mandolin has a spruce top with maple back and sides, Benson's signature in abalone at the 12th fret, gold-plated hardware, ivoroid tuners and truss rod cover, and a slightly smaller pickguard.