Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 01/21/2011:  09:25:06

I had nearly forgotten I own one. Haven't seen another. Called Washburn and learned it was a short run (3-30 instruments, in 2004) All maple. Thin top and light weight.. Sound rivals my other mandolins. Likely a protype. "Washburn" said it was a superior and more costly instrument than the present line. Maybe that's why there are no more. Just wondering if anyone else has one and knows more, or doesn't know what they have. There certainly aren't many.

Edited by - Buttonwood Bob on 01/22/2011 18:31:12

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 03/02/2011:  06:27:49

Before this string leaves us, I hope someone comes across Washburn M12F. Since I posted this, I've been playing it about half the time, and I'm beginning to think it sounds the best of all my mandolins. If you get one, you won't be disappointed, and likely, the price will be right. Just think...you and I could possibly have two out of three that were made. ;-) Thanks all for the looking.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 06/08/2011:  10:32:32

Since emailing is so easy these days, I wrote Washburn again...Call it looking for a second opinion. :-)  I got a reply yesterday, as follows:  "This would be a model only available in 2004.  The original MSRP was $699.99.  Thanks and best regards. US Music Corp.  I mentioned I had no intention of selling it, and was not looking for an appraisal.  I hope some other folks run across one of these mandolins for a good price.  You'll be glad you found one. 

mooseandfiddle - Posted - 09/07/2011:  10:16:12

Hey i just purchased a washburn m12f and came across this thread when looking for information about it.  It is in really good condition.  I am interested in learning more about it if anyone knows anything.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 09/18/2011:  07:19:06

Moose Fid,  Proud of you.  Actually, the pretty wood sold me before I learned it sounded nicely.  The folks at Washburn said it was a short run.  I'm guessing that it is a good instrument that Washburn decided cost more than the market would bear.  I don't know, really.  If you got yours for a good price, as I did, we done (sic) good.

Edited by - Buttonwood Bob on 09/18/2011 07:20:51

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 10/11/2011:  07:13:03

Moose, Are you still there somewhere? It just occurred to me that our Serial numbers might tell us something, e.g. how many M12f's separate out numbers. My Serial number is: YBO4070129. Yours?

fertilegrass - Posted - 12/20/2011:  03:40:23

I just purchased a Washburn M12F this past week. I am pretty impressed with it. My Model # is YB04070048. 

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 01/11/2012:  07:19:27

Yea team!  Good for you.  I have checked back here occasionally, and had just about given up that anyone else had one.  Seems there are more than I had previously gleaned.  The Washburn fellow who answered my questions, implied there were 30 or less.  I assume there were more.  My  M12F, for example,  is ...70129.  I hope yours is as pretty as mine.  I bought it from a picture largely due to the attractiveness of the wood.  Little, by by little as I played it, I became aware that it sounds as good or better than my other mandolins.  

mandolin boy - Posted - 01/16/2012:  16:09:07

There is one on cafe .

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 01/18/2012:  12:05:38

"When it rains, it pours."  I looked, and again, it is pretty.  Mine sound great.  Great also, I paid less than $600.  Can't complain about the price going up.  I have found no need and  have no desire to sell mine, however.  Thanks for telling me about this nice instrument.  The seller said Washburn sold ~30., before discontinuing them.  That's what I was told.  I suspect there are more than 30 out there, but not a whole lot more.  

Edited by - Buttonwood Bob on 01/18/2012 12:18:34

mandolin boy - Posted - 01/18/2012:  15:48:57

I would like to trade for 1

cryo - Posted - 02/11/2012:  01:13:57

Please post photos. Would love to see what kind of shape yours are in.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 06/25/2012:  17:30:34

Cyro, I can't believe it has been four months since I checked this string.  I remember taking a few pictures, and with the attached being the best, you can imagine what the worst looked like.

zeke1731 - Posted - 07/24/2012:  22:14:29

Bob, my wife has an M12F, s/n yb04070104. It has been repaired where the neck attaches to the body. It is not very noticeable, and doesn't seem to affect the sound quality at all. She may be looking to sell it, but wasn't sure of the value. I noticed that you posted that Washburn sold it for 699.99 new. Any idea what fair market value is? She has found a possible buyer, but sale price has yet to be discussed. Any info that you can give would be greatly appreciated.

zeke1731 - Posted - 07/24/2012:  23:08:44

Bob, thought that I would include a couple of pictures. It has great zebra striping with good contrast.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 07/25/2012:  06:26:55

Zeke,
Thanks for the news. The M12F was a short run, so the man at Washburn told me. He said, "3-30". Yours is 25 before mine. Fertlegrass, above, mas number 48. We are up from that? Who knows? I just figured that Washburn got a run that they decided would cost more than the market would pay. That's guessing. I bought mine for a "good" price (I don't remember) but I went for it because of the price and the pretty wood. It turned out to be a nice instrument. I won't speculate on what one is worth in good condition. There are a lot of good $700 mandolins available these days. I definitely didn't pay that much for my M12F. Washburn is better known and respected for their guitars. Is your wife looking to trade up to one of those implied above? It will be hard to find a mandolin that sounds any better without breaking the bank, IMO.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 07/25/2012:  06:32:42

I enlarged your pictures.  Yep...just like mine.  That pretty wood pattern caught my attention, and I went for it.  For a long time, I  didn't hear from anyone else that was enticed. :-)  There appears to be three of us, anyway.

I got a nice Gator case, too.  I don't plan to sell mine, even though I have six more than I can play at one time.

zeke1731 - Posted - 07/25/2012:  11:01:33

Bob, unfortunately we are just looking to sell it. Robyn is starting to develop arthritis in her hands, and it is too uncomfortable for her to play it. With the repair work, we were thinking that $300.00 might be a fair price. We just don't know how much it affects the value. I would also love to see any pictures that you have of your mandola and other mandolins that you own.  Zeke

Edited by - zeke1731 on 07/25/2012 11:04:47

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 07/27/2012:  08:58:17

Zeke, I just learned there is a limit to how many pictures you can post at one time. Reasonable. My avatar shows my Flat Iron mandola. Good luck selling your M12F. I hope it gets an appreciative home. My M12F pictures don't do i justice. The little A style mandolin is a good sounding, fun...mystery. I forgot the bridge was where it is in this old picture. It has since been replace and properly placed.