Press Releases
GIBSON UNVEILS FIRST-EVER SIERRA HULL SIGNATURE MANDOLINS – F-5 MASTER MODEL ANDF-5G NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON GIBSON.COM
| Since 1894, Gibson has defined the sound of music, beginning with Orville Gibson’s pioneering carved-top mandolins. Today, over 130 years later, that same innovative design—renowned for its quality, durability, and playability—remains at the core of every Gibson instrument. In celebration of this legacy—and in a historic first—Gibson is proud to honor two-time GRAMMY®-nominated mandolin virtuoso, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Sierra Hull as the first female artist to receive a signature Gibson mandolin. Today, Gibson Custom unveils the Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model and F-5G mandolins, available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers, Gibson Garage locations and on www.gibson.com. Both the Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model and F-5G mandolin models feature a distinctive Sierra Burst VOS Varnish finish and include exclusive case candy, reflecting the artistry and innovation of a trailblazing musician who continues to redefine the mandolin and bluegrass landscape. On October 16 at 11:00 AM CT, Sierra Hull will celebrate the release of her very first signature Gibson mandolin models LIVE at the Gibson Garage Nashville. She will take the Garage stage for a special live performance, followed by an exclusive fan meet-and-greet and signing. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as space is limited for this intimate event. Stay up to date on the latest Gibson Garage Nashville happenings at @officialgibsongarage. |
| Sierra Hull stopped by the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville to meet the team and check on the creation of her F-5G and F-5 Master Model mandolins, watch HERE. Watch/share the interview with Sierra Hull, and listen to her play her new Gibson Custom F-5 Master model mandolin HERE. |
| Click on the image to play the video Explore the new Sierra Hull Gibson Custom F-5 Master Model and F5-G mandolins HERE, as well as the Epiphone Bluegrass Collection HERE. Read the full interview with Sierra Hull on the creation of her new F-5G and F-5 Master Model mandolins from Gibson Custom on the Gibson Gazette HERE. “We spent about two years talking and dreaming about what these mandolins would become,” says Sierra Hull. “This was the first time I’ve gotten to see the process of building mandolins up close and personal, which has been such a beautiful and fun thing to witness. To see these mandolins go from simply a piece of wood to the final product of an amazing instrument is kind of mind-blowing. I’ve never been one to know a lot about the ins and outs of wood types, or real specs of instruments, but I am really connected to what I feel and hear from an instrument—even if I don’t always have the language to discuss it. I’ve learned, and continue to learn, a lot about this tiny instrument I love so much through this process. It’s been so fun.” “Sierra Hull is one of the most gifted mandolin players and singer-songwriters of our time,” says Mat Koehler, Vice President of Product at Gibson. “She has redefined what’s possible on the mandolin and across the many genres she explores. Her signature models reflect her passion for the instrument and her uncompromising approach to tone and feel. Each one is built with pride, authenticity, and soul at the Gibson Custom Shop, and we’re honored to have worked with Sierra to bring them to life.” “Sierra’s music transcends traditional bluegrass – she strikes a beautiful balance between old-time sounds and contemporary Americana, pioneering and shaping the sound of modern acoustic music and inspiring a whole new generation of music lovers,” adds Codey Allen, Gibson Cultural Influence-North America. “Sierra has inspired all of us at Gibson, and it has been a joy to share the creative process with her. She has poured so much time, love, and attention into every detail of her signature mandolins, and we are grateful to share in this celebration of her art.” Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model mandolin: |
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| Gibson Custom Sierra Hull Master Model Mandolin Gibson Custom is proud to introduce the Sierra Hull Master Model Mandolin, which is built to the exact specifications of her original F-5 Master Model mandolin. F-5 Master Model mandolins are the gold standard in the world of mandolins in terms of tone, playability, and beauty, and the Sierra Hull Master Model Mandolin continues that long and illustrious tradition. It features an F-style body with a multi-ply bound eastern curly maple back and multi-ply bound carved red spruce top, a Sierra Burst VOS varnish finish, an eastern slab curly maple neck with Sierra’s custom narrow neck profile and an ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays, and a custom engraved truss rod cover with a reproduction of her signature and a tailpiece cover that also bears her initials. It is equipped with reproduction of her signature, and a tailpiece cover that also bears her initials. It is equipped with silver-plated hardware, including Waverly silver machine heads, and comes with a certificate of authenticity, a Sierra Hull BlueChip pick, a pack of stickers, and a custom paisley leather strap, and it is all packaged in a vintage replica mandolin case. |
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| Gibson Custom Sierra Hull Master Model Mandolin Sierra Hull F-5G mandolin: |
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Gibson Custom Sierra Hull F-5G mandolin Gibson Custom is proud to introduce the Sierra Hull F-5G mandolin, an impressive yet accessible mandolin built on the Gibson F-5G mandolin platform with customizations specified directly by Sierra Hull. It features a two-piece, quarter-sawn figured red maple body with a multi-ply celluloid nitrate bound, carved solid Sitka spruce top, and flat-sawn figured red maple sides. The Sierra Hull F-5G is finished with a real, hand-applied VOS varnish finish in a Sierra Burst color, a first for the F-5G platform. The figured red maple neck has an ebony fretboard equipped with 20 medium frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl dot inlays. The Historic scroll headstock is equipped with Grover® tuning machines, a mother-of-pearl nut, and “The Gibson” logo and Flowerpot adorning it are also inlaid in mother of pearl. The bridge is ebony, and the hardware is nickel, including the nickel-plated tailpiece cover, which is engraved with “The Gibson” and Sierra Hull’s initials. The Sierra Hull F-5G comes with a certificate of authenticity and a Sierra Hull BlueChip pick and is packed in a hardshell mandolin case to help keep it safe when traveling. |
| Gibson Custom Sierra Hull F-5G mandolin |
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| Sierra Hull (L-R) with her Gibson Custom F-5G and F-5 Master Model mandolins. Sierra is also the only woman to have been nominated for, let alone win, seven International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) “Mandolin Player of the Year” awards, Sierra Hull is renowned for her exceptional technical proficiency and genre-bending musical style. Sierra started playing mandolin at age eight, and by age 10, made her Grand Ole Opry debut. Her fusion of bluegrass, Americana, folk, jazz, and modern progressive acoustic music attracted the attention of other highly skilled bluegrass musicians, and she has collaborated with and received accolades from Eric Clapton, Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, Cory Wong, Billy Strings, Dave Matthews, Bill Kreutzmann, Sturgill, Simpson Gillian Welch, Béla Fleck, and Alison Krauss. Hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, Hull’s innovative sound is deeply rooted in bluegrass yet continually pushes boundaries. After releasing her debut album, Secrets (2008), Sierra followed with other critically acclaimed albums, Daybreak (2011), Weighted Mind (2016), and 25 Trips (2020), which cemented her place as one of the most innovative musicians in contemporary bluegrass and acoustic music today. Marking her first album in five years, the new A Tip Toe High Wire is a nod to her modern musical juggling act, delving into new, progressive territory without wandering too far from her roots. Self-produced with longtime friend and engineer Shani Gandhi, A Tip Toe High Wire features her skilled and seasoned touring band—Shaun Richardson (guitar), Avery Merritt (fiddle), Erik Coveney (bass), and Mark Raudabaugh (drums)but it’s also her first album to be released independently. Listen to A Tip Toe High Wire, the new album from Sierra Hull, HERE. Hull has performed on iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House, and she continues to delight and inspire audiences worldwide with her innovative artistry. Hull recently wrapped a run of Outlaw dates performing alongside Billy Strings, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson. Catch Sierra on tour throughout 2025 and 2026 in major cities and at festivals, see all Sierra Hull tour dates: https://www.sierrahull.com/tour. Sierra Hull’s tour dates are as follows: DATE VENUE CITYOct 30 – Hulaween 2025 *Sierra w/ The Infamous Stringdusters – Live Oak, FLOct 7 – Sierra Hull & John Craigie Northeast Autumn Tour – Annapolis, MDOct 8 – Sierra Hull & John Craigie Northeast Autumn Tour – Alexandria, VAOct 9 – Sierra Hull & John Craigie Northeast Autumn Tour – Tarrytown, NY Oct 10 – Sierra Hull & John Craigie Northeast Autumn Tour – State College, PAOct 11 – Sierra Hull & John Craigie Northeast Autumn Tour – Phoenixville, PAOct 25 – Riverpark – Hillsborough, NCNov 13 – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UTNov 14 – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UTNov 15 – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UTNov 16 – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UTDec 6 – Sierra w/ Allman Betts Family Revival – New York, NY Dec 20 – Sierra w/ Allman Betts Family Revival – Los Angeles, CADec 21 – Sierra w/ Allman Betts Family Revival – San Francisco, CAJan 20 – Panic En La Playa Trece 2025 – Maya Riviera, Mexico |
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| Sierra Hull pictured with her new Gibson Custom F-5 Master Model mandolin |
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