Gibson Honors Sierra Hull, First Female Artist to have Signature Gibson Mandolin
Gibson has shaped the sound of music since 1894, when Orville Gibson first designed and built mandolins in his workshop. 130 years on, the groundbreaking and forward-thinking carved top design that revolutionised the mandolin and guitar world, delivering a louder, more durable, more playable instrument, remains the DNA of every Gibson.
To honour this journey, Gibson is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking two-time GRAMMY®-nominated mandolin virtuoso, singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Sierra Hull, who is now the first-ever female artist to have a signature Gibson mandolin. On October 7, Gibson will debut the Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model and the Sierra Hull F-5G mandolins worldwide. Both mandolins will arrive in a Sierra Burst VOS Varnish finish and come with unique case candy in a package worthy of this trailblazing artist who has taken the mandolin and bluegrass communities by storm.
“We spent about two years talking and dreaming about what this mandolin would become,” says Hull. “The exciting thing for me is that the mandolin that I have played exclusively since 2009 was signed by Master Luthier David Harvey. It’s become my voice after so many years of playing it. Being able to work on this project with David personally gave me the confidence that we’d be able to achieve something unique, while still honoring the legacy and history of those beloved Master Model mandolins. It’s exciting and full circle to see these new mandolins with my name on them and his signature inside.
“When I finally played the prototype for the first time, I knew these instruments would be something that I could be proud of. They are hand-built with the highest level of quality by the team at Gibson—many folks who have worked there for years. Mandolins can also be very expensive. They take a lot of time and care to build right. If I’m going to put my name on something with that kind of price tag, it needs to be a great instrument and something long-lasting. I truly believe these mandolins are, and I’m really proud of that.”
“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.”
Explore the current Gibson mandolins HERE, as well as the Epiphone Bluegrass Collection HERE
Below is a first look of the Gibson Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model mandolin set for release worldwide on October 7th.
“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,” continues Hull. “To see a mandolin 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.”
Currently nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Mandolin Player of the Year,” Sierra is also the only woman to have been nominated for, let alone win, six International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) “Mandolin Player of the Year” awards, Sierra Hull is world-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 both in major cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, New York City, Nashville, and Portland, as well as the Earl Scruggs Festival, IBMA Bluegrass Live 2025, and the Bender Jamboree; see all Sierra Hull tour dates: https://www.sierrahull.com/tour
About Gibson:
Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, includingEpiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more atGibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, Twitter andFacebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London.
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Source: musicinstrumentnews.co.uk
