Review: Andrew Whale instruments

Subject: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 12:17 PM

I just wondered, anyone else out there own an instrument by the late Andrew Whale, Luthier. I've had a Parlour Guitar that he made for me ten years ago and I still love it. I've also got one of his Octave Mandolins. He also made Banjos, and Mandolins (and probably lots more besides)
Just wanted to know what other people thought of his instruments!

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: redsnapper
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 12:19 PM

The few I've played have certainly been good instruments.

RS

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 02:49 AM

A friend of mine plays a Whale octave mandolin, sounds wonderful.

Andrew was a well respected builder AND teacher of instrument building I believe.

eric

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,Paul Hollingworth
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:51 AM

I picked up an Andrew Whale 1994 flat top mandolin last weekend and found this site looking for information about the maker.
Although th einstrument is quite plain to look at (not a criticism - just a fact) it has really sweet tone and I am very pleased that I bought it!

Other than his address inside the mandolin and discovering he is now deceased I know nothing about Andrew Whale. Does anyone have further information?

Thanks

PH

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,Gordon Phillips
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 07:32 AM

Dear Andrew Whale. What a lovely man he was! He lived in Berry Pomeroy, Near Totnes in Devon.
I met him first him at the Sidmouth folk festival in August of 2000. He and I were playing at a music session in the Swan. As with many a session much beer was present and after swapping a few rounds we got into some happy banter. I liked him! We further got into a conversation about mandolins and I was telling him how I was looking for a particular carved top blond mandolin with a golden tone. It was then that Andrew told me he was in fact a luthier and had that very year made a mandolin, exactly as I had described. He said that he did not have the mandolin with him but that he would be at the Dartmoor folk festival the following week end, and he would take it there as he had a makers stall in the main tent. Andrew was as good as his word. We met on the Saturday morning and sure enough there was the most gorgeous birds-eye maple mandolin I had ever seen, being exactly the one of my imagining. Andrew and I renewed our friendship and he suggested I played the mandolin. After that invitation, ten strong men would have been hard pressed to stop me. The sound of the instrument was even better than it looked, which I confess was stunning! The whole tent went silent when I started to play and I know it was not down to my, only proficient playing style. At the time he for sale at £975. Although it was worth every penny, sadly I could not afford it. My disappointment must have been obvious but dear old Andrew let me pay £375 as a deposit and allowed me to pay the balance over the next three months. To my astonishment Andrew told me to take the mandolin with me as in his own words he said " I can see that you love it". An honorable man who expected and saw the same quality in others. What a guy.
We met up a couple of times after that but the most poinant was the following year when, he had another self made mandolin with him. Again it was at Sidmouth where he and his wife bumped into one another on the street. He asked if he could play my mandolin and let me try his new one. He wanted to see how the tone had developed and was well satisfied with the growing depth of tone. We sat on the kerb and chatted and played. It was then he told me of the cancer which sadly took away his life, talent, his care and great humanity from this world.
As I play, I still think of Andrew, with much gratitude and fondness.
Gordon.

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 04:31 PM

I never met Andrew but I was lucky enough to be able to buy one of his short scale tenor banjo's from the Music Rooms, it's a superb instrument.

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,ardea
Date: 12 Nov 14 - 05:05 AM

I have had a short scale tenor banjo from Andrew Whale for years It is absolutely a superb instrument , everyone admires it and I have offers to sell it to them. No way.   Unfortunately I do not do it justice and probabley should sell to a better player than me.

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 15 - 10:38 AM

Hello.
My name is Henk Heideveld, I live in Zwolle, the Netherlands I bought an irish bazouki from Andrew, made by him, when I met him at the festival in Sidmouth in 1997. The instrument is in a wonderfull state, almost new. I like to sell it. Serial number 109 , type: premiere.
My website with details of my adres, e-mail etc.
www.henkheideveld.nl

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,Oisin O'H
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 04:00 PM

Hi folks just to let you all know I have an Andrew Whale Mandolin for sale at the moment you can contact me at [e-mail]

Regards of the kindest :-) .

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 15 - 03:59 PM

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 04:25 PM

Hi, I have a friend who has an Andrew Whale Octave Mandolin. It is octave strung, She is looking to sell it. Could I ask how much you payed for the mandolin?

Subject: RE: Review: Andrew Whale instruments
From: GUEST,David Broom
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 05:17 AM

I have an Andrew Whale flat back mandolin. The label inside reads "Andrew Whale, Luthier, 14 Cumberworth Road, Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire" and is signed and dated "Sep 94". So I guess that is where he was living and/or working before he moved to Devon?