What mandolin do you play?

Subject: What mandolin do you play?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 01:21 AM

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Anahootz
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 01:36 AM

Larry Hughes #20
James Docy 10-17-2001
Silver Angel "Alma"
Former owner of Donaldson #68, now somewhere in Ohio.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: BlueSage
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 02:08 AM

I have four I use regularly.

-Older Flatiron F-5 Artist -Nugget A-5 -Flatiron Octave Mando (With heavier than normal strings and tuned down one whole step) -Schwab 5 string electric

Mike

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 02:19 AM

I'm not really sure! I inherited my mandolin from my Dad and he probably got it when he was at sea between the late twenties and the end of the 2nd world war. He more than likely swapped it for something else.
There are no ID markings on it but it is a flat backed, guitar shaped instrument with an oval sound hole. Around the sound hole and extending down to the bridge is a cream coloured plate with dark inlaid ornamentation. There is an ornate picture on the back of a woman in a flowing dress, sitting on a marble stool, playing a tambourine. There used to be an ebony bar screwed into the body across the strings, below the bridge (to increase the sound volume?) until I lost it when I was changing the strings.
I have had it variously described, by people who seem to know more than me, as either Italian or American. It is thought to have been made around 1910. The picture, which is in a romantic style, suggests it might be Italian but my Dad was on trans-Atlantic passenger liners for many years so either is possible?
Can anyone out there give us a clue?

Doug

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: mooman
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 04:42 AM

Chris Eccleshall A.5 "Pearly" DiMeglio 1899 neapolitain Paul Hathway octave mandolin

Regards

mooman

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,jonesey
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 07:11 AM

Play a Korean knock-off called an Encore. Fenders are manufactured by the same outfit. Purchased it in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland while on a bike tour a few years ago. It's got a laminated top with a magnetic single-coil pick-up. It's a good instrument for the money, but I quickly found out it can't be heard real well over other instruments during a session. While playing in a celtic/Irish band last year the demands of gigging every weekend revealed the flaws. Had to replace the volume pot, pick-up and the tuners. Some Grover mini-guitar tuners and a Bartolini 'fat strat' improved the sound a ton. When replacing the pot and pick-up I had the tech re-wire it and now there's no low level hum. Run it thru a 15 band eq ahead of the amp and both pots wide open. Get a servicable mandolin sound.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,Bigchuck, whose cookie has crumbled
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 07:48 AM

1915 Vega Cylinderback, flattop oval hole make by me, Kentucky 380S. All good mandos with different sounds.
Sandy

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 09:07 AM

Roumanian built "Vintage" mandolin. Also a mandolin-banjo if that counts.

Jon

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 09:26 AM

This one.........and I play it quite badly I might add!

Spaw

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 09:30 AM

Moon mandolin, maple back and sides, spruce top, retrofitted with a Weber tailpiece. Best round hole flat top I've played.

My beater is a Washburn A style, solid top Asian import, not bad after a good setup job.

Came very close to buying a Godin electric last week...

Mooh.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: jeffp
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 04:04 PM

Turn-of-the-century (19th-20th) S. S. Stewart, inherited from my paternal grandfather. High action, very soft sound, but the price was right. Actually performed with it a couple of years ago. I plan to leave it to my nephew when my time comes.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 04:33 PM

Weber Bridger model and an M-4 Mid Missouri. Also a Davy Stewart octave mandolin.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: John P
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 01:52 AM

Gibson A4, I think it's from 1918.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 02:39 AM

Shiro- a Japanese Lloyd Loar knockoff which is great. It cost $650 20 years ago, and is worth every penny. Also a Gibson A-2. Love 'em both.

Seamus

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 03:55 AM

A Freshwater "Handmade in Scotland" that I have had fitted with a fishman pickup and pre-amp. It has a very mellow sound and really delivers acoustically.

R

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Steve-o
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 06:40 PM

Gibson A-0 from about 1934, handed down through the family. Original owner played in a "mandolin orchestra"! Plays sweet with lots of sustain when doing Irish, and has power and chop when doing Bluegrass.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 02:50 PM

I have a late 1920s model Vega.
Jim

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 05:47 AM

Paul Shippey, carved spruce top, rosewood back and sides, handmade in Bristol, England, standard Fylde cedar/mahogany, both great mandos but the Shippey is the best mandolin I have ever played, sounds amazing. Dave

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: van lingle
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 07:25 AM

#2 Flatiron which I got to replace an old Gibson Army/Navy whose top kept collapsing. I traded it off after having a brace put in it which really deadened it's volume and beautiful tone. Dave

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,Stef
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 03:32 PM

Silver Creek, F5 Style Honey Brown Flamed Maple backs and sides and a graduated handcarved spruce top. I use a rare earth pickup and sometimes a Fishman bridge style. I'm lookin for a mando cello

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Áine
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 04:55 AM

I play (well, if you can call it that) a Fender FM-52E acoustic/electric A style, that Dear Hubby's uncle found in Waxahachie, Texas, for $150.00. Sounds great played 'unplugged'. It really sounds good (well, when Dear Hubby plays it), plugged into my wee Crate practice amp. It's a great mandolin for a beginner like myself.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 05:54 PM

An Oscar Schmidt Model A copy. Not bad for a GBP 120 instrument!

Also a Sicilian made Dita Gaetano Miroglio Baglama, which I string and tune as if the three courses were the top three of a mandolin, only an octave higher.

I have a friend who has a 1922 Gibson H4 Mandola for sale. I love to play it, but can't afford the GBP4k he wants for it!

Alan

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: 53
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 09:36 PM

None right now, but I'd love to learn if I could afford one. Bob

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Capt. E
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 05:31 PM

I have a Shiro A (like a Gibson A9) that sounds wonderful. Lots of volume, great tone, equal to the Gibsons in my opinion. Best of all was I only paid $180 for it.

J in Austin

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Zen
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:30 PM

Fylde Touchstone mandolin, Gideon Weigert mandola, Terry Docherty octave mandolin

Zen

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 09:22 PM

I have a B & J "The Serenader" from New York, early 1900s?, not sure exactly, could be late 1800s, flat back, oval with the sweetest sound and action, wouldn't trade it for another of any kind. Got it in it's original case for $25. Put another hundred in it to have a little repair done and new strings. If you ever see one out there, pick it up and play it, you might be as happy as I am with mine. Or just let nw know where you saw it!

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 09:52 PM

Still have the aforementioned Moon, and added a Peter Cox walnut with carved cedar archtop last summer. Also tuned in fifths, a Joshua House guitar shaped bouzouki, a Wolf Bros violin, and a Gold Tone Irish tenor banjo. All tuned GDAE (low to high).

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 04:55 AM

Gibson A from about 1920, Paul Shippey mandola. Both great instruments that deserve a better player than me, but I love them!

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: theleveller
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 05:53 AM

mrsleveller has a Paul Hathway cedar and mahogany and a Thomas Buchanan maple and spruce which is really nice. She tried a Shippey before buying the Buchanan and it was truly amazing but over twice the price of the Buchanan so we settled for a close second best. We share a Paul Hathway octave mandola which is the big brother of the mando and I've got a Fylde archtop cedar and mahogany cittern that I just couldn't put down when I tried it and has taken the place of my Freshwater which I sold. All lovely instruments (plus a 1996 Lowden guitar which is my pride and joy).

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 08:09 AM

My pride and joy is a 2001 Paul Shippey rosewood and spruce oval hole, he is seriously the best builder in England, my 1917 Gibson A comes a close second.

eric

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: open mike
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:52 AM

Weymann Mandolute (keystone state)
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/90U-4463.htm
here is a previous discussion we had
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=49647

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Sugwash
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 11:02 AM

Two Sobells. A large bodied 10 string rosewood with a cedar top and a small bodied 8 string maple with a spruce top, two very different instruments. The small bodied is a fine band instrument which amplifies well, the large bodied is a nice accompanying instrument but is also capable of being heard in a session.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: astro
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 09:42 PM

A Weber, Gallatin A which is the first instrument I have ever played. I am having fun just tuning let alone playing. (I did first buy a Gold tone which I keep in my office so if it walks off I won't cry a lot).

Astro in LA and Tucson....

(taking lessons from a power player here which helps a lot)

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 02:15 AM

What is a ' power player ' as distinct from any other good player ie. Mike Compton, David Grisman or the virtuoso Simon Mayor ?

eric

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 07:15 AM

Trillium mandolin built by Bob Abrams of Nottingham, New Hampshire in 2007
Peter Cox octave mandolin from 2005
Also two Irish tenor banjos: a tone-ringless skin-head openback Slingerland from the mid-1920s that has had a tuner transplant, and a new Gold Tone resonator

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: astro
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 03:50 PM

Eric, I really don't have any distinction in mind between great players. There are many out there and fortunately, here in Tucson, we have a great player (Dave Firestine) with whom I have the opportunity to take lessons. It gives me the understanding that I have a lot to learn and am enjoying the "learning". I also look forward to attending workshops with other great mando players and to grow under their tutelage. It is a privilege to begin the walk to play music and to be a part of this great world of folk.

Astro

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,Songster Bob
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 12:19 AM

My best is a 1923 Gibson A-4, purchased on Christmas Eve, 1967, at the Alexandria (Va) Folklore Center (don't bother looking -- the store is long-gone);

The one I play the most (in my Civil War reenactment band) is a Mid-Missouri -- don't know the model, and I'm too lazy to go upstairs, open the case, and look.

I also own a really nice Harmony Marquise, an A-40 copy (A shape, arched top & f-holes). That one is on loan to another member of the Civil War Comrades, but she wants me to stay on the lookout for another Mid-Missouri or equivalent, so if I find one of those at a decent price (fat chance), I'll have the Harmony at home again.

I also have what might be called an octave mandolin, which I cobbled together from an old Harmony tenor guitar, and

A really nice Vega tube-a-phone banjo mandolin, which I actually purchased on my honeymoon.

I think that's all.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,phwree
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:19 AM

I have a mandolin inherited from my nanna's cousin's family or something, it's about 100 years old, and has a curved back, a round hole with a flower kind of shape in it, (it has been fixed up, but that is what was there originally) and I dunno what type it is. Help?

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,phwree
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:23 AM

oh, and it's in the shape of a teardrop, kinda similar to the Vivitone ones, but different...

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Stu
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:36 AM

Hullah bluegrass-style mandolin and a Hullah Deluxe bouzouki, both purchased from Tony 'Sully' Sullivan.

I've also got one of David Kilpatrick's Lionheat Romanian bouzouki's which I intend to use for travelling but it needs a bit of setup.

I've also got a Joe Foley bouzouki on order and hope to pick that up early next year : )

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,erinmaidin
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 08:15 AM

Was pleased to see that someone else is playing an S.S. Stewart! I've one from early 1900's that is absolutely gorgeous. Let me rephrase that, not much to look at altho' I think it's lovely, but the sound is amazing. Very voicy...the brights are bright ...the deeps are deep...the action is great. Love it love it love it and it is a workhorse! Has taken nearly as many falls as myself and come out shining, sturdy as a draft horse....uh....

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 09:00 AM

I still have the Weber Bridger but I'll sell it one of these days.The two mandolins I play the most are a Weber Fern and and an "A" model from Hans Brentrup. My mandola is from Lawrence Smart and I'm still playing the Davy Stewart octave mandolin. I'm on the list to get an F-5 from Will Kimble next year.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 09:32 AM

Wesley S...From what I hear and see from the mandolin cafe, that's pretty fine company. Do any of them suit any particular style to your ears, or do you use them all for everything?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Brother Crow
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 09:40 AM

A Rosta Capek A4 Exclusive Mandolin (Serial # 338) fitted with a Mcintyre MF-200 Acoustic Feather.

I also use a Baggs Para-Acoustic DI Preamp, and Zoom A-2 Effects when plugged in. When recording (or micing up), I use a Rode NT1A.

Piccies are at http://www.brothercrow.co.uk/instruments/index.htm

It's a fab mandolin, nothing I've played before or since does it for me....and I've played a lot of mandolins....it won't suit everyone though!

Graeme,
Brother Crow.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: John Hardly
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 09:46 AM

I have a very nice Bruce Weber signed Flatiron A5 and I recently bought a Kentucky that I could take on the road to art fairs.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 10:00 AM

Mooh - The Brentrup has a really lush sound - I asked it to be voiced that way - so I tend to use it for ballads and folkier stuff. The Fern is a little louder and tends to be used for stuff that needs more bark and chop. Like when we attempt to sound like a bluegrass band. I rarely get to use the mandola in the trio and the octave mandolin is just for fun. I'll do ballads at home with it. With two guitar players in our trio {and one of them doubles on 12 string and banjo} it gets lost in the mix. So it stays at home unless it's a Christmas concert.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:40 AM

Look no further

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 12:30 PM

Wesley S...Thanks.

Generally, I find an archtop a little more versatile than a flattop. The Moon does the celtoidish and folk/rock material very well, and the Cox does most everything else well. However, on any one day they can sub for each other just fine. I tend to prefer less chop than what I hear in bluegrass playing.

Recently played another National resonator mandolin which rocks great, and a Gibson A9 which folks great. Some day, some way.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: GUEST,Sharon G
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:55 PM

Usually, I'm playing fiddle these days.. butI have a Flatiron A-5 Jr which is pretty nice. I'm in Tucson too- and that power player mentioned above (Dave Firestine) has a Nugget, which is probably one of the loudest mandolins on the planet... so I'm better off just sticking to the fiddle.

Subject: RE: What mandolin do you play?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 03:54 PM

Gotta plug this.