Duff Mandolins

[Gibsonman]

Anyone have any input on the Duff Mandolins. Good or Bad

[Scotti Adams]

...they are just like any other make...some good.......some not so good...I know where there is a good one thats about a year old at a great, great price....PM if you are interested...

[Crowder]

They are not the most consistent mandolins, but all are good and some are great. They remind me very much of vintage Gibsons in many aspects--body not as deep as some, Cremona varnish finish, and a thin, flat fingerboard with little bitty frets.

[f5joe]

I own a 2003 model that is quite fantastic. #I could go on and on but I'd just be gushing. #I can highly recommend Paul's instruments.

The fingerboard is radiused, btw.

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/1f0e3dad99908345f7439f8ffabdffc4/76_p18170.jpg

[Keith Miller]

I thought they made beer, maybe a differant Homer to Jethro's partner though http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[JimRichter]

I'm sure I know the one Scotti is referring too, cause it's probably the one I used to own.

I owned a Duff for most of a year and it was a fine mandolin. Great fit and finish. #Great open X-braced red spruce top (for sound, think Ronnie McCoury). #Frankly I thought it was a little weak up the neck, but Scotti tried it and said it was a Hoss. #To each his own. Volume seemed to drop off up the neck.

A very good mandolin for the money. #However, best to buy used and not new, cause they hard to sell and not lose money (Most going between $4200 and $4700 used). #I've noticed no significant appreciation in value of his mandolins. So, if you pay $6K new, be prepared to watch the value fall to $4500 (which is what Gruhn appraised mine at). They are a great deal in the used market (which by the way, Scotti, are you talking about my old Duff or the one Maverick bought new and is trying to sell for $4300 to $4500).

Jim

[JimRichter]

I still have a picture of my 0063. Thought you might be interested

Jim

[Scotti Adams]

Both

[kudzugypsy]

for a mando in that price range, duff gives you A LOT for the money. others will upcharge $2K+ just for the varnish option, and the finishes i've seen are first class too. i have only played the X braced models...some people really like that sound, and duff is one of the few makers that use it effectively.

bottom line is they are handmade, the necks are fast, the action smooth, the sound is open and airy, they look great and the price is right. in the $5K range, they are hard to beat. duff has been labeled the poor man's gilchrist. i think a great many expected his mandos to follow gilchrist in price explosion, (and sound) but it never happened, thus it seems a lot of them come up used.

i would look for a recent one from the last 2-3 years, i think some of his early stuff was what got the bad rap. it seems that players expect the "Dude" syndrome of having your first batch of mandos blow away everything out there, sometimes it takes years for a maker to settle in and find his voice. duff is getting better and better with every one.

[Gibsonman]

Thanks for everone,s input. I learned a few things. Thanks again.

[Klaus Wutscher]

I only played one and that was Massimo Gattis Duff a few years ago at a festival. I was really impressed with it.Great dark tone, great chop.

[KevinM]

After extensive shopping I took the plunge via Tony Williamson (who has a money-back, no questions asked guarantee), and mine arrives May 2006 or thereabouts. I think now the line is into 2007 or later. I concluded they are worth what Paul is charging for them, although I do note the asking prices for used ones are in that $4500 -$5700 area (Maverick is offering his on eBay for that, I think.) I went with the tone bars, and with all of the other features I wanted, such Adirondack top, varnish, radiused board, "bluegrass sound," coupled with Paul's seemingly solid reputation as a fine builder, I thought the price was about right. And I heard the variability in quality is definitely a function of the early ones, not the case now. And I did not buy it to speculate in its future value, although it looks like I wouldn't be totally out of luck if I wanted to sell it.

Now those Brentrups and MMs look awful nice too. MAS is a terrible thing.