Wintergrass.....builders...

Of you lucky folks who are enjoying Wintergrass any particular builder stand out? Who knocks your socks off?

[Pete Martin]

Fletcher Brock and Jamie Weins impressed me most. A friends new Heiden was terrific, and a lot of good solid mandos.

[Patrick Gunning]

Weins did have some nice mandolins (though the piccolo one was hard to wrap the fingers around, but hey, it's tiny).

Bill Bussman's Old Wave Redwood-top, mesquite-back style A was great, and his K-5 style octave mandolin knocked my socks off (the first chance of spending a couple thousand I get one will be mine).

I think that the best mando that I played was an A-style by San Juan mandolins. I just couldn't put it down. Tore the herd of Gibsons I played to shreds (both a and f, and including a 23 loar that a kind soul let me pick on for a bit) Somebody picked it up on saturday and stole my dream... The builder's a really nice guy too. A+ work.

in terms of production mandolins - there was a Rigel F-5 styled mando that just sung. That was the first Rigel I've played and I have serious respect for them now.

Anyway time to catch up on sleep... sooo.... much.... bluegrass........

[THP]

Yes those San Juan’s are amazing aren’t they?
I met Bobby last year while we were on tour in Colorado and the same thing happened to me. I couldn’t stop playing his mandolins, after each set i would head back down to his booth. I tried them all and then he pulled this A-model up that was in the case and it was a cannon...amazing, a banjo buster for sure. I told him I had a friend (Bob Rubin) that has played A-Models his whole life and would love to have this one. Well Bob Rubin now owns it (SN#1) and its even got better over time. On our second tour to CO I wound up with one of his F models (#7).
It has far exceeded my expectations. His website is www.sanjuanmandolins.com
There are pictures of Bob Rubin’s on the site and mine and we are hoping to add some sound bites soon.
I just started a new recording project using this mando and the tone projection is unbelievable. The bonus is Bobby (the builder) is such a nice guy.
take care
Anthony
www.hickoryproject.com

[he-day]

Hey Anthony, #What's up? #I totally agree with you. #I was at Wintergrass and played one of #his A-models. Although I didn't play all mandolins at the festival, but I thought that this mando was the best. Loud and good tone. His mandola was great too. Pete Frostic from Old School Freight Train used it for their Saturday set. BTW they are excellent band.

Thanks,

Hide Kawatsure
Santa Cruz, CA

[mandopete]

Two words - Fletcher Brock.

[Spruce]

There were dozens of great new mandolins floating around this year...

A mere 10 years ago at Wintergrass you'd be hard-pressed to find a few great new mandos (and certainly not for sale), but this year really shows how much things are changing in Mandoland. #There seems to be great instruments coming out of the woodwork....

Steve Anderson built a very cool mandolin that was hanging around on Friday at Fletcher's booth. #Interesting and unusual design.

Behind the scenes and not on display, there were mandos by Michael Heiden, Lawrence Smart, Mike Kemnitzer, and Hans Brentrup that were very interesting....

Cool time to be a mando player...

[THP]

Hide
Hey man...where have you been? I guess i know now.(g)
I bet you were ripping it.. up there at Wintergrass.
Did you get a chance to talk to Bobby? He is a great guy. I havent seen his mandola yet..cant wait too though.
Contact me of list so i can get your new contact info.
take care
A
www.hickoryproject.com

[kuti]

Spruce,

I thought Steve Andersen stopped building mandolins. Is he building them again?

Kuti

[Mando Medic]

Spruce, That's a fine Sully that you were picking on early in the morning. And for those of you who don't know Spruce, he's a heck of a mandolin player. Mr. Tasty! I enjoyed the jam. Kenc

[Big Joe]

I was not at Wintergrass, but at IBMA this past October I was impressed by (of course) Gibsons http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif but then I was very impressed with Fletcher Brock. His work was very good, but mostly sounded great. There were plenty of good builders there, but none stuck in my mind as much as Fletcher's. Second best mandolins at the show http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .

[Mando Medic]

Joe; With all due respect. Can you actually enter a discussion here at Mandolin Cafe without using the word Gibson? For crying out loud and I'm not bashing Gibson, but what gives? Enough already! Ken Cartwright

[Spruce]

I enjoyed than Jam too, Ken...
Although Tasty is a word I rarely hear...
"Hasty" maybe? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

And ease up on Big Joe, will ya? #When he said "second best mandolins at the show" he might have been referring to any number of Monteleones, Gilchrists, Heidens, Smarts, Vandens, or Collings (their new take on the F5 design is so inventive, don't you think Big Joe?) etc. etc. etc. that were floating around at IBMA.

Wellll, maybe not.... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



"I thought Steve Andersen stopped building mandolins. #Is he building them again?"

He got an order for one, and it's pretty cool. #It's a totally new design, and it works. #I'll post a pic here in the future...

[Tom C]

He wouldn't be doing his job or wouldn't look right if he said makers A,B and C
were great without mentioning his company's mandos.

[Spruce]

"He wouldn't be doing his job or wouldn't look right if he said makers A,B and C
were great without mentioning his company's mandos."

Yeah, but have you ever seen John Monteleone, Steve Gilchrist, or even companies like Collings pipe up and say how their mandolins were the best thing at a given show?

It's classless (not to mention highly debatable)....

Let the mandolins do the talking....

[mandolooter]

if the Sullivan A at Greg Boyds is any indication of his work I'd have to rate it A+++...wooowww that mando had a sound to go broke for...too bad I was already broke or it would be sitting in my lap right now!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Charlie Derrington]

You know, saying Joe can't give an opinion about mandolins, because he works for Gibson, would leave a whole lot of folks without the ability to sound off on something. I guess that means Bruce can't ever give an opinion on an instrument that has his wood in it and that Ken can't give an opinion on a mandolin that he sells in his shop.

Scott asked us to add the Gibson connection to our signatures so that folks could take our opinion with the required grain of salt. But, Joe has been around mandolins for a long time and, in my mind, has just as much right to speak his opinion as anyone else on this board. If he didnt' think the Gibson mandolins were that good (believe me, I know Joe's character) he'd, at the very least, keep quiet.

We all have an inherent bias (which product we represent, which mandolin we own, genetics, etc.) but that doesn't mean we can't give an opinion.

Of course I work for Gibson, so that means anything I have said previously doesn't mean a darned thing, if you follow some folk's logic.

Charlie

[Ken Sager]

Charlie,

You're stretching logic beyond common use and that doesn't serve anybody. No one has said the input from you and Joe on this message board isn't highly valued. It absolutely is. It just seems that the bias you mentioned was unnecessarily added to the Wintergrass dialog.

Shutting up now, since I have nothing to add about the builders represented at Wintergrass.

Joy to all,
Ken

[jasona]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

I thought that Joe's post praised Fletcher Brock, and made a somewhat self-effacing joke about his Gibson bias. Didn't bother me in the least bit.

[Spruce]

"I guess that means Bruce can't ever give an opinion on an instrument that has his wood in it"

Nah Charlie...
If I followed Big Joe's lead I'd be saying something like this:

"Man, Orcas Island Tonewoods had the best tonewood ever seen at Wintergrass this year, especially compared to that stuff that Acme Tonewoods was selling. #Theirs was my 2nd or 3rd favorite, but of course we all know what my favorite was..." # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Scheech...
It makes my skin crawl...

By the way, did anyone see that Sitka spruce with the outrageous bearclaw that the folks from the Olympic Peninsula were selling out of their van? #

That was the most interesting wood I've seen in years and easily the best wood for sale at Wintergrass...

[Big Joe]

I guess I would rather speak tongue in cheek than somewhere else, but then maybe some can't read the humor in the post. If I attempted to follow everyone's desire for what I say, when, and how, I would not have much to say. While that could be great news to some, I don't think that will happen. The essence of the reply was to praise another builder for the excellent work and tone his instrument represented. I have done so on many occasions. I am not slow to speak about those I feel are doing a great job and try to hold my voice on those I may not like. I can assure you my voice is just as valid as most others. Thank you for caring!

Oh, yes. Charlie was stretching logic a bit. However he was only making a point. I would prefer we go on to something constructive as my original reply was intended rather than a contest over who deserves to speak on what issue.

[Charlie Derrington]

Ken, Bruce,

I was intentionally stretching logic. Sarcasm doesn't translate too well on the internet.

My point was that Joe was making a joke #on his Gibson connections and that his opinion on Fletcher was a valid observation. Of course you have the right to speak your opinions. Just lighten up, don't be so quick to criticize, and read things in the context given (the smiley face should have been a dead give-away).

Charlie

[mandoJeremy]

Don't worry about it Charlie and BigJoe, it's just the typical mention Gibson and have a nuclear missile launched at you situation. #I find it very pathetic and it sort of reminds me of high school. #Oh my gosh, that mandolin is wearing the same sunburst as mine! #Also, my mandolin has more flame than yours AND it has dots!!!!! #I am sure that if Charlie were building his own mandolins (The Derrington) everyone hear would not have near the criticism of him because we all know what a very valuable source he is to the whole mandolin community. #It is just that he works for "so called corporate" Gibson and we all know that the name Gibson just causes everyone to launch their missiles. #I mean really!

[John Rosett]

so, on that note, who played the arrow mandolins by paul lestock. i play with a guitarist who has one of his selmer style guitars, and it's a monster. i'm really intrigued by the photo of the blackface, oval-hole a style on his web page. did anyone play any nice oval hole mandos?
john

[Spruce]

"Just lighten up, don't be so quick to criticize, and read things in the context given (the smiley face should have been a dead give-away)"...

Yeah, agreed....
My apolgies....
Shoulda got some sleep this weekend.....

[mandopete]

I don't know about you folks, but I played a number of the Gibson mandolins at the www.guitarsale.com table and I was pretty disappointed with most of them. #This is just my own personal opinion, but the the ones I played couldn't hold a candle to vast majority of mandolins from builders such as Brock, Collings, Smart, Wiens and Heiden that I played while at Wintergrass. #I think a little set-up work would have gone a long way to making them sound better, but the workmanship on few really left something to be desired.

[Gail Hester]

WinterGrass was a blast but it’s a grueling four or five days and I think everyone must be tired and cranky. I played a couple dozen mandolins while I was there that were very nice but the best by far in my opinion was the Gibson MM at the Music Machine booth. Did anyone else get a chance to play that one? It was stunningly beautiful, sounded older than it was, loud and clear and played like butter. Not a plug just my opinion. I didn’t get to see many of privately owned mandolins like the Brentrup or the Loars.

[Justin Carvitto]

I liked the many of the ones mentioned but my favorites were Jamie Wiens. I had been looking forward to playing one for a while now.

Did anyone place an order, or buy a new axe?

[ericwall]

Well folks, I have to confess. I couldn't keep my hands of Fletcher Brocks "in the white" F5. So I closed my eyes, waited a few days hoping someone else would buy it, took a few deep breaths- and ordered it. He wanted to keep it- but like many builders couldn't. So I told him to keep it until he built a few more to show others- to use it on his website- or whatever. Will be visiting him next week to discuss color. I could pee in my pants!
Best,
Eric

Congrats Eric...sounds like he is a great builder.

[jzmilton]

I think that the best mando that I played was an A-style by San Juan mandolins. I just couldn't put it down. Tore the herd of Gibsons I played to shreds (both a and f, and including a 23 loar that a kind soul let me pick on for a bit) Somebody picked it up on saturday and stole my dream... The builder's a really nice guy too. A+ work.
Does anyone know what a San Juan F5 runs for? How about the A5?
Thanks
Jonathan

I believe they go for around $4500-$4800. Very nice guy.

[THP]

Yes Bobby is an amazing guy..great to get along with.
And those A-models are killer, as are the F models.
There is some contact info at
www.sanjuanmandolins.com
Im sure he would love to hear from you.
Anthony
www.hickoryproject.com

[jzmilton]

Thanks!