Mandolin Tasting

[Mando Medic]

Thought I'd post what mandolins were tasted at Mando Fest this past weekend in Lawrence Kansas. Fuzzy and I will begin post production on the CD very soon. I want to thank everyone that brought a mandolin for this event. There sure were some great sounding instruments.

Mandolin Tasting 2005 participants and order of recording.

1. 2003 Rigel G-5 Jacob Jolliff
2. 2003 Collings MF-5 Ken Cartwright
3. 2004 C# Cohen Dave Cohen
4. 2005 Apitius F-5 Oliver Apitius
5. 2005 Daley F-5 Will McClary
6. 2004 F-4 Gilchrist Mike Compton
7. 1919 Vega Cylinder Jim Durdin
8. 2004 Sawchyn F-5 Joe Mendel
9. 2005 Brentrup M23 F-5 Hans Brentrup
10. 2005 Brentrup M22C 3 point Hans Brentrup
11. 2004 Pomeroy F-5 Ken Sager
12. 2005 BRW 3 point Benjamin Wilcox
13. 2004 Erwine F-5 Amber Chiles
14. 2004 Antoniotsai violin mando Amber Chiles
15. 2001 Hilburn A-5 Jim Hilburn
16. 2005 Hilburn F-5 Jim Hilburn
17, 2005 Triggs F-5 Jim Triggs
18. 2004 Schneider F-5 Alana Stewart
19. 2004 Kimble J-2 point Will Kimble
20. 1927 Gibson F-5 Fern Bob Becker
21. 2005 Davis F-5 Bill Davis
22. 2005 Triggs F-5 Jim Triggs
23. 1999 Collings A-5 Tim Little
24. 1940 Kalamazoo A-5 Tim Little
25. 1916 Vega A Marvin Winograde
26. 1994 Summit F-200C Mike Black
27. 1920 Gibson F-4 Martin Keimig
28. 2002 Sawchyn F-2 Joe Mondel
29. 2003 Kneeland A-5 Mike Whitman
30. 2002 Davis F-5 Jeff Anderson
31. 2003 Gibson Fern V F-5 Jeff Bredthauer
32. 2004 Rigel Q-95 Gypsy Ted Eschliman
33. 1930’s Gibson AC Century Kathyrn Conrad

Mike’s first song played on his Gilchrist F-4. His last song played on a 2004 Kimble mandola.

I will tell you that the order of list list will not be the order of the CD. Stay tuned. Kenc

[jasona]

Next year I think I'm going to HAVE to arrange to be in Lawrence for Mandofest. I have to hear how my Ratcliff/Silverangel stacks up. Can't say I've ever seen one listed in any of the tastings.

[picksnbits]

There's a fair amount of discussion on this board about mandolins needing to "wake up" after being unplayed for a while. If that's really true, how do you deal with "waking up" 33 mandolins for the tasting?

[kudzugypsy]

good list. i, for one, am happy to see some of the other makers besides the ones nobody can afford anyway (even if they sound spectacular) in the tasting. that is what it sould be about IMO. lets see how the 'working mans' mandos stack up.
this is a great project! it would be nice if the budget permitted nice color shots and write ups like the tone poems cds. or.....you could burn the pics on the disc with the sound samples

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's a pic from the balcony as the mandolins were being set out across the stage. Before it was over, there was a new row in front of these.
There's Mike checking out the entries and Scott talking to Jim Triggs.