Mandos at guitar shows...

[Brian Baker]

Well, for my annual mid-winter mando fix, I attended the "vintage guitar show" this weekend in Spartanburg SC. And boy, what a selection of fine mandos were there!

Among mandos I played were: Gibson Sam Bush, Gibson Adam Steffey, 2002 Gibson Fern (Danny Roberts signed), 1994(?) Gibson F-5L (Bruce Weber signed), Collings MF5, various F9s and A9s, various old Gibson A's, Weber Yellowstone, Weber Absaroka, Stapleton A5, Ratliff F5, and lots of F5s by unknown makers, of various levels of fit/finish/sound.

My impressions (just mine, YMMV):
- ALL the F9s and A9s I heard sounded tremendous. Not a clunker in the lot (although I have heard a couple elsewhere). Sort of confirmed that I made a good choice in getting my A9 last August - best sound/$ ratio around, I think.
- Prices were up there!
- First time I had played on the "Sam Bush" string spacing and wide neck. Liked the neck, but spacing felt kinda weird. Cool inlays. A beautiful instrument all in all!
- Best sounding: Tie between the Collings, the 1994 F-5L, and an F-9, with the Sam Bush close behind.
- Best looking: The 1994 F-5L. Yellowed bindings, fern. Mmmmmm good. (The MOP fern in the 2002 was sweeter, but the binding was stark white, kinda odd looking.)
- Overall favorite: 1994 F5-L. Now if I can just get about $5000 to spend...

Anyhoo, what a great mid-winter boost... Anyone else been to one of these lately? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Brian

[ideal_repo_man]

Went to the same show man, My opinion was the Collings had everything I played there beat. Played about every mandolin I could get to, Liked the Sam Bush model but wouldn't buy it to play all the time. The Adam Steffy model was more to my liking. But I'd still have to say I didn't play anything there this weekend that I would trade my pregib Flatiron F-5 Artist for. But there were some awesome mandos on display, not to mention some sweet guitars too. Anybody see the 1954 D-18? Looked rough but oh the sound!!

[f5joe]

I'm headed to the Nashville Guitar Show this weekend. Hopefully, Dolly Parton will walk through again this year.

.......... sorry, I got off topic there a bit. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[PCypert]

I went to the DFW Vintage guitar show in Nov. or Dec. They were seriously laking in the mandolin department. Plus, being informed on some real going rates for mandolins because of this site, I'd have to say they were seriously gouging people for the mandolins that were there. I did get to play my first Gibson F4 though. That was worth the 10 bucks it cost to get in. There were like 75 kids playing Enter the Sandman and I could still hear how great the tone on that instrument was. Too bad they were asking something like 7500 for it. Hoping the next one that rolls around will be better.
Paul