Glenn Mandolins....

A few weeks ago i spoke to someone who told me how nice his mandolin was but, i'd never heard of the name before. Its called a Glenn from a builder in Missouri. Didn't think much of it until just a few days ago when i was fortunate enough to listen to a sound clip of one of these mandos and boy...excellent sounding mando. Anybody own a Glenn mandolin?

[jimbob]

I have one on order. Should pick it up around end of May. Allen has been very helpful getting the project rolling and working with a very eager novice. I have heard many good things...website is community.webtv.net/bubbyjones/Glennmandolins

I can't wait ! Not only will I get to come to the states after 6 months in Africa ( without my wife), but I will get a new mando and Big Macs !!! Not to mention striper fishing on Lake Texoma...Sonic...street lights...paved roads...Coors Light...M &M's...drinking water out of the faucet...It's going to be a good summer...[U]

[Bobby Brite]

I also have one on order and I can't wait. My buddy owns one and he says it is incredible. Possibly another Dudenbostel!!

[mandodan22]

I got mine two week's ago and I love it so far.
And Allen is great to deal with.

mandodan...can you describe yours in terms of sound etc? Also, do you have any pix of it that you could show us? Pretty amazing price if the sound and playability is there. There is one in the classifieds right now where the owner states he played it on some Nationally known Radio program and he used it instead of his Gibson Master Model. Lastly, how about the details i.e. finish, binding etc? thx.

#32 Headstock

#32 another

#32 scroll

You're right Dale....thats "very" loar like <G>. Little rough around the edges for sure. How does it sound Dale? I can see where the roughness would be a turn off but is it one of those deals where the sound covers up the flaws? The sound bite i heard was "all" good. These sell for how much about $1700 or so? thx.

[jimbob]

Dale,
Is this the one you said you had on consignment ? #I didn't ask Allen the total number of instruments he has built...when was the one you have finished ?

#32 was completed June 22nd 2003

I tuned it up & played it. Two qualifiers, it has a Brekke bridge on it & an Allen cast tailpiece. Good volume & tone on this mando. I'd yank this bridge off & put the original back on (which is in the case). While I'm not asking $1700 for this mando, I generally require a "prettier" finish at this pricepoint. I've run into some problems here of late in getting both the tone, playability & finish I'd like to see in some mandos (not just Glenn)..... This is the only Glenn I've had my hands on & is not meant to be a slight against Mr Jones.

I'm spoiled to the Rigel, Breedlove & Phoenix fit & finish standards & sometimes have a hard time getting past that. Ben Wilcox has fit & finish that could rival anything currently made, outstanding! If you are not anal about the fit & finish this mando could do you a good job. I also hate to say anything about a builder until I've seen more than one example of his work......just seeing one may not be a true barometer, & I can't stress that enough!

[Jim M.]

Did you know notice that #34 in the classifieds, advertised for $2200, was bought from the luthier about a month before for only $1500? Wow, that's appreciation. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Tom C]

Jim M,
You must have made somebody hit the wrong chord because it's not listed anymore.

Not to be mean or put anybody down but that pic of the Glenn makes the Gibson F-9 look like a Master Model! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[garyblanchard]

For my 2 cents...

I rather like that "rough" look. Too bad it's out of my price range. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Bobby Brite]

Y'all need to go to his website and check out some of his finer work. The one that was listed for 2200 is well worth that. I know the guy who bought it and he said it is an exceptional mandolin. Tone as well as playablility and workmanship. I even heard it over the phone and it sounded great from what I could tell. I have pics of #34 also. Looks very nice. Can't wait to get mine. Oh yeah, the pics on this thread don't do it justice. Visit this link.


Glenn Mandolins (http://community.webtv.net/bubbyjones/Glennmandolins)

[mandodan22]

Wait a minute guy's
Those pic's do not shine well on what Allen is making today.
Allen offer's lower priced instrument's without headstock or back binding and that sort of thing and that's what your looking at there.
I have #44 and I had #34 which is the one in the classified's for a month on loan and they were way nicer than those pic's.
I have never had the chance to hold a master model or a dude but I have played a few weber's,smith creek's, recently played a tucker and other's along those line's
and for the price of a glenn there is no comparison.
I am repeating myself from another thread but mine is wonderful ,highly flamed back,binding is seamless ,great playability, but the tone is where mine is already starting to shine.
It's even across the board and has that woody bluegrass sound. #34 had even more volume than mine but it is 16 months old compared to 3 week's.#34 was a little rougher in just a couple of place's ,but Allen's craftsmanship has improved to the point where I would sit mine down side by side with most any out there.
The inlay in those pic's does not compare with mine .
And the price is incredible,I paid 1.650,00 shipped with a TKL case ,built to suit me with lifetime warranty
there is nothing out there to match it.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Hmmm... I have the feeling this thread could be treading into a interesting/delicate area. It's pretty common around here to bash Gibson but I rarely see "constructive criticism" directed to the smaller builders. I've seen the pics on his website and they look very nice. The site though, does not show any close up detail.

I'd bet money the pic of the unbound F5 headstock on the website is #32.

Every builder goes through a learning curve & the more you build the better you get. I can only speak for #32 & like I stated above, that is not a fair measure...... Yes it's a fairly recent build, but he could easily of made great strides in finish since then.

Lets leave it at that.....

"I also have one on order and I can't wait. My buddy owns one and he says it is incredible. Possibly another Dudenbostel!! "

Not right now anyway. Of course everybody has to start somewhere.

[mandodan22]

If your refering to me I did'nt mean to bash any one ,it's the standard every one compares to though.
But how do you compare when it boils down to $ 1.000,oo
or $ 8.000,oo

Well i don't have anything at stake in this but, the sound file i have is quite nice. If anybody is interested in having it emailed to them just write to me and when i get a chance back at work i'll ship to out to you. For the money its pretty impressive. I also know of one A list Nashville studio guy who plays a Glenn A style. Any quality F5 for less than $2K is good in my book.

I think I'll put #32 on Ebay with an accurate description, pics & "Final Sale"......so find it over there & let your pocketbook do the talking.......unless one of you wants it first. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Email or PM me for the price.

[mandodan22]

I'm on Allen's bandwagon to the point that you might think I have something at stake here .
I never heard of Glenn until three months ago and I'm not a very good player ,I have a twenty year old hand made beater and I wanted something new ,I was looking at the MK Firefly and was close until a friend told me about Allen
Another buddy bought the MK and it sounds awful compared to mine[uh-oh another comparison]
my only stake in this is what value it might rise to
but I know it could fetch more than I gave for it now.

Dale....friend...(new)string that puppy up and give us your knowledgable thoughts on its sound and playability....will ya?

Here ya go boys & girls......

Glenn F5 (http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3710310934)

Giving credit where credit is due...that 100% feedback rating is nice to see Dale. Lots of happy customers.

[bubbyjones]

Hey every body. I am very surprised to see this thread about my mandolins and all the response. I have to say, of all my mandolins to have detailed pics of why did it have to be #32 ? It's not an aweful mandolin, but not a good example of my fit and finish work. I built it as a less expensive bare bones mandolin. I've also done my homework and learned alot since #32. Anyhow, I've been working hard trying to improve my building skills and trying to fill the niche for good mandolins priced less than a new car. Thanks! # Allen Jones

[John Zimm]

For the record, I would love to be able to built an instrument that looks like your #32 Mr. Jones. It looks good from the pictures. I wish I had a grand to buy it.

-John.

Thank you Mr. Jones...i love the sound bite i heard. Do any of you owners out there have any pix we could see that show more recent examples?

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

First Thanks Dale for only shipping to the US! I'm in Alberta so I don't have to suffer any temptation! :>)

Actually I'm still looking for an A style anyway.

Has anybody seen one of Allen's A styles? On his web sight there is a picture of a back only. Nice back tho. I might be interested.

Take Care! -Ed-

[mandodan22]

Sorry SP, I have got to get a camera and get with the time's
but I like #44 better than any the picture's on Allens website.

Thanks for the post Allen! Allen had contacted me several weeks ago & #32 was all I had to base my first impression on. I'm sure he cringed when he found out I had it... # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

You folks keep us posted as Allen sounds like a good builder to watch.

[John Zimm]

I see that this sold. Good job. I hope whoever bought #32 enjoys it.

-John.

[Ashby]

Howdy everyone! I just bought the oh-so highly debated #32 mando. I will be interested to see how well it barks for me! After looking at the website it became blatantly obvious that this guy certainly knows how to craft a good looking mandolin. If the sound and playability are there, this guy is really going to be my hero: a solid, bluegrass F5 for under 1,500? For a lot of us college-types, anything more is just beyond our means (we have to eat and get to festivals too! well... when we are not "studying" of course!). If anyone's interested I'll post a link to some new tracks my boys ("Tin Roof") and I are going to cut using my new Glenn.

I for one am interested. Curious to compare how this one sounds to the recording I have of another. Thanks.








Dennis Benjamin
Pavel Sucek Mandolins

[cwtwang]

Hi Spare Change, would you send that sound sample of that Glenn mandolin to me when you get a chance? I'll have DSL by Saturday. I would really appreciate it!!

my email address is: cwtwang@earthlink.net