The Pomeroy

[J. Mark Lane]

That's my grubby little paw holding it.

[J. Mark Lane]

Hanging next to the Stanley V5. I think the contrast is helpful in visualizing the color and finish.

[RichM]

What a gorgeous mandolin! I have yet to see a Pomeroy that is anything less then beautiful. Don really has a knack for finishes. I especially like the way you coordinated your watchband with the strap. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

But how does it SOUND, man?

[J. Mark Lane]

It just arrived yesterday, and I have had only an hour or so to play it. I'll post a full review after I've had it for a while. I think it's good to settle in with a new instrument before posting a full evaluation.

But I couldn't resist a quick report.

I will say this first -- the finish on this thing is gorgeous. The pictures can't even begin to do it justice. It is much, much more beautiful in person.

The workmanship is exquisite. Truly, this is an instrument that was put together with great care. When Don was about to ship it out, he wrote (in one of his emails): "I will miss this F-4...tend to form a pretty strong bond with these mandos as I create them. This is one of the sweetest sounding F-4's I think I've made. My greatest hope is that you'll play it and enjoy it for a long time" (quoted with permission). I think that quote pretty well sums up the experience of working with Don. He really cares about his work. As do most good luthiers, I would venture.

The sound? I'm trying to be measured in commenting on it. But honestly, I've never heard an oval hole mandolin that sounded this good. The thing is much, much louder than I expected. You do a double take when you start picking it. It's loud. And it sounds *deep.* The bass response is seriously one of the strongest -- I think maybe the strongest -- of any mandolin I've ever picked up. The trebles are just clear as a bell. In fact, the term "bell-like" came to mind as I was playing it last night.

It's funny. I sort of envisioned this as a "special purpose" mandolin, for certain kinds of music. But really, it could easily serve all purposes. Much to my surprise, it actually "chops" remarkably well. The chop is more sort of "rounded," and deep. But it really works quite well. Open string chords are just incredible.

I'm having a hard time putting it down. I'll post more detailed pics in the pic section in a few days. I just wanted to make a few initial comments.

Thanks.

[Keith Erickson]

Mark,

She is an absolute beauty. #I wish you all the best of times with your new Pomeroy.
Lóóking forward to seeing more pics and hearing more reports.

All the best of luck with your new mando

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

[Santiago]

I've really been impressed with the way F-4's look -- though I haven't truly ever listened carefully to or played one. But I notice that I really liked the sound of the Breedlove Orca compared to K/Fs on FOTW.com. So the fours are really capturing my imagination, and I look foward to doing a proper tasting at some point before MAS makes me do something rash. I understand that this is a real custom-crafted instrument. Best of luck with this beauty!

[CHPorter]

Mark, you're going to love your Pomeroy. I have Don's first F4 (#27, completed 4/03) and your early impressions of fit, finish and SOUND mirror mine. My F4 has gone on to even better sustain and 'sweetness' but it can certainly growl on the G string! Looks like you've chosen a color scheme very near mine -- Welcome to The Pomeranians! (By way of introduction, I believe you know my twin brother, Tim.)

What strings did you spec? On his first F4 Don used very light gauge strings (10-36) GHS PBs. I've contemplated moving up a gauge or so, but haven't gotten around to it, as it would require a bit of filing on the nut to get heavier strings to seat, and I don't feel qualified to mess with that. I believe Don told me he's gone to Dadd 74s for his F4s? I ran a set of Thomastiks for a while and enjoyed them but probably prefer the phosphor bronze. Thoughts? (sorry to hijack (or at least divert) the thread!)

Enjoy!

Craig
SE Michigan

[johnwalser]

Mark,

I truly think you should send this one out to California and let me break it in for you. I would be willing, at absolutely no charge, to play it a minimum of two hours a day for the next year or until I decided it had developed it's full potential.
It certainly is a great looking instrument and would enjoy several detailed pictures of headstock, sides and back.

John Walser
7000 ft. up in the High Sierra

[J. Mark Lane]

Thanks, guys. I'll post some better pics this week. I guess I'm going to have to actually sit down with the owner's manual for this stupid camera. It does have all kinds of fancy settings, so I should be able to get some good pics. Headstock, back, etc. will of course be included.

Craig Porter -- what a small world! I remember hearing a little about you from Tim, and from our other mutual friend, Larry Pattis. I have a vague recollection about a couple of pretty nice Martins that were organized...I played one of them, and it changed my views on the Martin company (and I already had pretty high regard for the company, at least these days).

Anyway, yes, mine is set up for J74 size strings. As a rule, I'm not wedded to the big, pb strings. I tend to like a medium gauge on my Givens, and I have a ten string mandola that ends with .09's or even .08's. The F5's tend to get 10-40's, or so. The Pomeroy F4 seems quite well suited to the J74's that are on it. I may try some others, just out of curiousity as time passes. But it sure is nice the way it is. I can't stop playing it. I just can't get over how much volume it pushes out.

And you know how a good F5 has a sort of "pop" when you're working it? This F4 has a version of that. Very striking, and I've certainly never experienced it before. It's a different kind of thing, but it definitely "pops".

Anyway, give my best to Tim and also to Larry if you speak to him. Tremendous people, not to mention incredibly good players.

Mark

[CHPorter]

Mark, thanks for the string info -- I've thought about taking my F4 up to Elderly Instruments (90 miles from me) for a day to have it set up for J74s, though I'm not positive that I'd love them; I'm pretty used to the suppleness of the lighter strings. I'd imagine my F4 would be even louder with the heavier strings??? I might opt for a phosphor bronze string in the middle range somewhere.

Indeed, it's a small world.. I'll pass on your greetings to Tim and Larry. Figure out that camera, hombre! We must have our visual fix!


Craig
SE Michigan

[jim_n_virginia]

Hey nice looking mando J. Mark..... but hey it is somewhat familiar...hmmm ...I KNOW it looks just like a Gibson F-4 someone let me play at the OBeX Experience in Richmond a few months ago! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif



...sorry couldn't resist, happy picking! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[LKN2MYIS]

Enjoy! It looks wonderful.

[Dioptase]

J Mark--
That's a fantastically beautiful instrument. I'd been thinking of picking up an old Gibson oval, but now I'm thinking my money might be better used by a living builder. How do you feel after a couple of days of playing it?

[barricwiley]

Great looking mandolin Mark, beautiful as a matter of pure fact. Great preview.
Dioptase (Pomeroy A2 & F4)
Richard

[JD Cowles]

Congrats again J Mark. That is one fine lookin instrument. From what you say it sounds as good as it looks too. Don't expect to hear your "review" for a few days tho (your grubby hands will be busy)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

dioptase-
i have an A2 on the way from Don and it looks stunning. I was in the market for an old Gibson too, but for various reasons decided to go with Don Paine. Check out the post a pic section and look for Pomeroy #73.
cheers-
jd

[Dioptase]

JD--
Just looked at the pics of your Pomeroy in the works. To echo the words of everyone else whose seen the photos, it's beautiful! I'll be looking forward to your reports once it's arrived!
Micah

[J. Mark Lane]

#How do you feel after a couple of days of playing it?
Even better. I am very very pleased with it. The sound is really remarkable. I had Don make the fretboard a little wider than usual, and it has worked out to have been a good decision. For the way I will play this thing, that is the right design.

The finish will just not stop growing on me. Don has really hit on something with his approach to this. It has this quiet, yet powerful look. Understated, yet obviously very fine.

Still struggling with the camera (or really with my resistance to instruction manuals <g>).

Mark

[LKN2MYIS]

Mark -
I agree. Don's finishes really grab you and pull you in. Compound that with it's tonal qualities and playability, and you'll find yourself putting a lot less time in at work and a lot more on the fretboard.
Which is not a bad thing . . . .

Anyone know what number Don is up to?

John

[sailaway]

Well I have been playing one of Don's A2 s for jazz/classical and I can say after a year and a half the tone is even fuller and sweeter than when it first came out of the case. This mando really opens up to the fullest after about 1/2 hour of play , a really noticeable deepening of the tone. Only thing I might do differently is Varnish not lacquer.

For my money- go with the Pomeroy A of your dreams instead of fussing around with trying to find an old gibson A without a cracked top or sunken bridge. My old Gibson A (1914) has great tone but tuning it after every 2 songs is a pain in the @#$%. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif