Custom Silver Angel Started-Follow Along

[Dano Reible]

Ken at Silver Angel Mandolins started my new Mando today. He sent me an Email that he bent the sides and set the front. No pics yet but some to come soon I bet.

He did ask me if I want banjo frets or bigger ones??

I am so new to this I realy don't have any idea of what the diff is. What does my Eastman have on it from the factory and what is the diff? Educate me and maybe some others please. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[ab4usa]

Dano,

I can't rep;y to the Eastman question but there is a very interesting thread if you search frets in equipment. Also please keep us posted.

[BlueMountain]

Tiny frets are entirely playable, but my new Ratliff has rather large frets, and boy, they are VERY nice. I'd say go for the larger ones. Besides, you may never need new frets if you do. Saves money in the long run.

[Dano Reible]

Here are thr first three pics of my baby.

I ordered the big frets BTW

[Dano Reible]

another

[Dano Reible]

And the front glued up http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

Got a couple pics from ken of the starting of the neck, looks like there will be soome nice flame up and down the neck doesn't it.

[Dano Reible]

and another

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Now we are starting to see some of the shape comming to life. Has me working hard on my practicing so when she gets here I will be able to play some tunes that are at least reconizable by me!!!!

[Dano Reible]

Enough clamps? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[A9cp]

Keep those pictures coming.

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Now she is starting to look like my baby isn't she. That headstock inlay looks nice. Can't wait to see some close ups and color soon. Ken just set the neck in this pic.

[A9cp]

Dano, I am getting ready to have Ken build me a Classic. His work is just getting better and better with each piece. Impressed.

[Dano Reible]

A9cp;

Ken's attention to detail and trhe way he has worked with me and my lack of ability is expressing what I want in terms others can understand is amaizing.

I want somthing a little diff than most and he understands that and accualy likes that I think.

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif As I am driving down the highway on my way home from a snow filled short week I desided to punch the email feature on my cell just to see if I had gotten an answer I am waiting for and what do I see? An Email from Ken with a couple attachements with my mando strung up. I had three hours left to get home so all the way home I was chomping at the bit to take a look. She sure does look good all strung up. I can't believe how fast it is going.

Ken said she sounds wonderful and plays like a dream!!!!!

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

[Dano Reible]

And the back, hard to tell much but he says it is a nice piece of wood that I will be impressed with it.

[jasona]

Looks like a highly flamed, one piece slab cut back. Very pretty!

[Dano Reible]

I thought so also jasona, even looks like some vertical flame and that neck will glow with beauty I bet. I am attaching a pic of the color direction I have Ken going on the front and back. I asked him to give the center a touch more yellow but I know that the wood will speak for it's self.

[Dano Reible]

Also I did finaly tell Ken to go with the ebony floating pickgaurd and eboney armrest.

[jasona]

wow, that coloured up very nicely! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

jasona;

The pic is a sample from Kens site that I want mine done like.....

[dj9124]

Ken sure can crank one out, started on Nov1, has it built and strung in the white by Nov24. Sure does reduce the waiting agony. Looks great Dano, the color on the sample mando looks really nice.

[Jackie Walters]

Dano- I have a silverangel built by Ken's lovely wife. It's a "A" style. I have the wider frets and it's great. Alot of other mandolin players have played it and said they like those much better. I love my mandolin and the sound is so rich and the tone is great. I have three friends in my area who have Ken's silverangels and they are marvelous instruments. Best wishes with your new one, let us know what Ken has named yours.
Angelfire

[Dano Reible]

Ken names his mandos? That's cool. I recieved an email fom him this morning and he says we are looking at about three weeks to the finish mando. The varnish takes a while I bet. I am so impressed with the time it has taken. If he is on schedule we will be looking at 6-7 weeks for a true quality custom mandolin made to my specs. That is amazing to me.
As you may know I have only been playing since the 1st of October and have been making some nice progress. Yesterday I started picking out a christmas tune so that when she gets here I will be ready to play some holiday cheer.

Well, time to hit the stores with the wife http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Mark Walker]

Dano - I am one of the friends mentioned by Angelfire in an earlier post; I'm on my second Silver Angel. Ken named my first one Oliva; not sure if he's still naming them as he was running out of names! (But, Laura - his wife [who's from South America] - was feeding him new names for his mandolins!) I got the wider fretboard and larger frets on both - LOVE them. I got the oil finish on my latest one and also a custom angel painting. I've got good flame on the sides; Ken is pretty particular about not 'hiding' good grain behind one of his paintings. As it is, with my new one he stained the back in such a way that the flame on the sides stand out wonderfully; and the grain toward the middle he stained to resemble 'clouds' into which my angel is flying. I've posted pics of it elsewhere on this site; I'll try to round up a link for you. Anyway, you won't be disappointed with your new mandolin; one constant with Ken's work - past and present - (as well as his wife Laura's A-style mandolins) is they sound exceptional and will really 'bark' with a deep bright yet woody tone right from the get-go. ENJOY!

[Mark Walker]

Dano - I think this will work.... Go here; you can see my newest Silver Angel from Ken Ratcliff. Got her in early October:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=28422 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=28422)

[Dano Reible]

Just got this pic from ken as he has started the sanding process. Nice binding detail http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

ClosetMandolinPlayer;

Wow that is beautiful. I went back and fourth on having a painting put on the back of mine but finaly decided not to. I hope I do not question that choice. It realy add a whole nother leval to the mando.

[Mark Walker]

Dano - you'll be happy regardless. My first one didn't (have an angel painting); my second one my WIFE talked me into getting the angel painting. Now I fret about banging it up on a stray belt buckle or something! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif I like your inlays on your headstock; Ken's doing wonderful variations on those. His earlier mandolins had the mother-of-pearl flying angel; I wanted one on both of mine. Keep us posted!

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif just got pics after the first coat of varnish. What can I say.

[Dano Reible]

another

[Dano Reible]

and the front

[Mark Walker]

Purty Pretty! Or Pretty Purty! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Keep 'em coming! Ken's doing a good job keeping you in digital photos as he crafts your baby, isn't he? :-)

[Dano Reible]

yes he is. When I ordered I asked him if he would and has done great.

[Dano Reible]

Just found out her name, Carolina, Like a Carolina sunrise. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

And that was just the first coat of varnish.

[Mark Walker]

I think he put six or seven coats on mine! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

I think he said 8 coats. Can't wait to see her in person. I hope I can some day do her justice. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Mark Walker]

Dano - that may well be. Might vary from instrument-to-instrument. I know Ken struggled getting mine 'just right' - partly due to all the humidity innundating his area in Kentucky from the hurricanes and resulting storms up that way. He uses 'Japanese dry' - some agent mixed with varnish to help with the curing and the best instrument varnish, but had to re-do several coats on mine simply because they didn't dry to his standard of quality. I expect yours will be no less beautiful than mine when he finally gets all the coats on and polished! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Mark Walker]

Dano - what color is that? #Is that called 'Pumkin' or something like that? #VERY cool!

[Dano Reible]

WEll I call it Tequila Sunrise which is one of the ways I discribed what I wanted to Ken but it is a deep amber with a bright yellowish center. I must have bugged Ken on and on trying to get accross what I wanted and he nailed it. I can't wait to see it with more coats on it.

I didn't want something traditional like everyone else and I think I got it don't you?

[Eric F.]

Dano, it's a beauty!

[Mark Walker]

Can't wait to see a close-up of the headstock inlay detail! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[A9cp]

"Can't wait to see a close-up of the headstock inlay detail" or the completed product.

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I got some pics of Carolina and yes she is finished. I should have her in my hands in the next week or so. I don't know what to think about the pickguard yet!! I will ahve to see it in person to decide if it's going to stay or not.

[Dano Reible]

another.
Still not sure about the guard. Maybe a full size one would look better?

[Dano Reible]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
The neck was done in a violin finish so it will be nice and smooth.

[Dano Reible]

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

[Doug Edwards]

Looks great. Great color and flame.
I like the gaurd, but personally would prefer one that was longer more toward the bridge.

[Mark Walker]

Dano - looking SWEET! I think Ken posted your mando on that section of Mandolin Cafe' last night - judging from the headstock! He had another on there with relief carving on the back. Doug and I are both being bitten by MAS - again. I agree - I'm not sure about the pick-guard myself, but it still all looks great! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dano Reible]

Reminded Ken about putting the armrest on and it ballanced the whole thing out don't ya think?

[Dano Reible]

I am going back and fourth on the guard. Ken said he could put a bigger one on but would have to put screws in the side for mounting and I don't want that. The guard is mounted with two small scres in the side of the neck that would not be able to be seen unless searching for them. I agree that even if it came down further to the bridge it might make a diff but then you might loose some stability.

[jasona]

Very nice looking mando--I'm sure you will be happy with it.

I'd keep the pickguard as is.

[Mark Walker]

Dano - I agree with jasona. I tend to pick my mandolin just about where that pickguard is - I feel you get a richer tone picking up toward where the neck meets the body anyway. I'd leave the pickguard as it is, and avoid any holes having to be drilled in Carolina! Just MHO! And yes - the armguard DOES balance it out perfectly! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Dano Reible]

I spend more time looking at these pics than anything else. Can't wait to get her in my hands. I am getting to like the pickguard now. Of course seeing it in person will be thw true test. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif