View Full Version : F-5 for $600-1000
Roydw3
Dec-30-2005, 9:29pm
There has been some discussion lately about small builders who will build an F-5 for less than a grand. Well I found another one...not like he was lost as his email address is in the builders section.
Anyway, I emailed and he can build a mandolin for a reasonable price.
I am curious if any of you have one of his mandolins. I'd like ot see pictures and hear what you have to say about the tone, volume, appearance, etc.
Thanks in advance
Jim Broyles
Dec-31-2005, 12:05am
Here's one of his mandos:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-....iewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-F-5-Mandolin-Gorgeous_W0QQitemZ7378285515QQcategoryZ10179QQrdZ1 QQcmdZViewItem)
Roydw3
Dec-31-2005, 10:14am
Mr. Allen sent me an email this morning. He isn't going to be able to build any more mandolins for a while. He is going to have back surgury. I hope he is able to be helped by the surgury, recover well, and is able to get back into the swing of things in the future.
Other than ebay, has anyone seen or played one of these?
The ebay listing looks interesting
jm
RichieK
Jan-02-2006, 5:27pm
If anyone is interested ,I have a great F mando that I'd sell for $1,000. # It's a Buddy Davis, serial#36, made 5/99. His mandolins go for more than twice that, but the problem with this one is that it needs to have the top refinished. Someone went wild with sandpaper and it's ugly now. It plays and sounds great and is perfect structurally, and is way better than anything else in that price range, but it really does need the top refinished. PM me if you're interested. This is a link to Buddy's website. http://accountspro.com/DAVIS/BD.htm
Richie
RickieK, I don't know what PM is, please email me about your mandolin @ malagrassmand@yahoo.com
thanks
jm
Thats malagrassmando@yahoo.com
sorry
Greenmando
Jan-03-2006, 4:55am
PM is private message, it's the second button at the bottom of the post. Look for that blue and red butterfly.
HarmonyRexy
Jan-03-2006, 4:01pm
I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Allen needs surgery. I hope that he gets everything that he needs to heal well and make a full recovery to good health.
I have 2 of the Allen Mandolins, #16 and #19. One is the F-style and the other is an A with a F-style headstock.
I have been very happy with them. Both had strong voices and nice bluegrass sounds.
I also know of another person whose experience was not as positive. It was resolved but left a 'bad taste' in his mouth. (I asked his permission before mentioning it here.)
I've also talked with a couple of other people who were satisfied.
I think that it is difficult to buy a handmade instrument without seeing/playing it first. There can be such variability between handmade instruments especially in fairly new builders, who have not established a reputation yet. There certainly is also a whole range of expectations of the buyer/player. It's a tough thing. I, personally, had really good experiences in buying instruments but maybe, I need to be more cautious....maybe, I'm due...
On that custom Allen on eBay, I wonder what 'number' that one is.
I like that it has an adjustable truss rod, most of his have the fixed truss rod. That is something that Mr. Allen and I talked about before I bought the first one from him.
The one on eBay looks nice. The ad said that it drew a lot of attention when people saw it.... and I'm sure that's true. Mine, also, get a lot of attention and they were not custom made for me. (If they were, I would have requested a wide neck version... and maybe the adjustable truss rod.)
Some of you may remember pix of the F-style Allen... when I put out pictures of the 'Fantasy Road Trip' a few months ago. Anyone remember? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
danman
Jan-04-2006, 12:33pm
I used to own an F-model built by Mr. Allen. It was built in 2002 but it looked and sounded much older. While playing at a festival in 2004 a guy made me an offer on it that I could not refuse. I wish I still had it sometimes.
John M. Riley
Jan-06-2006, 8:03pm
I used to have one of his mandos... I cant remember what number it was but it was great for the price. I think I paid 400 for it on ebay about a year or so ago. I played it for a while and then had an offer I couldnt refuse on it and sold it. It had a great woody sound to it. Im used to playing good mandolin and this one was almost as good as a gibson in terms of volume and power! It was built a bit sloppy, but you cant beat one for the price.