Silverangel...anyone looking for great mando

[Roadbike61]

I just purchased Ken Ratcliffs latest R2 Silverangel and I gotta say WOW....what a great tone from a fairly inexpensive mando. Although the fit and finish is not up to par with a Wiens and some of the other builders out there, I gotta tell the tone is awesome. Ken is using some 100 year old red spruce and using a somewhat distressed varnish finish that I happen to like...all this for $2500! I see a new F5 that Ken just fininshed that should be great as well. Just some feedback on a great instrument at a very reasonable price.

[Mark Walker]

I just found out Roadbike61 lives and works within about 6 miles of me; he and I have traded a few PM's about our Silver Angels. #I can't agree more - I've had two, and for the very reasonable price, they've got a unique quality, tone, fit and finish that's hard to be beat for what your dollar gets you. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

I believe there are now at least 7 Silver Angel mandolins within a 35-mile radius of the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, including at least 3 Laura Ratcliff A-styles. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[jasona]

How funny...I was born and grew up in Grand Rapids. Haven't lived there in 18 years however.

[Roadbike61]

Now that is just plain EERRIIEE !!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

I gotta - I gotta - I gotta check out Ken's work more closely! Has anyone played / heard the distressed F5 that Smoky Mountain Guitars has hanging on the wall?

~x

[Alex Fields]

I have a 2003 Silverangel (the F5 with the odd scroll)...I think it's #193. Overall it's a good deal for what I payed for it: the tone (deep, woody sound, great chop...but a sweeter tone and maybe with less volume that most 'angels) is a heck of a lot better than the craftsmanship (although it has a beautiful red finish). It has an extra radiused fingerboard which I don't really like, I think it makes the E and G strings harder to play, but I guess that's just personal preference. I've played one other Silverangel, an older one than mine, which was louder than mine but didn't have as much tone.

I was going to go down to SMG today to get a new pick, and I wanted to play that 'angel while I was there, but I didn't end up going because I woke up too late.

I'm actually selling the 'angel because I have a Sim Daley classic coming and need money to help pay for that. I'm selling it (with an M200 fishman pickup, at least a $200 value itself, installed) for $2000 + shipping (I'd be willing to trade too).

[Doug Edwards]

I've sure enjoy mine. Plays and sounds good.

'99 Silver Angel (http://webpages.charter.net/dedwards51/mp33/B.mp3)

[John M. Riley]

my brother played the distressed angel at smg.....he didnt act real impressed..but of course, he doesnt know mandolins like i do..he's a banjo player!!

Traditional,

What did you think of the mandolin?

~x

[WireBoy]

Hey Doug Edwards-
that 99 sounds realllly nice. and very nicely picked too!

[John M. Riley]

xbangerman,
I didnt get a chance to go down to smg. I knew my brother was going, so I told him to play it for me.

[chuck.naill]

xbangerman,

I played the one at SMG the same day I played the Duff. I preferred the Duff because it had that woody woofing sound while the SA was more thin. Seems like I thought the SA had an edge over the Collings though.

Also, speaking of being distressed. The one at SMG was distressed a lttle too much for me. While the Duff's distressed looked more like it had been well played.

Chuck

[I'mPickenFHS]

Doug Edwards... I love that tune {Could you tell me the name? }...great sounding mando and very nicely played too. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Kevin K]

I was at SMG two weeks ago and was really impressed with the distressed Silver Angel there. Great deep woody sounding with a great deal of volume. I played most of the inventory and my opinion it had the best sound there that day.

[Doug Edwards]

I wish I could take credit for the tune and the picking. Rick Curlee played that on his F5L and my SA for a comparision. I asked him about the tune also, cause I thought it was great too, and he could not remember its name. He did say it was from a Doyle Lawson tune.

Here's Rick playing his '88 Carlson signed F5L with the same tune.

'88 F5L (http://webpages.charter.net/dedwards51/mp33/A.mp3)

Kevin,

That's what I kind of thought myself. It sure is funny how we all hear the same instrument so differently -a good thing. The guy's at SMG just let you play any and everything they have no matter what our tasted is or what they think about an instrument. Wish there was a shop like that where I am.

~x (shayne)


~x (shayne)

[Kevin K]

Yeah I wish there was a shop like that close to me as well. Guess we could move closer to them.

Kevin,

I tried, but the wife vetoed http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

~x (shayne)

[Alex Fields]

I went to SMG and played that 'angel...sounds old, woody, loud--like a Loar, basically. Great mandolin, not my type though, the sound is definitely for bluegrass and not classical.

Alex,

Sounds like a Loar ya say................. LOL ok.......and all this time I thought SilverAngles had a different sound -think of all the money I could have save!

~x

[Alex Fields]

Like a Loar as in similar to, not as good as. : )