Moon Beam

[PCypert]

Hey all,
A few of these have sold on the classifieds and on ebay. I'm sure a couple out there have bought them. I know Dale has played them. What's the scoop?
Paul

[phynie]

I have played one of his A-styles and currently have one on order. Very nice for the price! The one I played was an early example of his work and I am sure the newer one's are even better. It is really hard to describe sound clearly but here it goes. It has a thick sound. Good bass, nice midrange, and a beautiful treble. I am not really a bluegrass player so I did not give it the "chop test". I did play a few jazz tunes on it and was very pleased. It was easy to play all over the neck. The quality of the woods used was top notch! By the way, I have no financial interest, I am just excited about getting my new mandolin!

I have a custom two point nearly finished & will give a report when it arrives. I have a Blackface mahogany back A here now. My only gripe of consequence (at this price point) is I don't like the tuners or the shape of the headstock. The buttons are to close to the headstock & tuning is awkward at best.

[GBG]

That headstock be ugly-make a freight train take a dirt road!

Thanks George....... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

You folks please post your headstock comments. It's one thing for me as a dealer to relay my thoughts to a builder. But hearing (or reading) comments here should be very beneficial to all builders.

Here are my thoughts on the subject. Funky headstock shapes while quite distinctive can be major turnoffs for buyers (are you listening Breedlove....) Keep it simple & stick to a distinctive inlay or logo (which Breedlove has)...They will be better accepted.

If $30 extra is needed for a good tuner vrs cheapos......then do it & charge more.........NOBODY likes cheap tuners.

Gigbags are a joke........don't go there. If it's worth having then it's worth a hardshell case.

If you feel this is imposing on your artistic license....build whatever you like......but if you intend to sell to the public you might keep these comments in mind.

Now all this is not directed at Moonbeam alone. As I've stated above, there are several that do one or more of the above gripes.

So now let's here comments from the gallery.......

[phynie]

I was not too crazy about the headstock shape either. The moonbeam I am getting built is going to have a snakehead. He is fitting it with grover tuners(now standard on his instruments). I'm with you dale, keep it simple!

[Andrew Reckhart]

I agree with ya Dale. #Getting too far out there with the headstock is getting to be a "trend/problem". #I understand that everybody wants their instruments to be easily identifiable, but the funky headstock shape is not the way to go. #I would agree that a unique and tasteful inlay is the 'right' way to go. #I had considered the Breedlove as a mandolin to back up my Stivers, but found that the headstock made it too long to fit in certain cases. #Not a major problem, but enough to deter me from purchasing one. #I will probably end up getting a Gibson A9 instead.


I really liked the tone of most of the Breedloves that I tried, too!

[PCypert]

Yeah,
I'm kind of the same way about headstocks. It's funny too, because I'm all for non traditional mandos...but too much and I'm out. Breedlove doesn't do it for me. Some of their mandos and guitars sound so sweet. Really nice trebles. But I can't stand the look. I have a Rigel. Just the right amount of difference.

I would definately pay a little more for a case and better tuners. You think you wouldn't mind going without those things when you're first on your budget. But two months later you have money again and you're kicking yourself for saving on those things (my firs mando a Mid Mo 0). Mandos are tiny and really need hard cases even if you don't gig. Medium sized animals can do some damage.

I was thinking of bidding on that two point on ebay from Moon Beam. I love the back and everything else, but that headstock...Maybe they should keep developing. I'm interested in the snakehead look. Maybe they're still developing. To each his own...

Paul

[Dioptase]

With a headstock like that it could have the tone of a Gil and I'd still pass it up. I even prefer the simple square mid mo headstock.
And don't skimp on tuners or on hard cases. Those are absolutely essential. Skimp on the finish, skimp on the binding, the inlays... leave the important aspects alone.

[jim simpson]

If the price was right and I liked everything else about the mandolin, I would reshape the headstock myself. I once did this with a guitar that I picked up. It had a great sound but I didn't like the snake head shape of the headstock. I glued on matching wood wings, added an overlay and redrilled for the tuners. I ended up with the trad Martin shape and was much happier with it.