Stan Miller "F" for sale

[Nolan]

I had a serious bout with MAS when I saw that thing come on the classifieds! Thankfully, someone already bought it!

I had the pleasure of seeing Jody Stecher play a month ago and his Stan Miller "A" sounded awesome. I heard John Reischman used to play one too before he got his Loar.

[Gibsonman]

The Stan Miller that just sold was the same one that John Reischman had. I bought it can;t wait to get it.

[Nolan]

That's awesome Gibsonman! Good for you!
If it sounds anything like Jody Stechers' you are in for a treat.

Let me know how it sounds when you get it.

By the way, I wonder if Stan Miller is going to start building again? He lives in my neck of the woods (or so I've read) but I have yet to meet him at any local bluegrass events.

[Gibsonman]

Thanks Nolan I will let you know, I don,t know if he will start back or not, who knows.

[John Flynn]

I too have heard Jody Strecter's Miller mandolin close up. It is amazing.

Here is a whole section of a website on Stan Miller and what he is up to recently. It does hold out some hope that he will build again.

http://home.comcast.net/~ukecat/mandolin/mandos11.html

[Paul Kotapish]

Congratulations.

Jody's A-style Miller is a great instrument, as was the one John Reischman used to own.

I had a Stan Miller F back in the '70s. It was the one he made just before making John's, and it also had rosewood back and sides and a gorgeous rose inlay on the peghead. Our mandos were nearly identical, but John's had an elaborately carved heel. They were both a great instruments, and I wish I knew where the one I used to play was now. I sold it to Seattle mandolinist Tom Moran, who played it for a number of years before passing it on.

[Scotti Adams]

Mike had sent me that mando awhile back to do some set up work done on it. It is indeed a very fine mando...congrats John.

[Gibsonman]

Hi Scotti, Thanks for your input. I did not know that. Looking forward to getting it .

[addcourt]

I got this Stan Miller F5 a year or so ago from a guy in western Canada. After we had made our trade, he told me that he had purchased it from John Reischman and that Todd Phillips had done the french polish finish. #The mandolin is an excellent example of fine craftsmanship and the information regarding ownership or background played no influence in the deal(there was no value added for the information regarding John Reischman's connection to it). #So, I tend to beleive what I was told. #This mandolin is signed and dated September '81 with figured maple neck, sides and back. #Spruce top appears to be Englemann and the peghead overlay looks like Brazilian rosewood with a very elaborate fern inlay. If anyone out there has infomation on this rare mandolin, Gibsonman and I would be interested in hearing from you.

[Gibsonman]

Thanks addcourt for the information. What was your honest opion about thr mandolin?

[addcourt]

I think it's a real shame that Stan stopped building mandolins. I've owned a couple of Givens mandolins and this Miller is every bit as good. Remembering that Stan built only a few dozen instruments(under pretty primative conditions)his efforts are pretty incredible. You'll find this mandolin to be loud with more of a Givens tone(maybe due to Englemann spruce)than a Gibson. The neck has a very nice feel with a radius fb. Fit and finish is absolutely top notch. If Stan continued building for those next 20 years, it's hard to imagine what his current instruments would be like. Hope this helps.

[Gibsonman]

Thank you very much Addcourt. That really makes me fell good.

[Paul Kotapish]

Gibsonman and addcourt,

If the mandolin just exchanged had a fern inlay, was made out of maple, and was made in 1981, it isn't the one John Reischman owned. John definitely had his rosewood Miller in the late '70s and his definitely was made out of rosewood and had a rose inlay very much like this one:

http://home.comcast.net/~ukecat/mandolin/mandos/StanMiller/11Maple270.jpg

Here's a picture of John's old mando, after the refinishing job.

http://home.comcast.net/~ukecat/mandolin/mandos/CHips_cuzA.jpg

The following is from the Stan Miller (http://home.comcast.net/~ukecat/mandolin/mandos11.html) pages, and it jibes with what I remember.

"John Reischman owned this rosewood mandolin from 77 to about 81 and he used it to record on the Tony Rice album "Still Inside". All those tracks can be found on the "Devlin" cd. Todd Phillips put the new finish on this mando and did a great job. The mandolin plays nice and has developed a great woody tone."

I guess it's possible that he bought another one at some point, but he's had his Loar since 1983 at least, and I've never seen him play anything else since.

No matter, though. I'm sure it's a wonderful mandolin, whatever its provenance.

PK

[stevem]

Maybe its the mando, or maybe its just John's technique, but I think his tone on the Devlin' tracks sounds much better than Grisman and Bush's (to my ears). I was thinking it was his Loar all this time...

[Gibsonman]

Just to let you know,I e-mailed John Reischman. This is what he told me. He said that he had a Rosewood one that he got in 1977, and sold it in 1981 when he got his Loar. He got the maple one in 1982, and had it for 15 years. He said he did not play it much, because the neck was smaller than he was use to. This is the mandolin I have, a 1981.

[Paul Kotapish]

Thanks for the full story, John, and have a great time with your new instrument.

[Gibsonman]

Thank you Paul.

[Nolan]

So, did you get that Miller yet? How does it sound?

[Gibsonman]

No Nolan I won,t get it until sometime next week. Will let you know. Thanks John.

[addcourt]

Just back from a week of hiking in the mtns out west. #Good to see this great info on the Millers. #Will be shipping to you in the am, John. #ps: John, maybe you can post some photos when you receive it. I haven't tried to load photos on the Cafe yet.

[Gibsonman]

Sure as soon as I get it I will take some pictures, and post them on this thread.

[Gibsonman]

Here you go guys and gals. Received my Stan Miller here are some pictures for your viewing.

[Gibsonman]

And another

[Gibsonman]

and another

[Gibsonman]

and another

[Nolan]

Nice looking mandolin....
So.... what does it sound like?

[Gibsonman]

I just put a set of set of J 75 on it. It,s very loud. I think it is louder that the 04 MM that I had. Has great tone.

[Gibsonman]

Mandoplucker stop beating yourself up. We all make mistakes.