In Love

[otterly2k]

Not that I can afford it... but I was recently at the Mandolin Bros. store on Staten Island, where you can just pick mandolins off the wall and play 'em all... I probably played about 20 different instruments while I was there, ranging from about $250-- 8K...brand spanking new to vintage Gibsons...

And I tell ya, the one that stole my heart was the Phoenix Neoclassical... at about $2700... a two-point shape, light as air and well-balanced (don'tcha hate it when the headstock is so heavy it pulls you down?)... carved top with F holes... felt very violinish in the hands... and strung with Tomastiks (all strings are steel, not wound, making for a very light and easy touch).

Just thought I'd share that with the forum. Anyone have one of these, and are they as wonderful over time as they are on first impression...??

KE

[John Flynn]

FYI, the TI strings are wound, except for the E strings. They are just flat wound, not round wound, so they feel smooth like plain steel.

I have heard good things and I am very intrigued by the Neoclassical. I have always wanted to try one, but unfortunately, I haven't had the pleasure.

[Lee]

Hi Oterrly2K,
Heeeheee; aren't they amazing? Rolfe builds them completely unlike any other mandolin. I have a Deluxe, the model with the fretboard inlay. It's like a Neo but built to take heavier strings. Oh my, it tingles my spine when I play it. So fast, so sweet. In a way it's almost too crystaline so I put on TI strings to add some "wood" and they worked wonders. I would also like to try GHS bronze&silk strings too. Sure, my Collings MT2 and BRW are great. But the Phoenix is a completely different universe unto itself. I'm impressed most with the sensitivity. Real light pick actions get great string response. And one time I was re-stringing and across the street someone slammed their car door shut and I could feel the sypathetic vibrations in the Phoenix. Absolutely amazing. I haven't tried the Bluegrass model or the Neo. I'm not a fan of narrow frets but I would not change the Phoenix. Also, the neck is so precise and well laid out that it plays like a neck that is actually wider than it is. Go ahead and buy the Phoenix, because there are no alternatives.