New distressed A-style by Laura Ratcliff

[Kentuckyken]

Here is the newest mandolin from the shop of Silverangel. This A-style by Laura is a killer. It will be available to see and to buy at IBMA this weekend.

[Kentuckyken]

another view.............

[Kentuckyken]

another..........

[Kentuckyken]

another of the top...........

[Kentuckyken]

last one...............

[Lane Pryce]

Ken you guys are getting to be resident experts when it comes to distressing mandolins. Looks great! Does this one
have the old red spruce top too? BTW there was a kid playing one of your distressed F5's here in NC several weeks ago at one of local jams. It was an excellent BG mandolin. Lp

[Lee]

I like the way the headstock has evolved. This one with the wood grain looks especially nice.
And the fingerboard termination point is classy. (We don't need more than 20-frets!)
What number is Laura up to now?

[Kentuckyken]

another view of the top......

[Kentuckyken]

Yes, this mandolin has 100 year old red spruce too, thank you very much.

[Kentuckyken]

Hello Lee....I'm glad you like it, this is my #44 mandolin, thanks alot.....Laura

[bgmando]

Laura -- you're killing me. I loved the look of this mando.

The headstock and it's inlay are especially nice.

I pitched your A models to a guy at Winfield who loved my SA F. Wish I had his e-mail address, I'd send him this.

I've enjoyed Ken's work. I hope someday to come across one of your mandos in person to play it.
This one sure looks fine.

Are those Waverly tuners on it?

[Kentuckyken]

Hello.....The tuners are Grovers, thank you very much.........Laura

[jasona]

Now that...THAT...is a mandolin. Awesome work Laura!

Of course, I am biased. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Doug Edwards]

What are you guys using on the binding and tuners to get that aging effect? Looks good.

Do you have a closeup of the top and one of the F holes?

[Skip Kelley]

Awesome work on the mandolin! It really has the appearance of being old!

[Yonkle]

The coloring and shadeing is awesime, headstock is very old looking too, great job, best looking A I've seen in a while, classic!

[250sc]

I can tell Laura is a woman of few words. ;-)

I hope to be able to try one some day.

Ken, are you making any more C#s?

[Scotti Adams]

..thats a nice one..that fer sure

[Doug Edwards]

I can tell Laura is a woman of few words. ;-)

I hope to be able to try one some day.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif???

That is one of the mandolins ain't it?

I know that's what you meant, but there's those inquiring minds you know.

[FolkMando]

wow, really nice! I'm gonna like to see that this weekend at the IBMA!

[Mark Walker]

I can tell Laura is a woman of few words. ;-)
Laura doesn't - or didn't - speak much English as she's originally from South America! #But she's a beautiful person (my wife and I have dined with Laura and Ken in their hometown of Elliottville, KY) and Ken has certainly taught her the mandolin craft well! #

I doubt they'll be replying until after IBMA because I think they're going to be there through Sunday! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Lee]

Come on. Someone must have checked out this one at IBMA. Any comments http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Grandude]

What type of varnish was used?

[picksnbits]

I checked it out. Sounds even better than it looks and it looks even better in person than the pictures do here. I played it and Ken's F and thought Laura's might have sounded a bit better, but the tone was consistent with my own Silver Angel and the one other that I've tried. I played quite a few exceptional mandolins that day and this is one of the ones that stood out in my mind.

[GeorgiaBob]

I played this mandolin at the IBMA. It has a killer tone and looks better in person than in the photos. The tone Ken and Laura are getting is very consistent as I own two F styles. They are also great people to deal with. This will make someone a very happy picker. Bob

[ronsongz]

If this one sounds nearly a good as my 2-point
#40 by Laura, it is a killer! I love mine and
can't wait to play one of Ken's F's someday.

Ron

[Ira Chavis]

#44 has made its way into my hands. #What an incredible sound and Ken and Laura were a pleasure to work with. #

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c129/ichavis/IMG_0796.jpg

This distressed A model is quite loud but also has a softer sound. very consistant. Should work for a large range of music for me. #Laura is so talented. #I never have owned by a mandolin made by a smaller luthier, only from the bigger companies. # Would love a matching distressed F model some day.

Thanks Ken and Laura!

Ira

[jasona]

Congrats Ira! You're a fine looking pair. I agree about Laura's mandolins working in a large range of music. Enjoy getting to know your new mandolin.

[Bob Kellett]

Laura,

# # Beautiful A model! I have to confess, I do like the one you built for me even better #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Bob Kellett

[johnsmusic]

Darn, I wanted that. Oh well, ya snooze ya loose....:blues: