Parker Mandolins

[wheelhoss]

Hi folks. #I've posted in this past about some of my other
fine mandos, but you've got to here about a newer builder
from PA named Jim "Andy" Parker. # He built a black topped
F5 for me that is not only gorgeous to look at, but sounds and plays great. #This relatively inexpensive mandolin has a
Adirondack "Red" spruce top and a red maple back and sides
that are to die for. #Also, an abbreviated black pickguard. #These woods are about the choicest I've ever scene. #Beautiful work #Also, it has a radiused three-piece neck and big frets....this is the most comfortable neck I've played since my Rigel G-110. #This mandolin is good enough to set beside my 2002 Gibson MM, three Sumi F5's, and my Wintergrass 2000 Rigel G-110 that Jimmy G. played and recorded with for a year. #You might check out some his work on the Good Deale Bluegrass shop's website. # I had not intended on adding any more mandolins to my collection, this was just too good to pass up. #You might want to check them out, if you want a killer bluegrass mandolin at a reasonable price.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Ron Kaye
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Huntingtown, Maryland

[Coy Wylie]

There isn't much info at the Good Deale website. Is there info elsewhere? I am curious about the price range.

[wheelhoss]

You can talk to Tim Finch directly about the pricing.
The Good Deale Bluegrass shop's phone is 410-867-2400.

Ron Kaye

[softshell]

I just bought a Parker A-model from Tim Finch. Nice instrument, with a subtle beauty. Has really nice figure on the neck, back and sides. It is number A002. Was a little tight sounding at first but after giving her a good thrashing she is beginning to loosen up. I'd like to lower the action a little but I think I need to adjust the neck relief just a bit.

[softshell]

Here are some pics

[softshell]

another

[softshell]

one more

[August Watters]

I stopped by Andy Parker's house in Pennsylvania last summer and played a whole bunch of his mandolins. He's a great guy and a very promising builder!

Although he's new, he's done all the right work and research, courtesy of this incredibly generous mando community, and is making some very well-built and good sounding instruments. In this price range you can't do better, IMHO.

August Watters
http://www.galleryofstrings.com

[wheelhoss]

I also picked up a Parker A.......which was built about a year
ago. # It has a cedar top and maple back and sides. #Once I
got the set up right #(this one had been in the store since late last year) and #strung up with J75's, it sounded like I thought it was going to sound: #the less dense Cedar top
gave it a very deep woody tone. #Cedar requires very little break in time, so this was good from the get go. #However, I think that Parker's work has improved in the year since this A was made. Andy might have taken pix of my new F5.......if so, I wish he would post these for all to see. #My black topped F5 turned out so good, Andy is about to do another one just like it. Andy are you there?

# # # # # # # # # #Ron Kaye

[J.A.P.]

Hi Wheelhoss,


Thanks for the kind attention. I do have a few pixs that I'd like to share. Unfortunately, I'm digitally challenged and don't know how to size them to post on this site. Perhaps someone can help me figure it out or post some on my behalf. Seems like I've spent my time trying to figure out wood and not much else. There are some pixs of F004 & F005 that I could e-mail to anyone interested in taking a look or posting them for me. By the way, August it's always good to hear from you. Hope you are well.

# # # # Andy
P.S. e-mail me at jparker@nesl.com

[softshell]

Hi Mr. Parker! Do you do other colors as well i.e. blacktop?

[softshell]

Oh ignore that last post from me, I saw that wheelhoss has a blacktop.

[August Watters]

Here are some photos of Andy's new F5s: Andy sent me the photos so I'm doing the posting!

They sure look nice -- the ones I played last summer were already very impressive; I'd sure like to try these!

August W
http://www.galleryofstrings.com

[August Watters]

Hmmmm. . .having a little trouble attaching photos -- let me try again:

[August Watters]

Headstock photos:

[August Watters]

And the backs. Nice work, Andy!

August

[Kevin K]

Those really look nice. I'm really partial to the blackface one and would like to get some more information.

[jim simpson]

Where in PA is Andy located?

[wheelhoss]

Great pix! #However, the colors and grain of the one-piece back on my Parker blacktop F are much more choice than the photo of the backs displays. #It has a dark burst with reddish highlights #that is done superbly by Andy. #No wonder that Gilchrist uses the same wood supplier. #Awesome.

# # # # # # #Ron Kaye

[J.A.P.]

Hi Folks,

# # Joe, I live in Hollidaysburg PA. It's outside of Altoona which is the offical belly button of PA. Kevin I can give you more details on the instruments. You can e-mail me at jparker@nesl.com. I'm a weekend wood butcher so that address is my office mail. The office filters out aol and some of the other service providers due to spam. You can also reach me at home, parkerhq@keyconn.net. August, thanks again for posting the pictures. With what you sent me I might try posting some on my own. Ron, how do the picture look to you?

# #Thanks again to all,

# # #Andy, also J.A.P., and a.k.a. Jim

# # This witness protection stuff has me confused now.

# # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Kidding of course!

[Lee]

Some fine looking pics Mr. Jim Andy. Glad to see that PA has another mandolin builder.

[mandoJeremy]

Very, very nice looking F-styles there Andy. I love the sunburst on that one. Looks like you've got the scroll and workmanship down.

That is one killer mandolin. I love the Color that you used for it.. Awesome

[Scotti Adams]

..very nice indeed..I too like the 'burst....

[Scotti Adams]

..I absolutley love the 'burst on the 5 on the left..is there any more pics out there anywhere of this mando?..I would love to see them...thanks

[ramtower]

I am the proud owner of the black tipped(ebony) F-5 that Andy built for me last year. (004 or 005, can't remember which) We worked together(he building and me talking)all the way through the selection of materials and choice of tailpieces. My main requirement was that the instrument must have the "WOW" factor trinity. Sound, Playability, and Looks. He achieved all three, in what I believe to be the finest mandolin I've ever seen, heard, or played. It looks just like a custom mandolin should. Keep up the good work, Andy.

[Scotti Adams]

Yes..they are a real visual treat...how would you describe the sound of these beauties?

[ramtower]

The words that comes to mind are clean and complex. Each string(open and fretted) can be distinctly heard through a background of loud banjo playing and general bluegrass mayhem. When you hit it, it just rings.

[Scotti Adams]

..how are they in the bass department?....can they be desribed as dry and woody?...Is there someones mando you could compare it to?

[ramtower]

I think "dry" and "woody" are a lttle overused and have kind of lost their meaning. I will say that you would not be disappointed with the bass. The only way to know is to try one for yourself. I think Tim has one in his shop now, if you're close to DC. Or contact the "Man" himself.

[Scotti Adams]

..I have to disagree on your dry and woody theory...I still see plenty of talk...people wanting that in a mando and builders striving towards that sound in their mandos...to each his own...good luck to you and I hope to run across a Parker mando in the future....thanks for your help! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

..how are they in the bass department?....can they be desribed as dry and woody?...Is there someones mando you could compare it to?


Sorry for going a little off topic...

For us beginners, a short sound clip of a "dry" or "woody" mandolin would help us understand what exactly that means? #Any suggestions, say from the mando tasting sameples or the mp3 on this site?

[Scotti Adams]

..Dempsey Youngs Hutto comes to mind....My #6....several Loars I have heard..Shawn Lanes Dearstone...Steffeys Apitious....man..the list goes on..as far as MP3's...locate that page here and listen to Weeknend Lover and LineFork.....to me that sound is dry and woody with a fat tone...if I do say so myself.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Thanks Scotti.

[Scotti Adams]

..and another one...listen to Scott T's Nugget in the MP3 page as well....playing " A Place In The Heart" thats a good sound there too..

[GBG]

Listen to Bob Applebaum on the MP3 page-"I've Cried Enough".

[JimW]

Thought I would bring this topic back to the front with all the talk about Parker Mandolins. It seems we have two "Parker" luthiers. Also, talking about "dry" and "woody" tone, I agree, have a listen to Scott Tichenor's nugget on the mp3 page. Click here for the MP3. (http://www.brentrup.com/mandolincafe/placeintheheart.mp3) This is my all time favorite sound.

Jim

[J.A.P.]

I know exactly that fat, dry, woody tone your guys are talking about. For me that trick has been to try and balance that low end growl with clear cutting highs. This next comment might sound like heresy to a traditionalist. I have experimented with some maple bridges and have been able to get some really great tone on a couple mandolins. Are maple bridges for everyone? Certainly not, but there is serious potential there. By the way, they look really funny so that hard for some folks to get use to. I have a maple bridge on the very first mando I built, it's staying on. The ebony bridges have been working really well for me too, but it sure is fun to try new stuff.

# J.A.P.

[Tom C]

The Headstock on the one at Elderly's looks funny. The one from PA looks real nice if you find his website. I'm too tired to re-find it now.

[Jim M.]

The Headstock on the one at Elderly's looks funny.

The one at Elderly is by a different Parker.