Dave harvey / my mm setup

[Tony Sz]

I'm so excited with my new setup on my Gibson Master Model that I just had to post this to let everyone know. I had a scratch on the back of my mandolin that just irked me every time I picked up the instrument, so at the last IBMA, I dropped the mando off with Dave Harvey at Gibson to see if he could touch it up. Well, he touched it up to the point that if I didn't tell you that there was a scratch there (it was through the finish, all the way to bare wood)you just would never know! While he had it, he went over the total setup. He respaced the strings (new nut) re seated the bridge,derssed the frets, etc. The net result is that the mando plays like a dream, and is louder, stronger in tone, the midrange is even more pronounced, all in all, it's just like a different animal. I can't say enough how impressed I am with what he has done! I just expected a bit better playability as the frets were somewhat worn, but this is astounding! I'm almost glad that I scratched it because if I didn't, I wouldn't have had the new setup. All I can say is WOW! Dave really has the touch ( aside from being one awesome player)
Tony Sz

[red7flag]

Glad to hear it. I have heard nothing but excellent about Dave. I have my Pom F4 and Lebeda mandola in for the same type of work. I can't wait to hear them.
Tony

[Hallmark498]

Dave set my 03 fern up before IBMA. All I can say is WOW!
It notes correctly, has better tone, action is lower (which means it also plays better) and the kicker its LOUDER!

Dave is a great guy and awesome mando guy. From Dave " I like working on mandos as much as I do playing them" Well it shows!

[Steven Stone]

When it comes to vintage mando set ups and repairs Dave rules.

No offence to other good set-up guys, including Jackie Miller (who did a splendid job on my 2003 Varnish Fern), but I would never let anyone else work on my '31 Fern except Dave.

[ipmala888]

I got the LAST of the 2005 MM's which came off the line at
the end of December 2005. The last and the best. This was
from their best 'original' build team--which, at that time, was supervised by Danny Roberts. I had called Gibson and told them to call me if and only if they could find me an absolute "cannon"--and, sure enough, I got a call about one
month later. They had a 'freak' MM that just came off the line and was less than one week old--handpicked by Big Joe,
Charlie D., Jackie Miller, Dave Harvey, and Danny Roberts.
They said it was the best one they have ever heard--a real
banjo killer. Well, Dave Harvey then did his magic on it--a 'pro' setup--which was then fine-tuned again by Jackie M.
Well, I definately got what I paid for. This mando is so
loud it can knock down a large building, and it's got it all--huge bottom end, huge mids, and crystal clear highs.
The Loar they had there (at that time) was no match against
my MM. Neither was the Gilcrist that I played. Anyway, I
think that the expertise of Gibson's mando technicians--
Dave Harvey, Jackie Miller, and Danny Roberts--is why Gibson
will always be the leader when it comes to mandos and mando
'setup'. I'm sure that most of you would agree on that.

[Steve Perry]

So, Tony.... would you mind giving a ballpark figure of how much that setup cost you?

Steve Perry

[mandoman4807]

Dave Did a set up on MM about three years ago, and it is still going strong today. The only work done to date was a fret dress by Skip Kelly a little over a year ago, of which he did a superb job as well http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif


Darrell