Marty stuart

[chopaholic]

I saw Marty last night here in Iowa and before the show I could see his Gibson up on the dimly lit stage, and wondered if he had a Loar. His "roadie" was selling CDs next to the stage, so I asked him if he knew anything about Marty's instruments. He said, "what would you like to know?". So I asked if it was a Loar and he said no, it was made in 1982, do you want to see it? I nodded and he jumped on stage and brought it over. Suffice it to say, Marty doesn't care about scratches as he has had everybody who's anybody in music, scratch their names into every available square inch of that thing. That will be a hall of fame piece someday!
As far as the performance, he was playing solo. Just himself and his guitar or mandolin. He stated that this was I believe only the third time he has ever performed without a band. It was a great show. The guy is flat out talented. For any of you fellow cafe members around eastern Iowa, Stuart plays tonight at The Mill in Iowa City.Check it out.

[AlanN]

Awesome, always dug Marty.

[Kevin K]

Marty is very talented and can make that mandolin talk.

[ponyfiddle]

Oh, you're killing me. I used to live in Iowa City and frequented The Mill. Aaaargh!

[chopaholic]

I just saw a short interview on the CMT website where Marty explains that his "Gibson" is a copy that he paid $650 for when he was about 14 years old. That would make that mandolin at least 35 years old. The roadie was off by about 10 years. Stuart also states that Johnny Cash got bored one night and carved his initials and a cross into the back with his pocket knife, which started the ball rolling.
By the way, not knowing it was a copy I expected it to sound good. After all, it said "The Gibson" on it, and it did indeed sound great. Or maybe I just thought it sounded great because it said "The Gibson" on it. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[f5loar]

It's a Rural Yarbough/Marion Kirk F5 Loar copy. Kirk learned to build the F5 from Randy Wood. Marty is most talented and would do well in a solo setting. I thought it was more of an early 70's model since he was born l958 and being 14 would be 1972 so something is off there if he told you 1982.

[Ken Berner]

Not to deter from the Marty thought here, but I heard that Rhonda Vincent plays/played a copy of a Gibson F5. I don't recall the name of the builder, but the mandolins must have been spectacular. A few years ago, I was in the local music emporium and everyone was inspecting another Gibson "copy". This one was a very poor example and would deceive very few musicians. I guess there are several instances where the Gibson name has been mis-used.

[David M.]

Dang it, dang it, dang it. I forgot about that show. I'm down in Muscatine. That's a great room to see and play. Wish I had made it. I have a buddy who saw Vince Gill the night before at the Adler and said it was amazing and he WAS playing his Loar on stage.

BTW, we've got a new session going here in Muscatine every Thurs. night at 7:00. Strictly old time fiddle tunes (Celtic and some rags, etc.). no singing. Pretty good session.

The guy running the jam is Chris Foss, owner of the NEW music store here in Muscatine, 'Round The Bend music.

PM me w/details. I may PM you just to give you an official invite.

[SternART]

Years ago, Rhonda used to play a Cliff Sargent......older gentleman from Sacramento,
a Loar owner and luthier in retirement. Cliff passed away in 2004.

[DryBones]

Not to deter from the Marty thought here, but I heard that Rhonda Vincent plays/played a copy of a Gibson F5. I don't recall the name of the builder, but the mandolins must have been spectacular. A few years ago, I was in the local music emporium and everyone was inspecting another Gibson "copy". This one was a very poor example and would deceive very few musicians. I guess there are several instances where the Gibson name has been mis-used.
Doesn't Rhonda play a Smith Creek?

[superc_1]

I saw Marty and his band this last spring in Eureka Springs, Arkansas blue grass festival and it was a first class act. I would drive a long way to see him play again. When it comes to playing the mandolin there would be very few who could hold a candle to him. If you ever get the chance everybody should take the time to see him. You know your special when you get picked to play in Ralph Stanley's band at the age of 14 years old.

[Greenmando]

Doesn't Rhonda play a Smith Creek?
That's what she told me.

[SternART]

Ken, If it was a "copy of a Gibson" and it even said "The Gibson" on the headstock it was a Cliff Sargent.
This was back several years ago, if I'm not mistaken she has traded insruments a few times since then.

[AlanN]

Years ago, Rhonda used to play a Cliff Sargent......older gentleman from Sacramento,
a Loar owner and luthier in retirement. Cliff passed away in 2004.
Cliff was a nice guy and talented builder.

I remember a LoarFest at IBMA one year, Gilchrist was covering a topic, had everybody's attention at the front of the room. All of a sudden, we hear a 'clatter, clatter' with ringing strings from the back. Cliff had apparently dropped one of his mandolins on the floor. Gilchrist momentarily stopped talking, then resumed.

It was a moment.

And back to Marty, one year at Bass Mtn, he did a workshop at the museum, had Tony Williamson back him up. They picked Watson's Blues, quite well.

[AlanN]

You know your special when you get picked to play in Ralph Stanley's band at the age of 14 years old.
Think it was Lester Flatt's band...

[Wesley]

If Marty was performing solo - what type of mandolin material was he doing?

[don richards]

Alan...is correct! - no harm intended, but perhaps the previous poster was thinking of Ricky Scaggs. Marty was quoted as saying "... I grew up on Lester Flatt's bus." - Lester had to ask his(Marty's) parent's "permission" to take Marty #"on the road". Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[poymando]

I had heard that Marty's mandolin was made by Chris Warner.
Anyone out there second that?

[chopaholic]

If Marty was performing solo - what type of mandolin material was he doing?
Quite honestly, I'm not sure of the names of the songs because I get more wrapped up in how he is playing rather than what he is playing. Some of it had a bluesy feel, but the best for me was a Monroe tune I believe, and I didn't catch the title. It was instrumental and kind of resembled "House of the Rising Sun". Maybe that description will ring a bell with some of you.

[chopaholic]

I had heard that Marty's mandolin was made by Chris Warner.
Anyone out there second that?
You are correct. I just reviewed the video interview on the CMT website, and he states that Chris Warner did indeed make the mandolin.

[evanreilly]

I am certain that the Monroe instrumental Marty did was "My Last Days on Earth', and he does a great job of it.
After all...

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

what a great picture Evan!
Marty has been a great inspiration to me over the years.

rasa
Jonathan Reinhardt

[bud]

Dang Evan, you never cease to amaze me with these photos, or little bits of information regarding Monroe. You must have a storehouse full of this stuff.

Looking forward to seeing Marty at Merlefest and Rockygrass this year.

Bud

[f5loar]

Chris Warner was in with Rual Y. and M. Kirk. All that Alabama gang I call them. Did Marty have 2 mandolins? One in '72 and one in '82? Might be talking 2 different mandolins here.

[F5G WIZ]

You mean this one?

[F5G WIZ]

Here's another good shot of him when he was young.

[8ch(pl)]

I saw Bill Monroe at the Opry in 1973. He had a young fellow playing mandolin that was 14, sang and played fine mandolin. I remember the song he did being "Bluebirds Are Singing for Me". but can't remember the young man''s name. May have been Marty Stewart.

I still have the Opry program in my Banjo case.

[evanreilly]

Gotta love the above pic of Marty holding the mandolin up into the mic like that. Classic Monroe technique.

[newbreedbrian]

I saw Bill Monroe at the Opry in 1973. He had a young fellow playing mandolin that was 14, sang and played fine mandolin. I remember the song he did being "Bluebirds Are Singing for Me". but can't remember the young man''s name. May have been Marty Stewart.

I still have the Opry program in my Banjo case.
nice glen, that's a pretty good memory to have there

[flatthead]

The one with all the signatures on it was built by Chris Warner. He had actually built it for Roland White, but Roland either didn't like it or couldn't afford it at the time, so Marty bought it. I think Marty was living with Roland at the time, and they both were playing with Flatt. This would have been in the early 70's.

[Kevin Briggs]

Chris Warner is now a great repair man in York, PA. He, Jeff Hoestetter, Rob Zwally, and a fella in Hershey who's name escapes me are known to be the best around the area. Sean Buckwalter from Conestoga String Shop is making a name for himself too.

[AlanN]

I have a live tape somewhere of the NG with Flatt, Kenny Ingram, Tater Tate, Marty, Seckler, etc. They do Till The End Of The World Rolls Round, and Cripple Creek, in the patented slow, then fast deal. When Marty takes his mando break, he lays out on the first couple of measures, then 'comes in', and man, does he cook - fast, fast, fast. I tried to learn that break, could hardly move the pick quick enough. I loved it.

Funny, I asked Barry Mitterhoff about Marty's picking one time, he said he didn't like it...to each his own.

[jim simpson]

Here's a copy made by Chris Warner in the early 70's (I've posted this pic here before). I had to work on the neck: plane, new finger board, refret and bind. I couldn't get a match at the time on the binding.
I sure miss the Web strap that I let go with it.

[don richards]

soooo..., was the mandolin any good..!!!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif - Moose http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[jim simpson]

Hey Moose,
It was lacking. It did have a good high end but that was it. I sold it at a guitar show. I later spotted it being played by Don Eldreth Jr. of Bob Paisley (RIP) and the Southern Grass. I commented on it to Don at which he asked if I wanted to buy it. I explained that I got rid of it once and that was enough. It sounded good to me when he was playing it but he clearly was looking to get something else real soon.

[don richards]

Thanks - hi, buddy- Hey those Paisley/Lundy/Eldreth boys are gett'n some gooood gigs now!!- great 2nd generation Bluegrasser's!! - I knew and did some work with Ted Lundy - and have "put-a-few-away with Bobby and TJ. hee... hee.. Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[bluegrasssboy]

Here's a snippet from a 1995 Vintage Guitar magazine interview w/ Marty:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g
t;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g
t;>>>>>>>

VG: Tell us about your mandolin.

Marty: It's a copy of a Gibson I bought when I first came to town. I've tried to electrify that mandolin. The reason I never played mandolin on stage is because I couldn't find anything worth a flip. Gibson gave me an F-5 a couple of years ago. They gave me and Bill Monroe one on the stage of the Opry. I've just not played it much 'cause I couldn't get it to sound right but, last trip, my sound man came to my house and said, "You really need to be playing the mandolin, I've got an idea."So he took it downtown and somebody put a Baggs pickup in it and I plugged it in through a Trace Elliot amp. I don't care how loud the band plays, it still holds up. I think for the first time in my life I'm finally get to play some Rock & Roll mandolin.


Here's the whole thing.(if you want to read about telecasters) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
http://www.martystuart.com/ZArt-VintageGuitar10-95.htm

[cutbait2]

don't i recall Marty's Loar? being sold here on the cafe several years ago?

[evanreilly]

I do believe there was an ad for Marty's Loar that made a very brief appearance here. I believe it sold rapidly. Could be mistaken, tho.

[f5loar]

He did have a '24 Loar and sold it a few years later. I recall he recorded at least one CD with it. Either he didn't like it or was desparate for money fast!

[8ch(pl)]

I'll never sell my Loar...... I may never buy it either.

[JVESEY]

What are the "essential" recordings for Marty Stuart playing Mando. Specifically Bluegrass. I picked up the Live record from the Ryman and have been floored by his couple of TV appearances with the Fabulous Superlatives. But most of the rest that I've heard of him he's been twanging it up with Clarence White's Tele. Great stuff, but I'd love to hear more traditional stuff. Is it spread over many records?

[AlanN]

Pick up Marty! RR-00002 maybe, has a few cuts he plays on. Also, Busy Bee Cafe. And of course his work in the N-Ville Grass from decades ago. He burns it.

[dirty harry]

Marty Stuart is a great player . I always wondered about his Mandolin being a Gibson as the top curve seemed just a tad off? Still fine work from the photos I've looked at. A ton of people have made copies that fool........ even the experts.
Look at that Sumi Gibson that was up for sale! Hope you didnt miss that one folks.
Harry

[hoffmannia2k7]

Have you all listened to his XM radio show? Amazing stuff!!! Pure entertainment. It has influenced me to try to record some pre-recorded mock radio segments.

[mboucher]

Here is one of Marty playing for Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris. They wouldn't even let him stand on the same stage, lol.

Marty Stuart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYCy8pHsVnI)

Mark

[woodwizard]

Got to see Marty with Lester just a month or so before Lester's passing. That mando was pretty new then. Great show. Ernest Tubb played just before them. It seems like just yesterday. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Pen]

Saw Marty at Rockgrass this last summer. Loved it.

Later on that day, I was wondering around the festival and stopped Marty just to say how much I enjoyed the show. He was in no rush and fully engaged me in conversation. I was floored! He was totally a layed back regular guy. I expected a smile and hand shake and then, for him to move on. He seemed genuinly interested in what I had to say and just happy to meet new ppl.

[olgraypat]

Loved the Youtube clip of Johnny and EmmyLou with young Marty in the foreground. thanks for posting that. Man, that is one big guitar that girl plays, doubt that she has much trouble getting heard...and I wouldn't have exactly thought of "Shine on Harvest Moon" as a gospel song, but to each his own, I suppose.

[olgraypat]

Okay, go to the Marty Stuart link above, click on it and then when you get to Youtube click on the Emmy Lou Harris "Precious Memories" video. Now THERE's a gospel song...pass the Kleenex, please. And, I guess some people will do anything to find a stray mandolin player...

[woodwizard]

flathead: quote
The one with all the signatures on it was built by Chris Warner. He had actually built it for Roland White, but Roland either didn't like it or couldn't afford it at the time, so Marty bought it. I think Marty was living with Roland at the time, and they both were playing with Flatt. This would have been in the early 70's.
...........

I remember talking to Roland White after a Country Gazette show in the early 80's. I asked him about his Gibson mandolin and he said it wasn't a real Gibson just a copy but he liked it. I wonder if this is the same one or another. Appears to be another http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Bob_Blackman]

Marty's most recent CD, "Compadres," is a compilation of duets with other artists. One of the tracks is a very young Marty, as a member of Lester Flatt's band, ripping through "Rawhide." It's a live recording and Lester introduces "our fine young mandolin player" but forgets to say his name!

[AlanN]

That's funny. I have an old record, Lester Flatt - Live BG festival, or something. Lester says "Now, Bill Monroe is in the audience, so you better pick it good", and he proceeds to play Rawhide like Monroe never did.

Wonder if Bill walked out at that point http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[evanreilly]

I do believe that Bill and Marty play 'Rawhide' on the Vanderbilt University live concert album; the first time Lester and Bill recorded together in a bazillion years.

[jim simpson]

Mike,
Roland's copy was a Randy Wood.