Crusher & hoss

[humblemex]

Digging through my files I came across this image of Crusher and Hoss that I thought some of you might enjoy. It was shot during a session for Sam and Dawg's "Hold On We're Strummin'" CD but never used.

Jon

[SternART]

Welcome aboard Jon! Nice to see you post here on the Cafe!

[evanreilly]

Jon Sievert!
A definite "Welcome" to the 'cafe.
More pics; we know you have them!

[Don Stiernberg]

Hey Jon and cats...

I've had the honor and pleasure of playing both of those mandolins. Funny how neither one of them sound like "that"
unless they are in the hands of their rightful owners..

Then again, those guys get big sounds out of any mandolin.

I remember when David first got a certain Loar, (maybe it was Crusher?)...I tried it and thought, "well, it's been sitting a while"...then David played it and the paint on the wall was peelin'!

[humblemex]

Thanks, Arthur. Here's proof of how long you've been hanging around these guys. Damn, how did 30 years get by so quickly.

Jon

[Lane Pryce]

Thanks for the pic! Lp

[SternART]

Backstage at the GAMH.....Jon & I were in the right place in those days to hear some incredible pre-concert
pickin'. We were usually the only ones other than the band in there.....The DGQ worked incredibly hard in
those days, practicing and changing arrangements right up to show time. Sometimes the hottest pickin was right
before they went on stage. Those were heady times in SF, for the New Acoustic music scene. The DGQ was the hot
ticket to get, and they played about monthly at the GAMH. They had some hot young guitar player who everyone
had to see. And double mandolins to boot! It was always a treat when visiting pickers like the Bush-man showed
up. Hey I'm headed to hear Dawggy pick with Beppe Gambetta tonight at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. I still
try & catch Grisman whenever I can, and hearing him play gigs where he is somewhat out of his regular element
are especially fun. That boy can still REALLY pick! Wow.....almost thirty years.....I was 27.5 years young then.

[Fretbear]

Sam be smokin'..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[bush-man]

Looks like one of them hand rolled ciggys to me.....:D

[Big Joe]

I've played both of those mandolins (not at the same time), but they sure did not sound the same with me behind them as they do their owners!

[humblemex]

Actually, Arthur, that shot was taken at 1750 Arch St. in Berkeley during the recording of Tony Rice's "Manzanita" album. See the monitor in the corner? What a funny little studio that was, but some of the coollest albums of the day came out of there including "Skaggs & Rice," "Manzanita," Bela Fleck's "Crossing the Tracks," "Acoustics," and "Back to Back" to name but a few. As you know, Dawg still uses the board and Ampex recorder that came out of there. Hey, what is that in Sam's hand anyway?

But you are sure right about the thrill and privilege of hearing the DGQ warm up before going onstage at the Music Hall. We stood right over their shoulders as they circled up. As good as the sound was from the stage, nothing could match the pure acoustic sound and power of the Gasoline Brothers from up close. I've got plenty of cool photos from that vantage point. I envy you because you can still do that. The only thing I really miss about the Bay Area is hearing my musical friends play live on a regular basis.

Jon

[delsbrother]

Man, that's a lot of hair! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[SternART]

David & Beppe was very cool tonight, some Italian tunes, a bit of BG and a Rudy Cippola piece,
a little Dawg music, some Gambetta originals etc...... No Crusher sighting though, Dawggy played
his Giacommel, but on one tune he pulled out a REALLY early Orville label 3 point mandocello, and
an even earlier 3 point mandolin. WOW!!! That was cool, he used them both on an Italian Opera piece,
starting on the mandocello, putting it down and switching to mandolin.....while Beppe Gambetta was
playing a vintage Harp-guitar. Now how rare is that combination of instruments!!! Sounded sublime
in their hands, warm & rich......

[danb]

Ah, I bet you saw 2 of the following:

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/5264_friends.jpg

The cello/OM is the only one known to exist. When I first saw the pictures I gasped.. the body scroll is much more like a harp guitar one than the later K4 ones are. The whole cello looks darned odd, but then you really get used to that as the "Right" application of the 3-point vibe to a larger instrument.

Isn't it just the coolest thing you ever did see?

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/5264_face.jpg

[danb]

I should add- great photos John!

[danb]

One more while I'm posting 'em.. I love to spring these ones on Gibson fans who've never seen it. Perhaps the coolest of all the vintage pieces IMO

Check out the asymmetry.. the neck heel.. the line of the carving into the scroll.. just utterly wonderful!

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/5264_back.jpg

[mythicfish]

Every time I see a 3-pointer I'm reminded of the one I passed up many years ago ... A real chest rattler.

Curt

[cooper4205]

was it the same 3-point he was playing in the studio in "Grateful Dawg"?

[bootinz]

Who are the lucky owners of the 'cello and 'dola?

[danb]

The information for those 3-pointers came to me anonymously

[humblemex]

# # #I've had the honor and pleasure of playing both of those mandolins. Funny how neither one of them sound like "that"
unless they are in the hands of their rightful owners..
Yeah, but I'll bet you sure sounded just like Don Stiernberg, and I imagine all of us here would kill for that. I got to play them, too, but I just sounded like Jon Sievert, and that wouldn't please anyone.

[bush-man]

What a great thread! I'd love to see more pics of the early Dawg daze, and instruments. Thanks all for posting. Oh, and that mando-cello is too beautiful for words. I'd love to hear it.

russell

[f5loar]

that was the last time Sam and the Dawg were at the same weight! Hoss looks like Big Mon's in that photo.