Kimble mandolins

[Markelberry]

No pictures no details but I am officially on the list and in another year we will discuss details of the build! MAN AM I EXCITED!

[roan]

How long did you have to wait to get on the list?

[Markelberry]

Will stopped taking orders in spring 2005 and it just reopened. When I first inquired he said he would contact when it did open and it just happened.

[Undercover Brother]

That's great news!
The days may seem to last forever between now and the day you lay your hands on the finished product... but keep the faith, enjoy the process and you will be greatly rewarded!
Please let us know what specs you design and decide on (if you don't mind!)
Thanks and congrats!
Chris

[goose 2]

I have played one of his Fs and one of his As. Both sounded great. The neck profile on these two was pretty big compared to the Loar profile. I thought the F was exceptional and sounded more like a Gibson Master Model (Loar) than any other non-Gibson modern builder that I have played. If yours sounds like the two I have played you are getting a "lifetime" mandolin. Congrats.

[barry]

A couple of months ago I was fortunate to be able to spend an entire afternoon A/B'ing my 2006 Kimble F5 with three '23 Loars. #The neck profiles were identical. #I think his F5s have been very accurate Loar copies since about midway through 2005.

Compared to the Loars, power is all in the "right" place. #The response and balance are spot on. #The notes have the same "density" as the Loars. #The Loars have the certain maturity of tone that can only come from age and playing, but I don't think it will take 80+ years to significantly close that gap. #Will's instruments are open and responsive from the moment they are "born".

Congratulations. You will be delighted with the end result. ......The wait, on the other hand....grrrr...
Enjoy the ride.

barry

[Will Kimble]

Thanks for the kind words everybody. #Its true, I am taking some new orders for the first time since the spring of '05. #

I compiled a pretty substantial inquiry list over the last two years and will be offering a spot to everyone on that list. #I am working through the list in chunks of 8-10 people at a time, to make sure I have enough time to follow up and respond to additional questions. #Also, the spots on the new list are in the order in which I receive your deposit, so I need to give the folks that contacted me first a chance to get their deposits in. #If you contacted me in the past two years and asked to be on my inquiry list but haven't heard from me yet, hang in there and you should hear from me soon.

Unfortunately the wait will still be long, there is not much I can do about that. #It will probably be about a year before I start to build the mandolins on this new list. #

Best regards,
Will Kimble

[Markelberry]

I am boiling over with excitement,and luckily I have a couple mandolins I enjoy now and the time will pass quickly it always does. I am in the price range of an A model that I know will sound great,would love to have an F,I had a chance here locally to play one of Wills new A's and it was fantastic in all departments and it had less than 10 hrs play time on it!

[Will Kimble]

Forgot to add, I will probably close the list again once I work through my current inquiry list. #Feel free to contact me to get on the next inquiry list, but please understand that unfortunately an inquiry today will not get you on the list for this round of orders. #

It is very hard to find the best way to take orders, one that is fair to both the customer and the builder. #I have thought a lot about how to handle this, and this is the best compromise I have been able to come up with. #

Thanks again,
Will Kimble

[JimRichter]

Will is one of the finest luthiers (as well as people) out there. Congrats on getting on the list. Nuff said.

Jim

[Tim333]

Saw Mike Guggino of Steep Canyon Rangers at Mountian Music Shoppe back in February playing his Will Kimble F5. A great sounding instrument.