1st newmad carbon fiber mandolins

[Peter Mix]

Lots of players have been eager to hear about the first production Mix A4's and A5's, so here's a quote from our very first customer, Dwayne Reed:
Hi Peter,
The big MAD arrived safely this morning. Jan watched me open the case and said "It is so beautiful, I love the pattern and I want one too". The pictures on the Web do not do justice to the physical beauty of your inspiration. First day's impressions: The overall lightness and the radiused fingerboard makes it a pleasure to fret. The treble strings are so bright and clear that Barney (my yellow Lab) started singing, which is very rare. Thus, it passed the Lab test. At first I thought the G string was a bit "metallic" but when I changed picks from 0.80 to a Clayton 1.20 it sounded much warmer. And what a sustain, I think I still hear it in the other room. Overall, I think you all have done a great thing for the world of mandolins and I look forward to it showing me what it likes to play.
Dwayne
____

We're making great strides here at NewMAD and have made significant progress on our F5 which we hope to debut before the end of the year. We're still looking for a few investors to help get these projects fully funded. Contact me if you have any interest. You'll be glad you did!
cheers, Peter Mix
info@new-mad.com
802-644-5607

The photo shows unfinished Mix A5's and A4's #13, 14, 15 &16 along with #001, a fabulous instrument!

[Peter Mix]

I'm going to get out ahead of Scott and admit right now that it's a terrible picture!
It's the thought that counts, yes?
cheers, Peter

[jjboone101]

Exciting stuff, Peter. Can't wait to see/hear the F5 model that is in the works...

[Jim Garber]

I'm going to get out ahead of Scott and admit right now that it's a terrible picture!
At least you can make the bed (or change the sheets)... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Great to hear that you are well on your way, Peter! Congratulations on the MAD-en voyage. I am looking fwd to meeting one of these someday.

Jim

[labraid]

Congratulations on an engineering success.

That's the serious part.

This is the less serious part. The day I see a mandolin in someone's cart at Wal-Mart, next to a head of cabbage and a six pack of Pabst, I'm coming for you dude. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Serious, cool stuff...

[PCypert]

Peter and anyone else shooting your black top mandolins. A couple pointers....

Get closer http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Use a index card or something to put under the flash if you have to use a point and shoot in camera flash...use the card to bounce the flash up to the ceiling and down to the mandolin.

Since the mandolin is black the camera will overexpose (it wants the objects to be gray by default...so it will try and allow too much light in) so if your camera has exposure compensation set it down about .5 or .75 stops. May not have to though with the bounce flash.

Then use a quality software to resize the images...if you have trouble send me the full size files and I will do a proper web resize for you and sharpen it a bit.

Paul
www.paulsworldphotography.com

[jim_n_virginia]

Sure would like to see the F-5's I'm thinking I want one.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Mattg]

I saw and heard what looked like a carbon fiber cello on some PBS Celtic concert thing two nights ago. There were several solos on the cello an it sounded great and looked way too cool. Shape of things to come?

Good luck!

[Ted Eschliman]

All I can say is, around here, we're NUTS about this one!!!
More thoughts coming in an online review...



.

[DryBones]

any lefties in that batch? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ShaneJ]

Those mandolins are just so incredibly cool! I would REALLY like to try an oval hole model. Of course, then I'd probably REALLY want to buy one, and that's where the trouble would start with the Mrs. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Great photography tips, Paul. Very nice website too, BTW. I recognize the stained glass wall from the chapel at Hardin-Simmons University. I just drove by there a few minutes ago, coming home from the gym at Hendrick across the street.

[Dale Ludewig]

Well, I've played an oval hole. But not an F hole. Anybody coming (Will?) to Naperville on the weekend of the 23rd with an F hole model? I'd love to play one.

[first string]

Peter, is the A4 fingerboard attached, or elevated? In your photo at the top of the thread, it looks elevated but I can’t make it out well enough to be sure.

[JimRichter]

Will Kimble told me that it is elevated, attached at the 14th fret, and the top is x-braced. A bit of a hybrid oval hole.

Jim

[Ted Eschliman]

Elevation on the A5, a picture being worth 1K words:


.

[first string]

Will Kimble told me that it is elevated, attached at the 14th fret, and the top is x-braced. A bit of a hybrid oval hole.

Jim
Thanks Jim. That combo really seems to be catching on. I understand it in that I think you get a lot more power, but it would be nice to see some more traditional ovals being built. Maybe an attached board, but with the X instead of the transverse brace? I wonder how that would sound. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. It's not my intention to hyjack this thread.

Cheers.

[Ted Eschliman]

For what it's worth after putting it through its paces, the official online review: NewMAD A5 (http://jazzmando.com/newmad_a5.shtml).

Let me say this, I'm a bit biased in that I tend to lean toward rather than away from designs that defy tradition. That said, this is a contender, even eyes closed. Mrs. Mandohack has put a temporary lid on any near-future acquisitions. I might have to give up one my prized Q-Dola to get one. I'm really fighting temptation right now.

[mandolooter]

nice pic Ted...one of the best yet of that hard to photograph lil beaut! Can ya send it my way for a review...lol?

[hepcat mando]

Just out of curiousity...How does CF "open up" as you play? Is it the same process as a wood mando or different because of the material?(tone always the same?)

[Mando Medic]

I have one of the new A-5's on the way to my shop so anyone in the Northwest that wants to try it out can do so. Should be here by opening day, March 31, so come on by and try it out. Bring your Visa with you too. Kenc

[halfamind]

MAD MAS indeed...

hmmmm... what's left 'round here to sell?

anybody wanna buy a used soul?