Neil dean mandolins

[Links]

I am curious if anyone has received or is due to receive a Neil Dean mandolin in the near future. I noticed that his website said he was not taking new orders until Jan. 07 (obviously past that now) and wonder if he is taking new orders yet and how his delivery date is.

[billhay4]

Why don't you ask him?
Bill

[ab4usa]

Brilliant insight Bill! Or do you suppose he’s tried that already?

[PCypert]

Not sure, but I owned an early model of his and if that was an early one any wait time is short enough for me. Just can't decide on a F5 or a Lyon and Healy repro from him if I go with another one from him....still regret selling it off but had to to fund my business at the time. Had an early two pointer that was so nice and easy to play...like a Rigel with a more developed tone and something else there....

Paul

[Links]

Thanks Paul! Looks like his mandolins are certainly well made and worth owning!

[bradeinhorn]

i met him at gry fox 4 or 5 years back. he had his first solo build mando with him and it was quite nice. the new ones look gorgeous.

[mandolooter]

Yes Neil had 3 or 4 at Wintergrass a few years back and everyone of them was a keeper. Really nice guy too!

[james condino]

I've met Neil a few times. Not only is he a great builder, but he is an all around good guy. It is worth the wait time for one of his instruments.
____

james condino
www.condino.com

[ab4usa]

Wow, lots of accolades, but is he still building? Has anyone received one recently? He doesn't seem to be answering email or phone.

[bradeinhorn]

he certainly is.

[Nolan]

I wonder where he is on the list? # When I talked to him this past fall I was #4 in line (If my memory serves me...).

[DryBones]

I sent him an email through his website and got an auto-reply back last week. Haven't heard a thing since.

[Rich Breen]

Please post here if you find anything out. I'm interested in these also.

Thanks,
rich

[Links]

Rich:

No information yet. Still waiting to hear from someone who has had one delivered in recent months.

[DryBones]

or has even heard from him http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[sgarrity]

I hope all is well with him but stuff like this sure makes me nervous about sending money to relatively new builders.

[ab4usa]

Can anyone confirm that he is still building? This thread has been open two weeks and the guy is still AWOL!

[SternART]

Maybe he is in the process of moving, or visiting family & away from the computer. I've done
business with him a few times and he came thru, but indeed was sometimes a bit slow in responding.

[Lane Pryce]

Neil usually has a booth at MerleFest with several of his mandolins. Very nice. Easy players with a lot of sound. Very well crafted too. Top shelf guy as well. Lp

[Jeff A]

Neil was usually manning the Rigel booth at Merlefest with a few or his own on display. Who knows what will happen this year. I hope he is on vacation and out of pocket as it is unusual that he has not responded in the last few weeks. He is a hell of a nice guy and a great builder. Maybe Peter Mix can shed some light.

[Peter Mix]

I tend to steer clear of discussions like these, but since I see Neil regularly and have his permission to speak to the issue, here's what I know:
Neil Dean is a wonderful guy, a marvelous musician and a gifted builder. He's been dealing with a health issue that has prevented him from focusing his full energies on building the instruments he loves. That said, I am in his shop nearly every week and can tell you that he is working on a number of gorgeous mandolins, perhaps not at the pace he or his customers would wish for in a perfect world, but he's working on them.
He is currently writing a letter to his customers to bring them up to date and, hopefully, to alleviate their concerns. As his friend, I ask you all to be patient and to give him the benefit of the doubt. He deserves your understanding and support.
Sincerely, Peter Mix

[Rich Breen]

....I ask you all to be patient and to give him the benefit of the doubt. He deserves your understanding and support.
Sincerely, Peter Mix
Thanks so much for posting Peter - that is very good news that Neil is still making instruments and very bad news that he's not well. I have one of his instruments and love it dearly. I'm sure I speak for everyone in wishing Neil the best, and hope that his condition improves.

Best,
rich

[billhay4]

I know Neil, having hung out with him at Wintergrass. Class act and great builder.
I'll be thinking of you, buddy. Get well.
Bill

[SternART]

Ditto..... hang in there Mandobro!

[PCypert]

Man,
I hope he recovers fully. Sounds like something that's taking him out for a while. I loved the mandolin of his I used to own...shouldn't have let it go, even if I did need the money....

Paul

[kyblue]

Hope Neil is well soon.

I met him at IBMA 2005. Nice mandos & nice guy.

Paula

[ab4usa]

Has anyone heard from Neil yet?

[Gary]

I've been unable to contact him since November about a mandolin i ordered in April 2005 (which is now a year overdue). He hasn't returned calls or e-mails. I'm still waiting for the letter mentioned earlier in this thread. I hope Neil is well and whenever I've spoken with him he's seemed like a great guy but unfortunately I'm running out of options.

-gary

[ab4usa]

I've been on his wait list for 16 months when I sent a deposit. Now I can't get a return email or call. He apparently didn't even take posession of a registered letter and that was 3 weeks ago. A week ago through a third party he we were assured we would get a letter and still nothing.

[PCypert]

Dang...I regret selling my 2 pointer and always thought I'd eventually order a custom from him...sounds like chances for that are slimming out. He had a really bright future. I loved that mandolin.

Paul