Fullerton mandolins - just the instruments [Archive] - Page 2

Loren Bailey

Apr-20-2007, 2:15pm

Ok, add me to the list of satisfied Fullerton Gloucester owners. Mine arrived today.

I am fairly impressed. Fit and finish is good, intonates perfectly, bridge fits fairly well (I'll have to do some slight sanding), frets are good, nut is ok, tuners hold. I don't think you could ask for much more. I am anxious to get some good strings on it to see what it will do. If it never opens up an further it's still a decent mando. It will work excellent for what I bought it for, a camping, outdoor, business trip mando. It's as good if not better than any import I've played and even gives the few Eastmans I've played a run for their money. It's not going to kill any banjos and it makes me realize just how really good my Phoenix is. For $175 delivered it is a definite 2 thumbs up though!

Loren

DanPhillips

Apr-20-2007, 2:24pm

Thanks Rick and Dave! Snugged up the truss rod and that buzz disappeared. The strings are still pretty tinny, but it is nice and loud. I think I might try some firewire strings that jim mentioned or maybe jazzmando? jm-11s. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

--Dan

bluespiderweb

Apr-20-2007, 2:37pm

Music123 sent me the wrong mandolin! #Much to my dismay, I opened the box to find a pennington model (i would've kept a hammonton). #The sad part is that all the manifests had the correct model number and the pennington box was labeled correctly as a pennington which means they just grab a box and pack it up rather than ensuring they are packing the correct item. #They sent me an RMA slip and are giving an advanced replacement (I've received no shipping notice or tracking number). #Hope my Gloucester comes in soon! #Does anyone know any secrets to get information out of the music123 CSRs? There seems to be a real disconnect between shipping and customer service.

--Dan
Hi folks,

Same thing happened to me, Dan! I got a Pennington but I ordered a Gloucester. They said they would rush me out another mandolin, and I'd have it by the end of the week...then I got it the following Wednesday! First they said I would have to wait until I returned my Pennington-and I wasn't too happy-but then they said they would put a hold on my credit card in case I didn't return it within 30 days, and gave me an RA#.

I'm very unimpressed with the customer service there-I asked that a supervisor call me back, and it was 3 or 4 days later when they did. Good thing I didn't wait on that call, and ordered another with the "hold" on my card instead.

Funny though, I seem to prefer the tone of the Pennington so far over the Gloucester-this laminated Pennington mandolin really rocks! It's amazing, that for $89 it can sound that good.

It may be the Gloucester needs to open up-I think it is starting to, but I still like the chimey, bell like ring I'm getting from the Pennington.

Now, I've ordered a Hammonton all solid wood to compare with these two, and I'll pick the winner(s) for my tastes. I may just hang onto the Pennington-maybe it's just an exception, but at that price I doubt it can be beat-at least the one I got!

How did yours sound to you Dan? Anybody else get a Pennington to try?

Dave Cowles

Apr-20-2007, 2:50pm

harleymando

Apr-20-2007, 2:51pm

this has got to be the best job of reviewing a product i ever seen!.keep up the good work! im ready for yall to review the new kentucky ovals.

bluespiderweb

Apr-20-2007, 4:29pm

Barry, I think the Gloucester has a sound all its own, and if you like the sound of the Pennington better, you'll prolly really like the Hammonton. My Hammonton has a crisper, grassy sound that lends itself to Monroe style playing, and the Gloucester almost begs for a thicker, rounder pick and a softer touch, although it does have a great chop. If you're not interested in the warmer, woodier sound, the Gloucester may not be your best bet. Of course, YMMV.

Dave
Thanks Dave-interesting observations about the different tone! #I may just have to hang on to the Gloucester for the full time to see if it grows on me, and how it sounds by the time I'd have to send it back.

Yes, I'm very interested in seeing how the Pennington/Hammonton comparison turns out. #You would think that the solid wood mando would win out, normally.

I may have to change the strings on my Gloucester just to see if I'm missing something without a known brand on it-no hang tags on mine when I got it.

But, great fun-I haven't had a mando for quite some time, and I'm glad these were available at these prices to get me interested again!

Thanks to all for reporting on these!

Jim Broyles

Apr-20-2007, 5:32pm

Dave Cowles

Apr-20-2007, 5:56pm

My Gloucester has a great chop, and does just fine for bluegrass, it's definitely louder than the Hammonton, but has an almost oval-hole tubbiness to the sound. That's why it feels like it wants to play "Before the Cold Wind Blows." *

* Blue Highway

Dave

Chad Stein

Apr-21-2007, 6:57pm

My first real revalation today..and you guys are going to laugh. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I didn't realize there were multiple tensions where the strings would tune to pitch...so mine were way loose. And therefore I wasn't that impressed with the Fullerton. Was playing in a shop on some new MMs today and noticed the tension was significantly different than mine. Got home, tightened her up properly, and now she is downright loud and barky. Now I see why everyone was so impressed. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

jim simpson

Apr-21-2007, 7:12pm

Chad Stein

Apr-21-2007, 10:06pm

steindawg,
That is funny! Years ago I received a pretty decent mandolin in the mail. I had 24 hrs. to keep it or send it back. I tuned it up to tension and thought it didn't sound too good. I then thought I'd check it with my tuner. My gosh, I was way too low. I then tuned it up to correct pitch and it came alive. I've learned to not trust my ears alone without the tuner.
Jim maybe I am loosing my mind but I was using my tuner to get it in pitch. And the stuff I have been playing was on tune..it was just really loose so I was getting a ton of buzz...and not much volume.

Am I off in the concept of a string being in pitch at multiple tensions?!?!?

Bill Snyder

Apr-21-2007, 10:16pm

If you tune your a string to a 440 A and then slack it up and re-tune it to a 440 A again it is going to be the same tension. You could tune an octave low to a 220 A like the one on a 6 string guitar tuned to standard tuning.
It is still an A, but an octave lower and it would be very low tension and not have the tone you would expect.

Jim Broyles

Apr-22-2007, 9:20am

M123 (http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Gloucester-F-Style-Mandolin-(B-Stock)-i750507.music) says they are getting more in 2-3 weeks.
That's B stock. That probably means they expect a certain number of returns. It's probably based on experience across all of their lines.
I think they get products in right from the factory, and not previously owned, which are designated as B stock. I have a 5 string bass labeled Fullerton FCDC5DLX - AB - Stock, with a received date of 11/09/06. It was marked up on the back like buckle rash, but the frets were in serious need of dressing. I would bet nobody had ever owned it before.

Rick Lindstrom

Apr-24-2007, 6:27pm

DanPhillips

Apr-24-2007, 7:23pm

I have my backup Gloucester in and in its nice case. I'm now trying to decide whether I want to keep it or send it back. If I keep it, I will likely try to strip/refinish it, etc. My other option is to pull the trigger on a stewmac kit and make my own (I really want to for a summer hobby. Of course, my main gloucester just keeps getting better and better!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

Lee Callicutt

Apr-24-2007, 8:39pm

Uh-oh .....this discussion is beginning to drop down the list! Isn't there any more to say to keep it alive? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
No mando content, but I'll chime in with a report on my Greenwich, 000 guitar purchase after several weeks of playing and scrutiny.

I'm very pleased with the tone and playability. #Numerous picky little #flaws I can find in the finish, but none that I can find with the intonation, sound, etc. #Even the slight buzz I originally noticed at the 12th fret on one string seems to have largely gone away unless I really force it to the surface with excessively hard picking.

My original intent was to forego a case purchase for a $99 guitar, but I'm starting to shop around for a case, if that's any indication of how I feel about the worthiness of the instrument.

Not just a good guitar for the money, but a GREAT guitar for the money!

MikeEdgerton

Apr-24-2007, 9:29pm

I think they get products in right from the factory, and not previously owned,

I imagine they *DID* get B stock items from the factory, but I seriously doubt that they will get any new stock in from the factory. What they had here was a fire sale (nothing burned but the prices) to get rid of a line they obviously don't intend to stock.

People bought these instruments up but they bought them at give away prices. Music123 and Musicians Friend won't continue to sell items at a loss just because they sold a bunch of them at very low prices. They said they would have B stock items (that link was specifically to a B stock listing) back in within a few weeks. I'm going to hazard a guess that they plan on X number of returned instruments. I guess it's possible that they could have had instruments that were already in the supply chain (on the water as they say) but I wouldn't plan on the continuation of this line and certainly not at these prices. If in fact they were to bring in more Gloucesters (and honestly that would be all that I would bring in if I were them), they would have to get their price for them. This company has to make a profit and volume isn't going to make up for the lack of it.

Truckadero

Apr-24-2007, 9:35pm

okay I'll bite. This has been a fun thread, and, my guess is...will probably keep dropping down the list as other great mando deals and new products arise.

The Gloucester opportunity appears to be over for now. They are no longer listed on the m123 site. I have bought two. The second one I am giving to my brother as a birthday gift. I also bought a Hammonton which went to a friend who is in his 3rd week now of playing mandolin. These were great starter instruments. The Gloucester especially.

Once again...MAS has taken hold. I am now in the market for an upgrade! Will always keep my Gloucester though. Thanks to all in this thread (jbmando!) for the turn on to these great and fun instruments. Pick On!

Rick Cadger

Apr-26-2007, 3:16am

fair point, Mike, but i think many people would buy these at the original list - or at least somewhere between list and the clear-out price. especially after the buzz that started here, and which has spilled over onto several other music boards.

with a product that has already built up a cult following and good rep, i would find it surprising if they couldn't pitch the prices of these a bit higher and still sell them in reasonable volume.

but then i'm a marketing professional, and i love a challenge!

Kero

Apr-26-2007, 6:13am

f
I just ordered a Prucha tailpiece(22 bucks)from Greg Boyd i'll let you know if the changes is just cosmetic, or more..

MikeEdgerton

Apr-26-2007, 6:34am

fair point, Mike, but i think many people would buy these at the original list

I'm sure they would too, but I only think that about the Gloucester. jbmando basically found a sleeper and the dropping prices drop-kicked the sales. Everyone that bought one of these should repay him by sending him a few bucks. He paid more than anyone else did. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Tighthead

Apr-26-2007, 7:49am

In my phone conversation with a sales guy, he kept referring to "used" instruments in response to my question about why the "B Stock" was higher priced than the regular instruments. He described them as "the newest form of 'used' possible" meaning customer returns or instruments that had sat on their retail store floor for a time. He actually never described them as 'blemished' or seconds. In fact, he tried to re-assure me that they were just as good as the 'new' ones, they just couldn't be sold that way.

dlaf

Apr-26-2007, 9:27am

I've purchased many instruments through Music123, and have found that B Stock can be anything from a return or display with no issues to a cracked top direct from the factory. Regardless of condition, the are always ready to make good on the purchase.

I once received a guitar with the previously mentioned cracked top, returned it for a B-stock which was the same guitar with a poor amateur repair, then returned it for another B stock that only had a 1/4" finish blemish.

Rick Cadger

May-01-2007, 6:27am

just a quick note to say do the nut upgrade! i swapped back and forth between the bone nut to the plastic original and back to the bone one (which i have finally glued in place). the difference is audible. with the bone nut, open chords sound a bit brighter and sustain more. on closed chop chords - no noticeable difference apart from the improved action.

although the Gloucester is quite playable as it comes, lowering the action at the nut makes such a difference. also, tuning is better now. i think there must have been some minor binding on the D course with the plastic nut. tunes straight to pitch now with no jumps, and holds it spot on.

sounding better every day.

Kero

May-01-2007, 11:19am

j
how much would you charge for a bone nut for my Gloucester?? :-) other than shipping?...

using j74's, like it low-low, lowered my plastic one..

mboucher

May-01-2007, 12:07pm

I'm interested too

Mark

Ed Lutz

May-01-2007, 5:19pm

Me too also....

aries753

May-01-2007, 10:03pm

Me too,me too!
I changed the strings and the nut slots have an interesting shape.
The G and D look like they were made with the side of a diamond shaped cutting tool. They have a defined "V" shape to them. I think the original strings sat to high in the "V" which is why the Ds sounded "funny".

Rick Cadger

May-02-2007, 3:43am

oh wow, if i were a pro this could have been a revenue stream!

sadly i wouldn't dare do work for someone else's instruments and charge for it.

seriously, guys - for the price of a feeler gauge, four StewMac nut files and a few bone blanks, and with the help of the instructions on the StewMac site and the info on frets.com, anyone can do this if they take it slow.

you don't have to glue the nut in place until you've given it all the tweaking and testing it needs. after the Fullerton i made nuts for two of my other inexpensive mandolins. i ruined one blank because the feeler gauge slipped and i filed a slot way to deep, but the other two went great. i found that the main trick is to make sure you finish the slots nice and clean after filing. i use 600 grit wet and dry paper. it smooths the bottom of the slots and takes just a fraction more material off the slot width to make sure nothing binds. a quick dusting of pencil lead and Bob's your uncle.

if the cost of blanks is an issue for you you might want to get advice from one of the experts in the builder forum. otherwise i think it's a great learning exercise.

a few bits of advice from a beginner's-lucky rank amateur:

- read the instructions on the websites
- start with feeler gauges stacked a little higher than the final action you're after, then work down gradually
- start by marking the precise string spacing with a pencil, then scoring with a sharp knife
- slope the slots back toward the headstock. a break angle similar to the angle at which the headstock slopes works fine on the Gloucester
- go slow. take hours if you need to

for me, the hardest part was holding the nut firm in place and the feeler gauges in place as I was filing (not enough hands!). i didn't trust to filing down to a pencil line - i filed until contact with the gauges. that's why i say go slowly.

i must post those pics.

Lee Callicutt

May-02-2007, 7:53pm

if the cost of blanks is an issue for you
Cow bone's a whole lot cheaper than the sweat you can put into it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Yeti

May-05-2007, 8:13pm

It looks like the Fullerton Hammonton Deluxe is sold out.

pager

May-05-2007, 10:25pm

Hi Gang!
I got into the Fullerton offer a bit late. When I ordered mine on Tuesday of this week, all that was left was the Pennington. It was on sale at 10% off so at $89.00 which included shipping, I thought "what the heck!". After I ordered, I remembered the $50.00 Rouge that I bought from Musicians Friend on a spur of insanity and it was horrid. Unplayable. I sent the Rouge back.

I started to worry that my $89.00 Fullerton Pennington would be the same. Well, it arrived yesterday - and I am really impressed! It is all laminated, but it has a decent sound. It even has a good chop. Heck, I'll even take this to festivals to jam on. Right out of the box, the fret work was finished well. The frets are nice and level, the neck was dead on straight, the fret ends were dressed very well. The nut cut perfectly. Nice pearl inlay logo work on the headstock. I have played much more expensive mandolins that I cannot say that about.

I moved the saddle back about 1/4 of an inch, and the intonation is dead on. Lowered the action to where it is so low it plays itself, with out any buzz or fretting out. Impressive. The finish, is very nice. The binding is good. The tuners are very smooth and it stays in tune. I keep picking it up and thinking "HOW can this be an $89.00 mandolin?"

To sum this up, I feel it is a mandolin that is worth about 4 times what I paid for it. It plays VERY easily ... really effortlessly, and sounds better than other all laminated mandolins I have played. It sounds very similar to my friends F620 Kentucky!

mboucher

May-09-2007, 5:01am

SO what is your take on the fact that it has been about a month since the Gloucester has been on the website and no notice from Music123 on the site about any more coming?

Is that it? all done? and Musicians Friend is slowing let them go away.

Mark

jim simpson

May-09-2007, 7:18am

The Gloucester will soon be a hot collectible! (tongue in cheek). I recently saw one on Ebay that had the tuners and tailpiece upgraded. It even had a hardshell case.
I found a new shaped case for mine for $6.00 - so the shipping was 27.00 - still the total price was in keeping with the low price of the Gloucester.
It seems like the perfect mandolin to experiment with, like making it a black top or sunburst. I remember seeing an F9 that was being sold after someone rebound and sunbursted it. They should have waited as Gibson now offers them that way.

MikeEdgerton

May-09-2007, 7:55am

If you do a search on music123.com using the keyword Fullerton you'll get 5 pages of items. All but one is marked Closeout, Open Box, or B Stock. I'm going to assume they just missed marking the amplifier that isn't marked. You can draw your own conclusion using that information. I seriously doubt they are clearing out the old stock to replace it with new stock.

CML

May-09-2007, 12:06pm

I've played guitar for my own enjoyment for the past 20 years and just recently bought a cheap fiddle and am taking lessons. So I thought I'd get a mandolin too since it's the same tuning.

I have been doing searches on this site for the past couple weeks on recommendations for a first mandolin and had decided to ask my wife for a $195 Kentucky KM-150S from Elderly for Father's Day. Then I ran across this thread on Monday and kicked myself for missing out on the Gloucester. Even the Hammonton was sold out by then.

I really like the F shape better than the A shape, but had pretty much decided to "settle" for an A. I REALLY wish I could have gotten one of Gloucester or Hammontons. I saw the Pennington, but didn't want to get a laminate and have it turn out to sound like ####. I even called Music123 to ask if they would be getting anymore in. The saleman I talked to (and he was definitely just a salesman so don't take his word as gospel) said they would not be getting anymore in and the line was done.

So then I re-read through this thread and saw that both bluespiderweb (Barry) and pager really liked the Pennington and thought it sounded good and played well. Then I also noticed in the picture of the Pennington that it has a truss rod and pretty much looks identical to the Hammonton, only real difference being the laminate woods. So I figured I'd go ahead and order one for $99. If I don't like it I can return it in 45 days. But I'm hoping I do like it and it can serve as my starter mandolin for awhile.

I know the laminates aren't supposed to sound as good or loud as the solids. But do laminates encounter any problems durability-wise more than solids? Do the tops cave more often than solids?

Barry, did you get in your Hammonton? How does the Pennington compare to it?

Jim Broyles

May-09-2007, 2:06pm

The laminates can sound pretty good and nearly as loud as a solid top, but from what I can gather, they won't really improve with age. What you get is what you'll always have.

Dave Cowles

May-09-2007, 2:27pm

Thought it was time to chime in with an update here, since I have had both the Gloucester and Hammonton for a few weeks. They both get played a lot, but I'm finding that I like the feel of the neck on the Hammonton a little better. It is improving in sound, despite still wearing its original strings, and the Gloucester is sounding fuller and tubbier the more it gets playtime as well. Since I already have a handmade F5, and will have my new handmade A style in hand from the builder shortly, I plan on selling one of the Fullertons. It's going to be hard to pick which one stays when that time comes. Right now, I'm very glad I bought both models.

Dave

Jim Broyles

May-09-2007, 6:23pm

pager, you are saying that about a Pennington, but I'll guaran-dang-tee ya my Gloucester will stand up to any mando it has jammed alongside.

Lee Callicutt

May-09-2007, 8:07pm

Is it a dead certainty that the Pennington is all laminate, or possibly just a solid top with laminate back and sides?

The reason I ask is that while I was at work today, I was sitting browsing through the 123 catalogue that came with my guitar, and I remember looking at the pre-discount/closeout pricing on the Pennington and Hammonton and thinking that they were awfully close for the Pennington to be all laminate?

Jim Broyles

May-09-2007, 8:21pm

As certain as we can be without a direct revelation from the principals involved. Check the mandolins on this site. (http://www.straus.co.kr/mandolins.htm) This is where we think they are made. DFM-10 = Pennington, DFM-70 = Hammonton. Interestingly, none of them = Gloucester. We don't know where it comes from. The wording in the descriptions indicates laminate for the 10, solid for the 70.

Lee Callicutt

May-09-2007, 8:44pm

The wording in the descriptions indicates laminate for the 10, solid for the 70.
Granted, however my Washburn is also a dead ringer for the AM50-DSL which the Dae Won site specs with mahogany sides and back, but I assure you that my Washburn has maple back and sides, which tells me that Washburn specified those materials changes for that model and Dae Won was happy to provide it as such.

Music 123 may well have made a similar minor change in specs as an upgrade from Dae Won's standard model.

Hope springs eternal!

Lee Callicutt

May-09-2007, 9:35pm

Okay, curiosity has gotten the best of me and my wallet. I just pulled the trigger on one. I'm satsisfied that if it's made by the same guys that made my Washburn it's a solid value.

I'll let you know.

bluespiderweb

May-10-2007, 10:28am

"I know the laminates aren't supposed to sound as good or loud as the solids. But do laminates encounter any problems durability-wise more than solids? Do the tops cave more often than solids?

Barry, did you get in your Hammonton? How does the Pennington compare to it?"
Hi Colin,

Yes, I first ordered a Gloucester, got a Pennington by mistake, and then got the Gloucester, and I still like the Pennington best. #I also got the Hammonton, which I liked the least. #It seemed to have a thicker finish and was heavier, and just didn't have the tone, especially in the bass. #It was very well made-no runs, nicest woods, and workmanship was as good as my Pennington, but it just sounded a little dull. #

I also ordered another Pennington which wasn't as good as the first one I received. #So, I think you need to judge them individually, really. #The set up seems to be hit or miss-how well the bridge is fitted may alone be responsible to how well it sounds-the Hammonton bridge was the worst fitted, and had a tone to match.

The second Pennington was not as nicely finished either-it had some large areas of thicker spray, so maybe overall it just had too much finish on it also. #I think the bridge was fitted OK, but can't remember exactly now. #The first Pennington was made like a high end instrument
-fit and finish were great, and the tone was very surprising for a laminated mandolin.

I think the Gloucester sounds pretty nice, but it doesn't have that chimey ring of that first Pennington, but it does have a nice tone, just very different. #I may return my Gloucester, or sell it to someone instead if they are interested. #In time, the Gloucester may sound better overall, since it's all solid woods, and will probably age better.

In answer to your question about laminated instruments-they are probably more stable, and stronger in general than an all solid wood instrument, as long as the construction is done properly. #It has been said that they won't improve much in tone, but probably do to some extent, especially after break-in, just not to the extent of a solid wood instrument.

Anyway, I would be interested to hear what you think of your Pennington, so let me know how you find it. #I had to adjust the truss rod on mine, and still have to do some nut filing to lower the action at the nut a little for easier play. #The Gloucester was set up very well though, but the Hammonton needed a little help too.

Still, for the money, they were some great deals, no matter which one you ended up with. #With the right set up, and some playing time, they will no doubt sound even better. #So, I hope you get a good one! #Let me know.

Take care, #Barry

CML

May-10-2007, 11:40am

Thanks for the great follow-up Barry. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the condition of my Pennington and I'll be sure to post pics and do a review. Please let me know if you decide to sell your Gloucester.

Thanks again,
Collin

bluespiderweb

May-10-2007, 12:23pm

You're quite welcome, Collin. Sure, I will let you know if I decide to sell the Gloucester.

But after playing them both today, either the tone of the Glou is growing on me or it's starting to open up-it sounded pretty nice today!

And, today the Pennington sounded a little stuffy, so who knows-could be the more humid weather too, along with who knows what other factors at the moment.

Yes, hope your Pennington arrives quickly and it's a good'un too!

Rick Cadger

May-11-2007, 3:47am

for those of you who have the Gloucester, what do you think of the finish? i like the simple colour, but the matt texture doesn't do it for me... SO, i've started polishing mine up to get a bit of gloss going on.

i noticed that the spot by the bridge, where my pinky strokes as i play, had worn to a high gloss! i was really surprised.

i bought some auto colour restorer - a very fine liquid abrasive that does not leave residue - and did a bit of preliminary experimental polishing. it'll take me a bit of time working carefully, but i've already got a bit of a shine happening. i don't want to use too much of the compound, so it'll mostly be a long, labour-intensive buffing process with coarse then finer cloths.

polishing back the finish will also thin it even more - and it's already a relatively light finish - so certainly shouldn't hurt the tone and volume any... may even help.

i love this mando so much. it's good solid quality, and cheap enough to experiment with. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

i'm getting a new camera tomorrow (birthday gift from my lovely wife) so i'll finally post those pics i keep promising.

i'm so impressed by this cheapie that i'm tempted to consider adding a Bovier or one of the new Kentuckys to the collection.

my session mate has an Eastman, but it looks like the bridge is waaaay high, and the varnish seems very soft and easily damaged... so despite the nice sound of it i'm not too tempted by those.

but, heck, i could happily carry on just with this Gloucester as my main axe. played it at a gig on wednesday with a transducer and a Fishman GII preamp into the desk. i need a better pickup, but it still sounded good. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

bluespiderweb

May-11-2007, 4:31am

Hi Flattop,

I like satin finishes if they are done well, but the Gloucester's finish is a little rough in some areas, besides being satin finished. I'm not complaining, considering what I paid, but it could be better.

I've thought about rubbing it out a little too, but hadn't thought about the finish restorer you are using. Dupont white polishing compound usually works well on finishes, if you go easy (and you know what you're doing). A light touch is best on a damp rag too. Yes, be careful, the finish might not be very thick! Let us know how it comes out.

I'm not touching mine until I decide I am keeping it though!

mando-picker

May-11-2007, 3:55pm

Hey guys, yall might have already said but who has the fullerton gloucester for sale now , I see that music123 dont, musicians friend dont. where can it be bought? Thanks

Jim Broyles

May-11-2007, 4:56pm

I think you have to buy one from a picker. Unless some eBay biz bought a bunch and they're holding out before they offer them for sale.

CML

May-13-2007, 9:01pm

My Pennington arrived Saturday and I love it. It is beautiful. I haven't found any blemishes. It was setup pretty good before it shipped. No problems with the frets, bridge fits well, and intonation is great. I lowered the bridge all the way down and there is no fret buzz and the intonation is still right on.

The only thing I need to do is open up the nut slots for the 2 G strings because they currently sit on top of the slots instead of in them. So fingering the first fret on the G strings is a little tougher but hasn't made me want to detune the mando yet to fix it, but I'll eventually get to it. I'm just having too much fun playing it right now.

It sounds great to me. Granted I don't have much experience with different mandos, but I do have plenty of guitar experience and I know what sounds good to me. The sound is plenty bright and sweet. It's seems to have enough bass and volume to it but I'm no expert on how it compares to other mandos. But it sounds great to me! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

I can definitely attest that this mando is well built. The finish is excellent, beautiful. Seriously, I haven't found a flaw yet. I love the colors, and the cream binding. The hardware is not expensive, but definitely adequate, and I doubt better hardware would make it sound much better. If I were to upgrade anything, it would be the tailpiece and the nut, but they are not bad at all and definitely do their job. The nut just needs the lower 2 slots opened up a bit which is very easy.

Enough rambling. I love my Pennington.
THANK YOU Bluespiderweb (Barry) and pager for the reviews that convinced me to go ahead and get one. No regrets and no returns here. I got a beatiful looking and sounding F mando for $99! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

And thank you mandolincafe.com. This site rocks.

CML

May-13-2007, 9:05pm

Front

CML

May-13-2007, 9:10pm

Back

pager

May-13-2007, 9:58pm

Congrats on the Pennington, CML! I knew you would love it. I certainly love mine and I have been playing it and leaving my other mando's in their cases. They are getting jealous. It is just such a fun mandolin to play. At $99.00 they are giving them away. Mine was built well too. Great fret work, no flaws, intonation dead on. Effortless action. I had mine along at a festival this weekend and people could not believe I paid less than $100.00 for it. I could have sold it twice but I just told them to go to the site and buy one while they are still available.

I played it side by side with a Kentucky F-620 and a Kentucky F-630. The Fullerton certainly sounded as good - I really think better than the Kentucky's! I realize we are talking about inexpensive mandolins here. That is my point. Here is a $100.00 mandolin that stands up well in the sound, fit, action and construction - to the $400.00 - $500.00 Kentucky F 620's and 630's. They are so good for $100.00 that it seems crazy! I can't imagine there are too many left for sale. Once they are gone at this price, there won't be any second chances.

bluespiderweb

May-14-2007, 5:54am

Hey Collin,

That's great that your Pennington is a good one too, and that you're very happy with it! Yes, amazing instrument for $99!

Your description of it matches mine almost exactly-the only thing I have to do with it is file the nut slots too (I did adjust the truss rod though). The fit and finish are really nice, I agree-it's a real pretty mandolin, with a great tone! Have fun!

Rick Cadger

May-14-2007, 9:15am

ok, i finally posted pics in THIS THREAD (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=43960;st=0;r=1;&#entry522023)

sorry for the poor quality. there is a fraction too much depth still in the nut slots, so i'll sand it down when i have time, but it plays and tunes so well that i am in no hurry!

Lee Callicutt

May-15-2007, 5:37pm

They've just lowered the closeout price on left-hand Steelman dreadnaught guitars to $59.99.

Lefties don't often get breaks like that.

MikeEdgerton

May-15-2007, 5:42pm

The first Fullerton has hit the classifieds. Your chance to grab that elusive Hammonton you wanted but missed.

Lee Callicutt

May-15-2007, 5:49pm

Yeah, I saw a hot-rodded Glouchester on e-bay last week.

cooper4205

May-15-2007, 6:12pm

for $400! twice the going rate from 123

Lee Callicutt

May-15-2007, 6:31pm

for $400! twice the going rate from 123
I wouldn't read too much into that, though. If I recall, that was a pretty expensive tailpiece he'd put on that mando -- can't remember what else he'd done, or if a case was included.

I do remember seeing a Johnson MA-120 a while back on e-bay that the owner had put a nice little bone saddle on. Reserve was set higher than the bidding. I contacted the seller to ask what his reserve was, thinking I might spring for it, and was absolutely floored at what he wanted -- something like $350! I just didn't feel like the saddle made it anything other than a Johnson MA-120.

cooper4205

May-15-2007, 6:41pm

Don't worry, the only thing I'm reading into that auction is the fact that the seller hopes to make money of someone who doesn't know any better. the tailpiece wasn't worth enough to jack it up $200, thats for sure. normally mods don't equal a higher price on used instrument, at least not when I had one or two souped-up Pac-Rims that I sold (the mods did, however, help me get my asking price, which was what i paid for the mandolins but not a penny more)

Lee Callicutt

May-16-2007, 4:59pm

Well, I had the Pennington in my hands briefly this afternoon, but upon cursory inspection, I found a pretty good crack in the finish and missing chip of binding from the lower point, so back in the box it went.

Looked pretty good otherwise. The bridge appeared to fit the top well. The fret edges felt good. Rough looking finish under the fingerboard extension, but that doesn't really surprise me.

I was tempted to tune it up, but I didn't want to risk it, so I went ahead and boxed it back up for an exchange.

mcH

May-17-2007, 6:57pm

I've been reading this thread for while... long enough to get in on the Hammonton deal, but not long enough to get the Gloucester [which, from all the discussion, sounds like a great Mandoin]. I've never had the opportunity to break in a new mandolin, and my first reaction to the Hammonton was --wow! how loud it is [and wow - how it has no depth]. I've been trying to play it for at least 30 minutes a day, and it's been breaking in rather nicely. It's starting to develop a woody sound. I'll be curious to see how it turns out, with regular playing.

But for those of you interested, I just noticed that music123.com has the Hammonton and Pennnington models back on their website again. Do a search for Fullerton Mandolin.

Sheryl

MikeEdgerton

May-17-2007, 9:11pm

The Pennington never left. The Hammonton (http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Hammonton-Deluxe-F-Style-Mandolin-(Open-Box)-i755255.music) they have listed is an "Open Box" (Read Return).

Yeti

May-17-2007, 10:09pm

I have had my Hammonton for 5 months and every time I pick it I'm impressed. I love it about as much as I love my wife. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Dave Cowles

May-20-2007, 9:22am

Since my Hammonton was due for a string change, I installed a set of Gibson Monels on it four days ago. It is sounding better and better as time passes. I know this mando is about the same as the Morgan Monroe, made in the same factory (Dae Won), etc., but it sure seems to have a lot going for it by comparison. I'm starting to like it more than my Gloucester, but I'm convinced part of that is due to playability. The Hammonton neck feel better to me, and it also feels like there is a radius to the fretboard. The Goucester's board is flat. Nice to have both of them, though. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Dave

Lee Callicutt

May-21-2007, 7:08pm

I was tempted to tune it up, but I didn't want to risk it, so I went ahead and boxed it back up for an exchange.
A pathetic self-quote, but I've had the second Pennington in hand for a day now and thought I'd give a report.

First -- kudos to Music 123 for Next Day shipping another instrument when they knew I was doing a return. They were even very helpful in giving me the location of a remote authorized Fed Ex shipper for the return when I was having trouble with a local-yokel, rip-off Fed-Ex "authorized" shipper on my way out of town for a long weekend.

Ah, but the mando: Woodier sounding than I would have ever thought for a laminate. As the owner of ovals, I now see what the f-hole is all about -- very cool and "woofy".

I managed to break a string from the E course while fiddling back and forth with the initial set-up, but once replaced she tuned nicely to pitch and stayed there overnight. The bass side foot of the bridge seems to be an excellent fit, while the outside treble edge of the bridge foot shows a little "air," but still sounds very balanced across the fingerboard. I'm impressed that it sounds as good as it does, and can only imagine what a fresh set of strings and proper bridge fitting will do for it.

Again, a thousand little things I could nit-pick about, but at $99 for an "F," I'm not gonna' quibble. The largest flaws would be blush in the finish on the neck side of the scroll -- and I hesitate to call this a "flaw" rather than character -- but the left bottom rim bout is blonde w/o any "burst" at all, with the "burst" beginning to the right of the tail-piece
But hey, I don't see that asymmetry when I'm playing it, and it doesn't affect the sound or playability of an instrument which surpasses my expectations for the price point, so all in all, I'd call it a most excellent beater!

relakst

May-21-2007, 9:07pm

I also have both the Gloucester and the Hammonton.
The guy at 123 told me I got the last Hammonton! If this is true, I apologize to any one who missed out.

Anyways, the Hammonton is truly wonderful and played well right out of the box. And it looks great!

The Gloucester has an issue where the bridge is as low as it will go but the action is still high. I will have to look into a fix for that.

Caleb

May-21-2007, 10:53pm

I'm sure this question has been addressed in 14 pages, but.....

Why did 123 stop selling these Fullertons? As a matter of fact, I cannot find anyone selling them now.

Dave Cowles

May-22-2007, 5:30am

Slacker, Music 123 was bought out by GC. Apparently, the bean counters in management decided to discontinue the Fullerton line. They ran closeouts on them, as well as Fullerton acoustic guitars. In the case of the mandolins, they seemed not to know that they had a line of low-budget, diamonds-in-the-rough until the Cafe groundswell. If I were they, I'd be rethinking putting them back in the lineup. # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Dave

MikeEdgerton

May-22-2007, 6:20am

Fullerton was a brandname owned by Music123, a "house" brand sourced from multiple builders. You wouldn't find them anyplace else. You might find the same instrument being sold elsewhere under different brand names. I can guarantee you'll find the Hammonton and the Pennington, they are cookie cutter import models. Now, if you find the Gloucester under another brand name that would be a bit more of a find. I seriously doubt you'll find it at the fire sale price they went for when 123 closed them out.

I received the latest Music123 catalog yesterday. Not a Fullerton in it that I saw and only three or four mandolins, none to write home about.

Rick Lindstrom

May-22-2007, 7:12am

It'd be interesting to start a "Gloucester Registry" and find out how many Mandolin Cafe folks have one (I do). Guess we can't start a serial number registry since they don't have 'em.

Rick

pager

May-22-2007, 10:04am

I noticed this morning that the $99.00 Pennington's are now history at Music123. GLAD I got mine when I did. Geez. I am playing it twice as much as I am my expensive mandos. It is just so much fun to play! Actually, I bought mine for $89.00 when they were having the 10% off sale. $89.00 including shipping. That was almost a crime.

Caleb

May-22-2007, 12:13pm

How much were those natural finished F-styles going for at the end?

Jim Broyles

May-22-2007, 12:44pm

Best price I saw was 179.00

Jim Broyles

May-22-2007, 12:48pm

It'd be interesting to start a "Gloucester Registry" and find out how many Mandolin Cafe folks have one (I do). Guess we can't start a serial number registry since they don't have 'em.

Rick
I know three other guys in my jamming circles who have them. One is primarily a guitar player, one is a guitar/resonator guitarist and the other other is our own Jim Simpson. One other guy I know owns a Hammonton. They all got the inspiration from me and my Gloucester as far as I know.

Caleb

May-22-2007, 2:53pm

Best price I saw was 179.00
Wow, sorry I missed the boat.

Story of my life.....

bikebum

May-22-2007, 3:09pm

I have a Glouster. I guess a serial number could be carved/branded on it. Hmmm where to put the Ser. No.

Jerry

Ed Lutz

May-22-2007, 3:29pm

bikebum:

I have a Glouster. #I guess a serial number could be carved/branded on it. #Hmmm where to put the Ser. No.

Why not see if all the owners could be rounded up here on the cafe some way and say jbmando or whomever started the G. stampede start it with ser. no. 001 and then determine who was next there after by date ordered and increment the number to be assigned by the group chair or ?? and then we could establish the register mentioned earlier? If someone returned their first purchase it could still be given a number posthumously and add their return if they got one and have it fit into the date sequence.

I think there is a thread(or link)on an effective way to make a label for your mando., and how to glue it down effectively. I just can't remember where I saw the info. It may have been at frets.com or something like that.

If someone read the mail and then ordered/received one without revealing it, maybe give it a Letter suffix i.e. 2A or ?? if they cared to jump in the fray at some point established by date of purchase and entered in the record at the proper place by the keeper of the sacred list.

All this being said, this project may be to cumbersome to sort out and administer but maybe worth a look/see if there is any interest.

Jim Broyles

May-22-2007, 3:57pm

Best price I saw was 179.00
Wow, sorry I missed the boat.

Story of my life.....
You?? I bought mine in November, before the big shakeup, for $269.10, and thought it was a good deal. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Caleb

May-22-2007, 4:52pm

Anyone have one of those natural finish F-styles that they'd like to sell?

bikebum

May-22-2007, 8:11pm

Slacker, try asking in the 'Wanted' section of the classified ads. There are probably some folks like me that bought a Glouster just on a whim. I had bought mine with the idea of giving it to my grandson but he hasn't expressed any real interest in it yet. He seems to have eyes on my Gibson A-9 that I just bought new a few months ago.

I think the Glouster was an excellent buy, but I far prefer my Eastman 514 and my Rigel Q95. My preference is for oval hole mandos.

Jerry

Lee Callicutt

May-22-2007, 8:14pm

I noticed this morning that the $99.00 Pennington's are now history at Music123. #
The one I returned last Thursday should soon show up as a B instrument.

EMS

May-23-2007, 1:49pm

I've been playing my Fullerton pretty much non-stop ever since I got it. One thing I've noticed, though, that maybe you all can help me with: a little buzz, not from the frets, but from open AND fretted strings when I play it nice and loud. Not instantly, but a split-second after I hit the note, as though the vibration were settling into the instrument and adding a little distortion. The D string's the worst; the E after that. Any suggestions about what might be causing this, and how to cure it?

MikeEdgerton

May-23-2007, 1:53pm

Weave a piece of leather through the strings below the bridge and above the tailpiece. If you don't have leather fold up a dollar bill. Did the problem go away? If not do the same above the nut below the tuners.

Rick Lindstrom

May-23-2007, 2:07pm

I think someone had that problem earlier in this thread (or in another thread involving the Fullertons), and the solution was to check the truss rod and make sure it had some tension in it. If it's completely loose, it may rattle in the slot. In that case snug it up a tiny bit- just enough to get some tension in it, but not enough to alter the neck relief.

Rick

EMS

May-23-2007, 2:19pm

Thanks, Mike! I'll give that a try tonight.

MikeEdgerton

May-23-2007, 2:23pm

That is assuming you're hearing some harmonic overtones. As pointed out, if the truss rod (or the tuners or the tailpiece) are loose that can be an issue as well. From your description it sounds more like an overtone. I do have an eraser on my pencil that is well used, I've been wrong before.

EMS

May-23-2007, 10:02pm

Hi, Mike--

Tried the leather--didn't make much difference, though. Futzed with the bridge & action a bit, and raising it somewhat seemed to help. I found an older post from Flowerpot that describes what I'm hearing, I think:

Some mandos will respond well to a light or medium touch, but if you're in the big jam and really need to lay into it, it breaks up, sort of like a speaker being overdriven to the point of distortion. But others will keep putting out the volume, and still maintain a clear tone with lots of projection no matter how hard you drive it -- it's like a set of speakers that sound just as clean at 200 Watts as they do at 1 Watt, or a car that grips the road like glue at 120 MPH.

So maybe I just need to back off a bit with the pick, or try a different one, so that I get the volume I want w/o the sound breking up?

Truckadero

May-23-2007, 10:33pm

I had the same buzz appear in my Gloucester. Became quite annoying to the point of making the instrument unplayable. Turned out to be the truss rod. As Rick suggested, a slight adjustment cleared it up. I'd give that a try if your picking style adjustment doesn't work.

EMS

May-24-2007, 6:01pm

It was the truss rod! One little adjustment, and I can play at top volume with no buzz in sight, so to speak. Not that anyone would acutally want to hear me play at top volume, but I can dream....

Thanks, everyone, for the help!

Rick Cadger

Jul-04-2007, 3:34am

i must be nuts, but MAS is kicking in again.

despite how impressed i am with the Gloucester, and saying that i wouldn't easily sell it, i am thinking of putting mine up for sale to move up a level.

i have a couple of decent mandolins, but none of them is a real bluegrass axe.

later in the year i'm planning to spend a couple of grand on a pretty good new mando and an acoustic amplifier - but i find i'm also tempted to go for one of these relatively cheap, but well liked Asian models in the meantime.

i'm tempted to go for a trip down to TAMCO to check out the Eastman and Bovier Fs around the £500 level as i currently have almost that much lying around crying "spend me". if i were to sell the Fullerton Gloucester and add that money to the pot i'd definitely have enough for either an Eastman 515 or 605, or a Bovier Tradition plus case.

what do you reckon? am i crazy?

Jim Broyles

Jul-04-2007, 8:51am

I owned a 515. I had to sell it a while back for financial reasons and in my humble opinion, the Gloucester, at least mine, is much more of a bluegrass axe than the Eastman. To me, the Eastman had the modern shimmering sound, but the Fullerton has the vintage woody tone. I would like to own them both, but I think the Gloucester is much better suited for bluegrass. FWIW, I played a jam buddy's '76 Ibanez last night, and when I handed it back to him, his girlfriend said innocently, "That one (the Ibanez) is much quieter than that one (my Gloucester)" I played it down, but she was right.

arbarnhart

Jul-05-2007, 8:20am

I switched to nickel wound and got the blues machine sound I was looking for from "Chester". I have only had a couple of more experienced players check it out so far, but the opinions were extremely positive. I think you will have to spend quite a bit to get an upgrade that isn't just cosmetic (inlays and better known name on the head stock) and even then any difference in sound is likely to be subjective and subtle. Like JB, I find the volume to be very good. I see instruments as falling into three broad categories - junk which is pretty much unplayable, "OK" which includes some starter laminates and other things that hold a tuning, are fretted properly and have a decent sound but usually have issues with volume, sustain and/or tone. And finally, there is the good category, which is narrower (IMO) than the others in that the sound of the instruments will really only be distinct (assuming same type of A or F holes and similar strings) to musicians looking for a very specific sound. I think the Gloucester is a good instrument. I think my Washburn oval A was also; I changed largely because I wanted a natural wood instrument and based on the feedback it looked like I get get a good F pretty much on par. But I got the Washburn when I was playing a Rogue that was just OK.

Rick Cadger

Jul-06-2007, 4:41am

changed my mind.

i think I'll keep the Gloucester.

i had put it up for sale on a couple of other sites... but i can't do it.

if i get rid of my last couple of guitars and a tenor b*njo, i'll be able to keep the Fullerton and get another mando!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Kero

Jul-07-2007, 9:25am

what do you reckon? am i crazy?
no, you are not...i'm saving for the next axe too, might be a breedlove or jbovier...

Rick Cadger

Jul-27-2007, 9:49am

so glad i decided not to sell this mando!

it gets played for a couple of hours a day and i swear it is sounding better all the time.

after reading some advice from Paul H. in the builders section i slackened off the tuner screws a tad and tuning the Gloucester is transformed. that tweak along with the bone nut have made this the most stable and easily tuned of my mandolins.

if they brought out more of these i would definitely snap one up for a spare!

i'm still going to fit in a shopping trip to Trevor's as soon as time allows, but no way am i parting with this mandolin. i've been comparing it with my session mate's two Eastman mandos. at first i thought his A5 style Eastman had an edge on volume, but now i can't hear any distance between them, and tonewise i'll take the Fullerton.

the A4 style Eastman he has is a different animal. the oval hole makes it sound fatter and bassier than the Fullerton, but it can't chop to save its life!

unbelievable, these things.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif