Silverangel for keith sewell

[Kentuckyken]

folks, here's another Silverangel distressed.....

[Kentuckyken]

another....

[Kentuckyken]

the top....

[Kentuckyken]

last one. This is a one piece sitka top. It's really nice sounding today, right after I strung it up. I believe after he plays it awhile, it'll be one of the best I've built. To describe the tone, to me it sounds juicy and woody at the same time, with that hollow "A" string sound. The bass is there in abundance, but with no loss in balance across the board and up the neck.

[bluegrassrulz]

I've been enjoying my ratcliff so I'm sure the Silverangel sounds great too! Good chop, good chop!

[Mark Walker]

Another beauty Ken.

Is that an Orrico tailpiece? Looks more shiny than some others I've seen on your instruments - though I know you've put James' tailpieces on some recently too.

Keep up the good work!

[Kentuckyken]

Mark ,yes that's an Orrico silverplated. This mandolin is really blasting now. It's gone off my scale of 1-10. Second 12 in 3 months.

[Don Christy]

Very nice Ken!

My two year old Debbie (#225) is also sounding great. I've been using J74s lately and really like them for bluegrass. What are you stringing them with now 'days?
Don

[Mark Walker]

Don - I think Ken usually ships them with J75's - unless a customer specifies otherwise.

Mine sounds great with both 74's and 75's, though it does bark a little louder with the J75's.

I think the concensus of Silver Angel and/or Laura Ratcliff mandolin owners would concur virtually all of their instruments crafted in the last 10 years or so are 'tone monsters' and have great chop and bark to them. Ken has a great source of great maple, and has knack for getting great sounds out of his instruments! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Satchel]

Great looking mando!!! The inlay work on the headstock is awesome and I like the grain pattern on the back!

Brian

[pjlama]

Have to agree, another Kentucky Killer!

[NUGmando]

Well, this is my first post here, but when I saw one of Ken's mandolins I couldn't resist throwing in a few comments. #I have purchased 5 Silverangel mandolins from Ken, yeah I like them that well, and I must say that he builds #superb instruments. #I remember the first Silverangel mandolin I played, it was at Gruhn Guitar in Nashville. #It was different looking from the rest that hung there on the wall as it was an R-2 with the R cut in the center of the top. #So, just from the aesthetic side of things it drew attention, then I picked it up and played it. #Wow, it was absolutely the sweetest mandolin I had ever played at that point. #I wanted it so bad I could taste it, but my financial situation at the time wouldn't allow me to own it. #Later that year I met Ken and ended up buying one from him and I've never looked back. #I have played Silverangel mandolins exclusively for about the past 10 years or so....don't think I'd be the same mandolin player without them. #Well, as you can see in the pictures they're fine instruments to look at, but these instruments are a Hoss right out of the hole. #You'd be hard pressed to match the deep woody tones, volume and playability. #I recently ordered a distressed model and can't wait to hear it...I want the back on my mandolin to come from the same maple tree as this one Ken...can you arrange that?...:D

[ksewell]

A word from the lucky owner.....just got the Mando.I've seen Ken around SPGMA a few times over the last 5 yrs or so and played a few of his mandolins and was impressed with what I heard. . I must say that the whole experience with Ken from day one was a joy. Bottom line, i needed a Mandolin to play on the road this summer, I called him to see what he had in stock, he regretfully said he had just sold his last but said he could build me one. I didn't think I had time for that but he proceeded to build the mandolin from scratch in about a month. He sent me pictures at every turn. At every stage, he welcomed my input and considered every detail. The end result? Well, let me say that I have played some fine,fine mandolins from Gilchrist's to Dude's to Gibson MM's an even a few Loars, and this is probably the woodiest and one of most dynamic mandolins i've played. From top to bottom it's warm, and very even. It's very loud but I've played loud instruments that were just too harsh. This one isn't.( it's BARELY broken in yet) Not to mention the fact that it just looks and feels like a piece of art in your hands,. Ken does not use a CNC machine(computer numerical control) to do the cutting or carving in any of his work, it is ALL handmade. Yet,, the craftsmanship is excellent. The distressed varnish he does is so cool looking and really adds character to the appearance, the feel of the instrument, and ultimately the TONE. Apart from being a talented luthier, Ken is also a great guy to work with. got to go play it some more/

[Mark Walker]

Keith - congratulations on the new Angel in your arms!

Having had Ken craft two Silver Angels for me, I can agree 100% with your observations; he and his wife Laura are genuinely nice folks and top-notch luthiers. #
My second mandolin actually has the tailpiece off my original Silver Angel, and Ken did another great job with the Mother-of-Pearl flying angel in the headstock - something I had in my first mandolin as well. #My first was a reddish sunburst and lacquer finish; I elected to go with the hand-rubbed varnish finish on my second one and my wife actually suggested I have Ken paint an angel (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=28422;hl=231) on the back. #The painting and finish are beautiful - more of a tobacco-color than red. #
(I'm distressing mine myself!)

Ken was a treat to work with on both mandolins.

Anyway, like NUGMando (and a couple hundred others) you're among a happy family of Silverangel owners!

Congrats again - keep us updated on how your Angel sounds as she opens up! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jasona]

Congrats on the new beauty!