Mandolins at spgma

[Russ Jordan]

Anybody got a mandolin report from SPGMA? I heard that Smoky Mtn Guitars had a couple of new Passernigs. Did you play them?

[Mark Walker]

I was wondering the same things myself. Particularly, I was wondering about that new Silver Angel Fantasma!

[Dusty]

Ken was there as was Laura. Both had several excellent mandolins there, and Ken is a great guy to talk and visit with.

[kymandolin29]

i played all of kens mandolins at spikma and all were good....i really liked one he had that was white topped and was non traditional shape ...but man it sounded like a 20's oval hole gibson and i related that to ken..i dont know if he did that on purpose or accident but it was a great mandolin.....cant beat that oval hole sound....
laura had a tremendous a style that was balanced up and down and across the neck...it was over all the best mandolin at the table because of that....no scroll but what the hey....
out in the hallway a guy let me play his spann f-5 ...man it was a killer mandolin...
i saw the fern loar in the trade show although this year it had a do not touch sign on it... and a red 85 gilchrist for a reasonable price to say the least....i know the mandolin and its a good one

[Stephen Perry]

I keep coming back to liking Silver Angel very much. The new "Jade" prototype got lots of play and approval for a low end entry. The fancy shaped Passernig was rather appealing. Wish my ears had been in better shape - I already live with some hearing loss and had an ear infection, so I just couldn't hear well enough. Always next year!