View Full Version : How many instruments have these folks built
Gary Hedrick
Mar-22-2008, 8:54am
I know that Gilchrist has built over 600 instruments
Moneleone has built how many mandolin family instruments.....a couple hundred?
How about Keminetzer (sp?).....
How about Dudenbostel?
Kimble...
Wiens....
Brentrup....
Just curious....
Mark Walker
Mar-22-2008, 9:36am
While I didn't see his name in the list, I thought I'd chime in.
I'm not sure just where/when Ken Ratcliff started numbering his mandolins, but my current one is #231, and I know he's up toward 270 or so now.
His wife Laura has to be getting close to 50 mandolins she's crafted.
Certainly owners of those other fine luthiers should have insight into how many instruments have been produced. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
jim simpson
Mar-22-2008, 10:26am
I was curious about Sim Daley.
Chris Biorkman
Mar-22-2008, 10:50am
I think these numbers are in the ballpark, based on
Daley: 60s
Kimble: Somewhere around 150
Ellis: 115
Nugget: Around 300
Weins: 25 or so
Dudenbostel: 50ish
Brentrup: No idea
I could be way off, so feel free to correct me.
barry k
Mar-23-2008, 9:01am
82
Gary Hedrick
Mar-23-2008, 9:09am
So if all these folks have built all these instruments and we know that Collings and Weber have built hundreds and hundreds of them (if for no other reason than there are that many in music stores waiting to be bought) Mandolins and mandolin music is alive and well in these here United States of America and in the rest of the world too.
Such a paradigm shift for me.....so many mandolins....when not too many years ago 70's Gibsons were the choice....or try and find a Randy Wood conversion...
Jim Garber
Mar-23-2008, 2:46pm
Bill Bussman has #398 on his gallery site. I think he may have broken 400 already tho.
Crowder
Mar-23-2008, 6:20pm
For perspective, how many Loar F5's are there? 200? 250?
Philphool
Mar-23-2008, 7:53pm
Wayne Henderson is at about 105.
This is an interesting topic. Anyone know totals from these builders?
Mowry
Newell
BRW
Rattlesnake
Randy Wood
Red Diamond
Kristufek
Givens (I have heard that he was a prolific builder.)
Daniel Wheeler
Mar-23-2008, 11:04pm
Collings was shipping out 918 when I was there. Or was it 980 something?!?
trevor
Mar-24-2008, 6:37am
I believe Givens was somewhere over 600!
F5G WIZ
Mar-24-2008, 6:43am
Andy Poe just delivered #19 so that puts him at 41 mandolins under the driftwood/poe monikers also throw in a couple mandolas and two ukes.
I did not see his name but I have a Bryan England mandolin, it is #40 and built in 2005. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Austin Clark is currently building #27 for me.
Pete Martin
Mar-24-2008, 10:36am
Gilchrist?
Keith Erickson
Mar-24-2008, 11:04am
186.
Wait a minute...
I thought that I had read somewhere that China has been flooded by Morgan Bentrup & Michael Bentrup mandolins. Shouldn't that number be much higher? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
NoNickel
Mar-24-2008, 11:10am
I believe that Ben Wilcoxen (BRW) is somewhere in the 85 to 100 range.
Trey Young
Mar-24-2008, 11:14am
I have #3 of Robb Brophy's Elkhorn mandos and I think he's in the double digits now. If not he's awfully close. Still amazing to me at the quality of his #3 instrument. Can't wait to start seeing his once he gets a good 20 or 30 under his belt.
Bill Snyder
Mar-24-2008, 8:13pm
I believe that Ben Wilcoxen (BRW) is somewhere in the 85 to 100 range.
FWIW his last name is Wilcox.
LateBloomer
Mar-25-2008, 5:51am
For perspective, how many Loar F5's are there? 200? 250?
Crowder asked an interesting question. #A friend told me there were about 300 Loar's. #Darryl Wolfe would be the person to ask to be certain. #I'm wondering if Crowder's question infers that some of these builders will get to that 300 or so range and be as good as, or better than the Loars? #What do y'all think....
kyblue
Mar-25-2008, 6:02am
I don't think it's strictly a numbers game. Some may get better with each build. But, there's at least one above with some pretty big numbers that I don't think will ever be as good as quite a few that have built much less.
John Hamlett hasn't built many, but I've seen/heard some amazing stuff from him (I was just discussing this with Tim O'Brien last night.) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Looks like Lynn D. has only about 50 and he's pretty darn good.
Paula
amowry
Mar-25-2008, 7:59am
40 here.
Bill Van Liere
Mar-25-2008, 8:28am
I have heard that Tim's Nugget is something like the second one that Mike built under his name. Lucky, and talented, guys both of them.
bkhooper
Mar-25-2008, 8:44am
I have begun mandolin #3 and have the wood for #4 and #5. #In the process of completing dreadnought guitar #8 and #9 and have the wood for a few more. #All this is assuming I dont have any more run ins with my table saw :D
ken hooper
Siminole
Mar-25-2008, 8:57am
I am thinking that Don Paine of Pomeroy Mandolin in Colorado has crafted 114 or 115.
Al http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif
I believe Rolfe Gerhardt will reach 500 by this summer.
oldwave maker
Mar-25-2008, 9:38am
I've built a dozen fiddles, a dozen electric guitars and basses, 6 flattop guitars, 2 archtop guitars, a dullsimmer, a gastank upright bass, a mandocello, and several hundred other mandofamily instruments, 429 including this in progress 7th slice of watermelon! Someday I plan to retire and make doubleneck baritone ukulele/upright basses fulltime......
NoNickel
Mar-25-2008, 11:23am
Quote (NoNickel @ Mar. 24 2008, 12:10)
I believe that Ben Wilcoxen (BRW) is somewhere in the 85 to 100 range.
FWIW his last name is Wilcox.
Yes but my next door neighbor's name when I was 4 years old was Wilcoxen, and I often get them confused. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
BBarton
Mar-25-2008, 7:49pm
Don't know exact numbers, but I think Lloyd LaPlant of MN has done at least 150 mandos and an equivalent number of guitars, perhaps more. Peter Sawchyn in Regina, SK has done somewhere about 425-450 total (guitars and mandos).
Philphool
Mar-25-2008, 9:21pm
Randy Wood about 1405
c.f.
http://www.mandolincentral.com/rwproto.html
Rick Schmidlin
Mar-25-2008, 9:39pm
Red Diamond is at 177 with Chris Hillman owning # 172.
F5G WIZ
Mar-25-2008, 10:36pm
Gilchrist?
Somewhere between 600 and 700. I played #600 a couple years ago and it was brand new. I'm sure others could give a closer number.
Jason Nagati
Mar-29-2008, 11:09pm
Mr. Bussman, could you make that a triple neck and throw a violin in the middle for me?
mandroid
Mar-29-2008, 11:16pm
Green and shaped like a Cactus.
eh Bill..
Dan Voight
Mar-29-2008, 11:22pm
I've built 4 mandos but I'm 20 so who knows how many I'll have done in 15-20 years.
Geoff B
Mar-29-2008, 11:23pm
#17 arrived at its new home yesterday! 18 and 19 are coming along.
Joel Spaulding
Mar-29-2008, 11:59pm
Geoff's # 17 is a very fine instrument indeed! Was able to play t for 3 hours this AM.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #- the board wouldn't allow another smiley - you all know the new mando feeling!!
It is a beautiful mandolin in every aspect. Photos, impressions and perhaps a ham-fisted (mine) soundclip are forthcoming.
apologies for my pitiful resizing job on the avatar. Will be udated within the week. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif