Antonio Tsai Mandolins?

[mandough]

I've seen a couple of his mandolins on ebay. #Right now, he's got a load of different style mandolins on sale on ebay. #Alot of them have outrageous MOP inlay designs. #They also have a bone top bridge and cast tailpieces.
I was wondering if anyone here has ever bought or played one these mandolins.
They look really nice and alot of them are really cheap (in comparison to other luthiers).

I'm not in any way connected to this guy, I was just curious.Antonio Tsai mandolin (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3731317862&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1)

[mandomick]

Try doing a search here. I don't remember when but there has been some discussion about these instruments and his inlay work.

[mandough]

I read the threads on this guy but...no REAL reviews on his actual instruments.

Just some speculation and takes on the looks.

Also a singing review from some guy named "Susie" (I wonder if that's like the Johnny Cash song?)

I want to know how the dang things sound, feel, and are constructed.
That one that is shaped like an A style has been haunting me for months.

I like mandolins that are curious looking as I just bought a Framus recently.

[Brookside]

Well they are definately loud. (but I've never heard one)

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

[mad dawg]

Hmmm... No reserve on this one, but he has another one like it with a buy it now price of $6500.

[Unseen122]

That is some great inlay work, looks so good I think I want one. Maybe not. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Unseen122]

I think I have found my next mando I really like the two point one.

[Tom C]

They are nice but the F lised above is only $124.00. If nobody else bids, or it only goes up a little, do you think he would let the instrument go for that cheap?
I have no idea they are or their reputation but to me Cheap + Taiwan = Bad News

Yeah, I've got one of the violin shaped ones. For the money I guess it's ok. The top would never stand medium gage strings & it's just what it is....a funky looking $300 mando. My advice would be to put your hard earned dollars elsewhere...IMHO.

He is an honest seller & responds quickly to email.

[vkioulaphides]

I have seen jpegs of some of Mr. Tsai's bowlbacks; I have also corresponded with him and found out that he usually takes orders for $1,500-3,000 a piece. He primarily sells inlaid parts: fingerboards, pickguards, etc. (No wonder he sells under the "inlaidartist" username!)

To my (uncertified) knowledge, he is a curator of musical instruments at a museum in Taiwan, not the typical Taiwanese mass-producer of cheap wares. He works with a small team of craftsmen under his supervision.

I, too, have read negative criticism of the intonation on some of his fingerboards— second-hand information, of course. Also, the tuning machinery is sometimes put on the headstock in a curious, crooked way... His bowlback tailpieces, cast in solid brass, are inappropriately heavy for ANY bowlback. Judging from the above posts, even his carved instruments may require ultra-light strings...

He seems honest and is very prompt in his response. I don't know, however, whether he's got all his ducks in a row...

[mandough]

Tom C...the last F-5 that he had for sale (as I can remember) went for around $600 or more. I know because I bid $450 for it and lost.
Dale...have you ever heard a Violin shaped mandolin ever sound good? I think there may be something funny in that design altogether. I may have also bid on that one when it was running around $200. I thought it was interesting enough to give it a shot.
How was the general workmanship on it though? How were the seams and the finish, not to mention the sound? I mean, how does it compare to other $300 dollar mandos? What do you mean by "it will only take light gauge strings"? What's wrong with the top?

I'm curious as to why some people think that artisans in China make bad products? China has some of the finest woodworking, inlay, sculpture artists in the world. They've been doing it for thousands and thousands of years. After all, this guy seems to be a reputable luthier in China not some carver of a Mao bust souvenir.???

Hey, for $250 I'll sell it to you & you can post a review.......

[elenbrandt]

Oh Dale, ever the diplomat and entreprenuer at the same time.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[b.pat]

Ok, who is it???
There are 6 or 7 of these "F" styles listed on e-bay.The same guy is high bidder on all of them [gib1923]
Come on Dale is that you? #Man I'm glad it's not me.
# # # #B.Pat
# # # # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Tom C]

I would not suprised if it was the seller.

Yep, that's me, I decided to corner the market on Pacific Rim mandos...... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandough]

Sorry Dale, I didn't mean to incite an "offer".
I went to this guy's website and if all of it is true, he seems to have credibility.
By the way, how was the tailpiece on the mandolin that you bought? #I see that alot of his tailpieces have the strings posted near the endpin and not on top of the mandolin. #Just curious as to what you think about that bit of hardware.

Even if this guy's mandos go for a relatively low bid, he's still making out because the exchange rate is something like 8 to 1.25 American. #Imagine if some entrepeneur got a small group of people in Thailand together to make mandolins at an exchange rate of 40 to 1. #

I figure if this gib1923 wins them all, he could probably make a profit if they went for what they are going for now.

Oh, by the way Dale, I'll have to pass on that one.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #:

It sure isn't a BRW.. I tell ya that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Potosimando]

Very nice fellow--Tony. I have only seen his component parts (bridges, tailpieces, a fingerboard, pickguard, etc.)--all #### with no redeeming qualities (I sent away for some when he first started selling on ebay). As nice and hard working as Tony appears to be, he certainly does not understand mandolins. Based on my looking at his components in detail, I would not give you $5 for any of his mandolins.

His inlay work is nice--but that's it.

[susie-1]

Dear Mandough: Yep, it's a little like the Johnny Cash song only Susie-1 is the wife.
(Her Ebay sellers name.) I use it to keep the identity thing intact. Caused me a little trouble a couple of times though. I have 4 of Tony's mandolins, most notable is the identical companion to his "Aladdin" that you can see on Ebay. Got a couple of bowl backs, and one of those sort of "A" types with the row of sound holes. He restored a demolished Flatiron 3M for me and increased it's sound, playability and LOOKS dramatically. The Aladdin F5 soundwise is very comparable to a Ron Cole RCF5 custom made mandolin I have. It's different than the England I have and much different than the Lebeeda "Jazzy" that I own. To write precise reviews is to struggle in vain as, what happens in our eyes ears and head when we pick up an instrument and play it is an inner thing all our own. Antoniotsai is a gifted luthier, an artist and has a lot of experience. There are some folks on the Cafe with the credentials to critique his work and the "teach to" and "learn from" is one of Mankinds greastest assets. Tony's instruments are not "outrageous" but rather, the products of a Mind that is incredibly innovative. None of Tony's instruments look like the "cookie cutter" variety... like my Cole mandolin, the Aladdin looks like it was hand made by a Master. If there's a specific question, I'd attempt to answer it.
Herman Archer, Island Falls, Maine

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I guess if you got this mandolin cheaply enough, you could afford to bid on one of Porter Wagoner's stage outfits to go with it. Too much pearl for my taste.

[mandough]

Hi Herman,
How is the wood selection on that A-type mandolin? I was thinking about getting one of those since they running about $340.
How do the side holes affect the sound of the mandolin as a whole? Is there less forward sound projection or just some sound directed toward the player? What is the overall sound of that mandolin (does it have chop or would it be more suited for Celtic)?
How would you rate the workmanship on his hardware (ie: brass casted tailpieces, bridge, tuners)?
Very curious.

[Jim Garber]

To write precise reviews is to struggle in vain as, what happens in our eyes ears and head when we pick up an instrument and play it is an inner thing all our own.
Herman;
Yes it is difficult to write a review. On the other hand, you are one of the very few I have heard who has even seen any of Tony's works. Surely you can give us an honest subjective opinion. I am not sure what types of music you play but would you, for instance, prefer the Tsai to your Cole for playing bluegrass. How does your Tsai compare to any other bowlbacks you may own or have played? Aside from the inlay work, are these carefully crafted to be playing instruments? Is the finish work impeccable or just average. Do they intonate well all the way up the neck? Do all notes at all frets sound well and play easily?

Personally, I own quite a few mandolins. One of my main instruments ios a high end contemporary italian bowlback. i would say in general that the workmanship is decent but not impeccable but the sound and playability is exceptional. (Just an example of a subjective review).

Thanks in advance
Jim