New mando player! charleston, sc

[BD-DV07]

Hey everyone, David here, just wanted to say a good hello to the mando cafe world. Just sitting here at work listening to some Chris Thile.. anyways, I've dabbled on and off for about 5 years with my mando, I've had two now, my first was a A-body NewYork wine colored mando, with elictric pick ups. I traded it in when I moved to SC before I went to Baghdad, Iraq for a few months for a umm.. I think its a Johnson, can't think of the model, but it was a good upgrade, Not really thinking of upgrading again for a while, it really makes a good sound for me for now.

I do want some suggestions for a really solid set of strings, I'm just using D`Darrio mando strings, I like smooth clean melodys, and crisp sound, I dont do much Blue grass, I like the newgrass/rockfolk/jazz/experimental sound..so I dont know if maybe there are a better set of strings I can run.. anyways..

NOW growing up back in VA, I do know what good Bluegrass sounds like, I mean my town was the home of the Marry River Blue Grass festival. HELLO!! anyways.. thats about it.. hope to find some local players here.. maybe a suggestion of other sites where I can find some jams, maybe Find them on here.. I just want to play, its the only way you get better. anyhoo... thats IT!!

[bbjockey]

Welcome aboard. I am pretty new here and to mando myself.
Charleston is one of my favorite places to visit. As far as strings you can do a search and get several different opinions. I am using Elixor mediums and like them.

[BD-DV07]

man, is there anyone from South Carolina on
here?

[Steve Cantrell]

There's me, but we're on opposite ends, I think.

[Byrdmando]

Im not in SC but next time you are around Buena Vista, give me a shout. I live about twenty minutes down 130 in Big Island area.

[JEStanek]

David, Welcome to the Mandolin Café! We're glad you're here. For the style you're describing you might like the sound of flatwound mandolin strings. Some of my favorites are the JM-11s at Jazzmando.com (http://jazzmando.com/jazzmando_jm11_flatwound_strings.shtml) They feel great (very smooth) last much longer and have a warmer tone than D'Addario J74s for example. You get more tone and longer life with a tad less volume. They're about 3X as costly as J74s but last at least 3x long. I grew up within a mile or so of Byrd in Central Virginia and now call PA home.

Jamie

[BD-DV07]

Im not in SC but next time you are around Buena Vista, give me a shout. I live about twenty minutes down 130 in Big Island area.

good to see some activity here. thats what I get, I move from home and starting to want to play music, and everyone and there borthers plays back home, and Move to Charleston and cant find anyone who's not stuck up there own A** to play.. luckely my friend next door is a native VT Hokie, and Virginian, not to mention a jazz guitar major.. anyhoo

I'll keep it in mind next I head home.. I'll be back to Rockbridge some time this winter for ski season. I might have to make an adveture up to Big Island. I haven't been there in years. I think maybe to go fishing, and passing by to go to the lake.

as for byrdmando- are you in the Greenville area? well, I'm not heading there for say next month, But a group of my friends from VA are going to Asheville to go camping and Mountain biking, thats kind of on the way..I plan on taking my mando for some wilderness jams!! keep the bears and whatnot away!

[haunter112]

Try this link:

http://www.folkjam.org/local/map

There's also a monthly jam near Canadys off Hwy 61.

I think it's the last saturday of the month.

I'm in Columbia, by the way.