Michael H Geimer
Jul-19-2004, 6:47am
I just got back from a week in NYC visiting with friends. "You can go out to Staten Island on your own!", was how they playfully put it to me, and that's just what I did last Friday.
You could easily miss the place the facade is so plain; just a stone front, no windows, and a nameplate reading 'Mandolin Bros.' When I walked in, I stepped right into an office rather than a showroom. I was immediately greeted with, "So, what'd you bring us?" I had brought the Mid-mo on my trip, and the staff was most interested in my odd-ball M-11, with its matte finish and lack of binding or rosette. So, I knew right away these guys are instrument geeks!
I was encouraged to play anything I wanted, and had a great time playing a variety of Martin guitars I had been itching to hear. Of course they stock most every maker you'd want to play, but for me it was mostly a Martin day.
Another customer - clearly a regular - was there to get a gig bag for his custom built 5-string with a deep, open back. The banjo was set up for nylon strings with scooped upper fingerboard, and this guy could really make it sing. Everyone stopped to listen.
[Warning Guitar Reviews Ahead]
D-18VS - Wow! A 12-fret slotted headstock dreadnought with all the 'Vintage' appointments.
D-16R - The one they have there is odd, having a rosewood fretboard rather than micarta. I was very tempted by this one but I just don't have GAS that bad right now.
Mini-Martin - Holy Cow! This thing is really something. I love my Larrivee parlor, but this has a voice that is so rich and warm you've got to love it. It is also quite a beauty.
Gibson L-5 - Superb, but not the tone I expected. I expected to fall in love with it, but no.
[On to the mandolins]
Weber Bitteroot - This is the first 'stock' Bitteroot I've ever played. (I own a maple backed version) I was surprised by the difference in tone the mahogany makes. It had a more up-front, direct tone than mine; other reviews around here have used the phrase 'more guitar like', and I would agree with that.
Gibson F-5G - Classic Gibson tone all the way.
Gibson F-5L Fern - I've now played several different varnish instruments and I definitely enjoy the open lively tone that varnish offers.
Collings MF-5 - This is my personal favorite of the 'shop offers', but that Fern was so close that I hesitate really call a 'winner'.
I was just hanging up the Fern when Pete from the repair shop walked in and asked if I had played the Collings, commenting that he heard me playing from downstairs, and when a 'real' mandolin player comes in he likes to make sure they get to play the right stuff. I assured him I was just a common hack, but he unlocked that unmarked door anyway.
He proceeded to take out a Distressed Master Model. Incredible! The Tone, The Mojo, even The Smell. Truly the finest mandolin I had ever played.
Then he floored me by taking out the Real Deal. 1923 Loar. Oddly, I never looked at the signature ... I just played it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif It is All That. It even smells like that.
But, put a decade of real aging to the Distressed Model, and I bet it will sound much the same. I guess what I'm saying is ... I see the point. An truly excellent reproduction of a classic instrument.
[Final Impressions]
I've never been welcomed so kindly at a music store in my life; these are great people at Mandolin Bros. When MAS or GAS come around hard, I'll factor a flight over into my budget. Even though I got complimented on my playing, I wish I were better able to really put these great instruments 'through the works'. I was just happy to play them at all, but I also feel like I hardly tasted the variety of flavors you can find in that store. So, take all my reviews with a little grain of salt; I played a lot of stuff that afternoon, and most of it not very well. (There's a lot to be said about being more comfortable, and thus playing better and sounding better when it's your own instrument)
I also came away with a real appreciation for the instruments I already have. My Mid-mo compared very well against the other flat-tops, and even well against their Weber Bridger A ... which surprised me. I also really enjoy the individual tone that my Bitteroot has, as Un-Gibsonlike as that it. Now, I didn't play any maple-backed Webers, but mine even sounds different than any of the Webers on their wall. Neither did I find a guitar that compared to my 000-15s. OK ... I would trade for a Mini-Martin for my parlor, or that D-16R for my dread, but I think I cured myself of MAS/GAS for a bit ... I hope. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
- Benig
You could easily miss the place the facade is so plain; just a stone front, no windows, and a nameplate reading 'Mandolin Bros.' When I walked in, I stepped right into an office rather than a showroom. I was immediately greeted with, "So, what'd you bring us?" I had brought the Mid-mo on my trip, and the staff was most interested in my odd-ball M-11, with its matte finish and lack of binding or rosette. So, I knew right away these guys are instrument geeks!
I was encouraged to play anything I wanted, and had a great time playing a variety of Martin guitars I had been itching to hear. Of course they stock most every maker you'd want to play, but for me it was mostly a Martin day.
Another customer - clearly a regular - was there to get a gig bag for his custom built 5-string with a deep, open back. The banjo was set up for nylon strings with scooped upper fingerboard, and this guy could really make it sing. Everyone stopped to listen.
[Warning Guitar Reviews Ahead]
D-18VS - Wow! A 12-fret slotted headstock dreadnought with all the 'Vintage' appointments.
D-16R - The one they have there is odd, having a rosewood fretboard rather than micarta. I was very tempted by this one but I just don't have GAS that bad right now.
Mini-Martin - Holy Cow! This thing is really something. I love my Larrivee parlor, but this has a voice that is so rich and warm you've got to love it. It is also quite a beauty.
Gibson L-5 - Superb, but not the tone I expected. I expected to fall in love with it, but no.
[On to the mandolins]
Weber Bitteroot - This is the first 'stock' Bitteroot I've ever played. (I own a maple backed version) I was surprised by the difference in tone the mahogany makes. It had a more up-front, direct tone than mine; other reviews around here have used the phrase 'more guitar like', and I would agree with that.
Gibson F-5G - Classic Gibson tone all the way.
Gibson F-5L Fern - I've now played several different varnish instruments and I definitely enjoy the open lively tone that varnish offers.
Collings MF-5 - This is my personal favorite of the 'shop offers', but that Fern was so close that I hesitate really call a 'winner'.
I was just hanging up the Fern when Pete from the repair shop walked in and asked if I had played the Collings, commenting that he heard me playing from downstairs, and when a 'real' mandolin player comes in he likes to make sure they get to play the right stuff. I assured him I was just a common hack, but he unlocked that unmarked door anyway.
He proceeded to take out a Distressed Master Model. Incredible! The Tone, The Mojo, even The Smell. Truly the finest mandolin I had ever played.
Then he floored me by taking out the Real Deal. 1923 Loar. Oddly, I never looked at the signature ... I just played it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif It is All That. It even smells like that.
But, put a decade of real aging to the Distressed Model, and I bet it will sound much the same. I guess what I'm saying is ... I see the point. An truly excellent reproduction of a classic instrument.
[Final Impressions]
I've never been welcomed so kindly at a music store in my life; these are great people at Mandolin Bros. When MAS or GAS come around hard, I'll factor a flight over into my budget. Even though I got complimented on my playing, I wish I were better able to really put these great instruments 'through the works'. I was just happy to play them at all, but I also feel like I hardly tasted the variety of flavors you can find in that store. So, take all my reviews with a little grain of salt; I played a lot of stuff that afternoon, and most of it not very well. (There's a lot to be said about being more comfortable, and thus playing better and sounding better when it's your own instrument)
I also came away with a real appreciation for the instruments I already have. My Mid-mo compared very well against the other flat-tops, and even well against their Weber Bridger A ... which surprised me. I also really enjoy the individual tone that my Bitteroot has, as Un-Gibsonlike as that it. Now, I didn't play any maple-backed Webers, but mine even sounds different than any of the Webers on their wall. Neither did I find a guitar that compared to my 000-15s. OK ... I would trade for a Mini-Martin for my parlor, or that D-16R for my dread, but I think I cured myself of MAS/GAS for a bit ... I hope. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
- Benig