What is your go to main axe make and model?

[Rick Schmidlin]

Mine is my Collings MF5 and is in my hands a least three hours a day.My guitar never makes it out of the case anymore.Both are tone monsters but I can't my hand off of that F.:cool:

[Mike Bunting]

Why do you want to know? Anyhow, I love all my axes and think that it would be unfair to show favouritism.

[fredfrank]

This is actually a fair question. I own three mandolins, all of which I like and enjoy playing. Of the three, I think the MT2V is a bit easier for me to play, but anytime I go to a gig, I have to take the Red Diamond. Just can't bring myself to gig with any other mando.

[JEStanek]

I spend about equal time on my Labraid and Spira. Different instruments, different sounds, love them both. The second tier interestingly with equal time between the two of them are my Eastman 2 pointer and a L&H Conservatory bowlback. I play at home as a hobbiest.

Jamie

[jimbob]

Four here...I try to rotate every now and then , but having trouble leaving the Bibey in the case.

[sgarrity]

My Heiden A5 gets the lion's share of playing time. I'm actually selling my others and purchasing a nice oval a-style and then I'll be done for a while. I'll have the Heiden, the oval hole, my Gibby Hummingbird and an old tenor banjo. And the TB may be finding a new home too. It just never gets played.

[Denny Gies]

My D-28 sits in the case more and more in favor of the 1993 Randy Wood F-5.

[fatt-dad]

My '84 Flatiron A5-1 is my go-to mandolin and likely to remain that way for the decades to come. I've had others, but they've gone away. Now guitars are another matter. Right now, I'm cycling between my 000-28Norman Blake and my '29 Gibson L-1 (Standard Tuning), but like to keep my 000-15S on hand in open D (or Dm).

f-d

[John Flynn]

The mandolin I play constantly is my Old Wave Oval A. I play my Mendel OM at least as much, though. If they were the only two instruments I owned, I would be OK with that. I'm trying to intentionally play my Rigel A+ Deluxe and my Parsons Flat-top more, just to keep them open and spare fret wear on the Old Wave.

[Rick Schmidlin]

My '84 Flatiron A5-1 is my go-to mandolin and likely to remain that way for the decades to come. I've had others, but they've gone away. Now guitars are another matter. Right now, I'm cycling between my 000-28Norman Blake and my '29 Gibson L-1 (Standard Tuning), but like to keep my 000-15S on hand in open D (or Dm).

f-d


I love those 000-15S, they have mojo:cool:

[Ken_P]

I must be either really boring or really lucky (or maybe both!) :)

The only "good" instruments I've got are a new Collings MT2 and an 11 year old Martin D1 (now out of production, sadly, but a great guitar), and I have no interest in upgrading either.

I plan to add a mandocello to the collection at some point, but that's pretty much it.

[Bill Auld]

Definitely my '03 Collings MF5 ... '03 must have been a good year ...

[UnityGain]

Don't know the make and model, but its definatly my "go to" axe. Its got a great chop and really cuts through when you need it to. A real banjo killer too.

(sorry, I couldn't resist, its been so darn cold up here I've been using my woodstove quite a lot)

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Depends on the gig and rehearsal schedule
Rock: The Altered Tele (5 string tuned DAEBF#), the Epiphone Mando(la)bird, a RainSong OM-1000, and sometimes a Fender Eric Johnson signature model Strat
Anything acoustic: Red (my SCGC 42BGD) and Bella (my Gary Vessel F5) ...Sometimes I'll add my Weber Alder #2 mandola to the acoustic mix.

But the one I pick up when no one else is around and I just want to play is Bella, my Vessel F5.

Daniel

[Frank Russell]

Used to be a Givens A4, now it's a Givens A3. Never lets me down. Frank

[acousticphd]

I have a similar approach as Jamie, based on the type of music, and instrument "tier". I guess I don't have a standout favorite, so I find I like to keep 3-4 instruments out and accessible for a period of time, and I will choose between them, sometimes spontaneously. Sometimes it's based on which one has the freshest set of strings.
For old-timey/traditional music, my main mando for awhile is a teens Gibson A. I also take and use a Sawchyn mandola to almost every jam or pickin party.
For an f-hole sound, I most often use my John Mann A5 or my Givens Legacy A5.

I have several others I'd like to be playing stored away waiting for me to take care of some needed issue or setup.

[charlesgwilsonjr]

My main ax is my 1960 Martin D-18. My most played mandolin is my 2004 Brentrup L21V, but my others get played often as well. Chuck

[Ted Eschliman]

My Clark JM series remains my frontline, multi-purpose choice, but I am digging my newly acquired Kimble mandola (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?albumid=55), too.

Clark JM:

http://jazzmando.com/images/CJM_FrntBack.jpg

[Fliss]

That Clark is stunning, Ted!

My number one mando is my oval hole flat top made by Phil Davidson. It has exactly the tone I love for Celtic-style music, and fantastic playability too.

Fliss

[mandroid]

Djangolin or Mix A 5 are new faves , but to prevent jealousy in the Harem the others get playing time too.
a Lebeda "jazzica" with that scroll thing in need some refretting , a indication of how often It got played .

[Pen]

I end up playing my Ovation MM68 much more than anything else just due to the amount of time I spend practicing with my band (it's the only mando I have with electronics).

I sold most of my guitars and am down to just 3 (one a beater - one a hard body). The Martin D28 is really the only one I ever touch.

[Eddie Sheehy]

The only instruments that make it into my hands these days are my Vega 205 Cylinderback 10-string, Weber Gallatin Mandola, Eastman Giacomel, Eastman 915. My fav guitar is a gibson CL-40. Everything else stays in their cases...

[foldedpath]

Lebeda F5 Premium+ (redwood top), Breedlove Zenkl 4-string electric mandola, Weber Yellowstone octave mandolin. Plus a bunch of different guitars: resonators, electrics, steel string, nylon, baritone, lap steel.

[kymandolin59]

a :mandosmiley:gibson 2001 mm and a 1953 martin d18

[Andy Miller]

Collings MT2 - great axe and fits in the overhead compartment!

equally loved if not quite as frequently used:
Guitar: HD-28V
Octave: AC flattop built from Kawalek's plans
Reso: mid-30's all metal f-hole Dobro model 36-or-37-or-something

[Chris Biorkman]

Tough call because it depends on what mood I'm in. I'd say just for the sake of the lap point that the Ellis gets the most face time. In terms of tone, I think it's a toss up for me.

[Chip Booth]

My Gilchrist Model 3.

Chip

[Jill McAuley]

Sold alot of stuff to fund my move to the States, so I'm down to my Stromberg tenor banjo and my recently acquired Flatiron 2M, which I haven't been able to put down since it arrived a week ago.

Cheers,
Jill

[Michael Eck]

Mandolin-wise and gig-wise these days it's that Loar LM 600 -- I just love it.

But, truth be told, for just knocking out a few chords around the house this past week, it's been an inexpensive old Exotica ukulele from a neighborhood estate sale.

I have too many instruments but I love 'em all.

[Rob Powell]

My Blueridge stays in the case most of the time. I get it out occasionally just so I don't forget how to play. It's kinda why I traded the Taylor and the Tele on my Yellowstone and the Blueridge. I wasn't as fond of the Taylor's sound (714CE Fall Limited) I think because of the Engelmann top. It was definitely the best eye candy I've ever owned but I just wasn't playing much.

Then I got the Yellowstone which I have played pretty much every day since I got it. I actually like the tone on the Blueridge better than the Taylor, plus it gots all that fancy, gawdy inlay:grin:

Unfortunately, I'm mandolin obsessed these days. After ~40 years of playing guitar, it just sits in the case.

[Bernie Daniel]

What difference does it make? I sound poorly on all of them! :)

Main chopper for BG 2002 Gibson F-5 Fern -- Back up 2002 Gibson A-9 -- second back up -- 1952/53 Gibson F-12;

OT/Celtic -- 1919 Gibson F-2; 1911 Gibson H-1; 1936 Gibson K-1

I play 70% on the F-5 and 30% on the F-2 the rest of the stuff guitar, tenor guitar banjo, tenor banjo, mandurria, and mandolin banjo (in parts) stay in the cases.

[D C Blood]

My one and only now is my '96 Ratcliff Silver Eagle (pre-Angel), Cynthia...:))

[Stephen Cagle]

Ratliff F5 and Vanden F5.

Stephen

[Brad Weiss]

Every time I think, "ah, I don't really need this one" I pick it up and play it, and say, "wow, that sounds really cool!" So I pretty much rotate my 3 more or less equally.

[Tom Sanderson]

My Nugget F5

[Richard Moore]

A shortage of space and funds made me have a big clearout over the past year or so. Now I'm down to just three instruments:

Sim Daley A Standard (the most played)
Washburn 125th anniversary parlour guitar
Yamaha APX10CN stereo electroclassical

Well four really...

Deering Goodtime short-scale tenor banjo (tweaked and customised a little). But these are not mentioned here are they... ;)

[Capt. E]

My Weber Bighorn is definitely number one, but my 70's vintage Shiro A finds itself in my hands just as much. Different sounds for different types of music. Next purchase?...probably an oval hole of some type...an oval hole Bighorn? I do love Weber.

[TonyP]

Until a couple of years ago, I had only my trusty '86 Newson F5. I just never found that "other" sound I was looking for until I got my '06 Furch A5. Practice and playing with just a guitar player, it's the Furch. But BG jams and performing with the BG band, it's the Newson everytime. Just don't see the need for anything else thankfully.

[Big Joe]

The only mandolin that I currently own, and becuase it is my favorite is "Blondie", a custom one of a kind Gibson Master Model. It is the very last one signed by Charlie Derrington. It is an incredible mandolin and does everything I need. That being said, I would love to have another and one of these days I will.

My favorite guitar...this week....is a nice D18 I picked up. It has incredible tone and plays like butter! I think it is a late 80's but don't know for sure. It has a truss rod so it's not real old. Just old enough and beat up enough to sound good. I also have a Gibson custom shop AJ with Walnut back and sides that sounds incredible and a Bourgeios Slope D Custom with Brazilian and Adirondak (bear claw of course). It is cherry sunburst with block inlays and a snake head headstock. Beautiful guitar. Still, lately the D18 had been motivating me to play.

My favorite bass (what I've been playing most the last few months) is my 72 Fender P Bass. It sounds so good. I think only the age of the pickups can replicate that tone. Anyway, that's what I've been playing.

[woodwizard]

That one's easy for me to answer too. I only have one at this time. My Gibson Goldrush which I call "Goldie". She's nice and all dolled up w/blohm handel buttons & stuff. Plays and sounds great to me but I'm still saving for an oval hole to add some company for her. Sure like the look of Gail Hester's F4.

Joe isn't your Blondie X-braced? :mandosmiley:

[allenhopkins]

Leaving aside the instruments I use for historical programs:
No-name c. 1860 parlor-size guitar
No-name c. 1880 gut-strung banjo
B&J Victoria bowl-back mandolin or Howe-Orme mandolinetto
Washburn bowl-back mandola
1887 Wheatstone English treble concertina
1880's Zimmermann 5-bar Autoharp (Model 2 7/8, I believe)

My usual carry-along, pick-up-and-play-at home instruments are:
Guitar: 1940 Martin 00-28G classical, converted in the '80's to a 00-42 steel-string
Banjo: 1920's Regal tenor pot with a '60's-vintage "Pete Seeger" 5- string long neck
Mandolin: either 1940's Strad-O-Lin or 1987 Gibson "A/N Custom" pancake
Ukulele: 1920's (?) Regal taropatch
OM: 1984 Flatiron 3-K
Mandola: either 2006 Eastman 615, or 1980's Sobell
Mandocello: either 2008 Eastman 805, or 1920's Gibson K-1
Autoharp: 1940's Schmidt 12-bar Model 73
Concertina: 1960's Wheatstone English-system treble
Slide guitar: 1937 National Style 0
Dobro: 1930's Regal, spruce/mahogany, stamped cone
Harmonicas are generally Hohner Special 20's

I'm going to try to be working in the new Gold Tone cello banjo; and of course there are the times when I pull out the National Havana, a tenor banjo, tiple, banjo-mandolin or even the Regal Octofone, which I have strung as an OM. Nice to have choices.

[CES]

Home player/hobbyist here...

Kentucky 675S is my only acoustic mando...have been getting the bug to either upgrade or try a build myself lately, but it's OK for a first mando.

Go to guitar is my Guild D-40...I'm always pleasantly surprised when I pick it up after I've been playing my beater (which I leave out for convenience) for a while, and it's currently the only instrument I own that I don't want to eventually upgrade (though a nice Rosewood backed 6 string with more bass wouldn't hurt my feelings any :) )

[RobAlan]

03 Kimble F5 and 23 Gibson A2Z

[mntmandoman253]

My Silverangel from Ken Ratcliff.

[Pete Martin]

Various mandos
Various fiddles
Various Guitars
Only one tenor banjo :mandosmiley:

[goose 2]

My main mando is my Distressed Master Model. it is overall my main axe as I mostly play mandolin at a gig or a jam. My back-up is an 03 A-9.

My main guitar axe is a prewar 00-18 which thinks its a drednaught. My backup is a recent Authentic D-18 which thinks its a prewar Martin I also play a mid 40s J-45 when my daughter allows.

[delsbrother]

I'm beginning to realize I have way too many instruments. This is a bad thing in this economy, as I have a lot of money tied up in instruments that don't get played very often AND are hard to sell at anything but rock-bottom prices. OTOH I also now know which instruments I don't need to "upgrade" - for example I don't need to spend a lot of money on another mandola, since I hardly play the one I have (Flatiron pancake).

Oh, to answer the question: Gibson F9. Would it still be my fave if I had a nice F5 that sounded the same or better? Probably not. But do I need a nicer F mando? No. (So I ask myself... Why is it I have 6 emandos????)

ps: 1944, Mandurria?

pps: Allen, dude, get with the thread concept! :)

[opie wan]

I play one of the finest mandolins on earth. It's paid for, it's mine, and it's the only one I have these days..... It rings like a bell for minutes at a time, vibrates your left hand in a pulsating manner, and handles like a dream (I set it up). It's my sumi rose F5. I'm saving up for one of Tom Ellis's masterpieces..... but my Sumi Rose is an awesome little mando. Serious bang for the buck.

I have numerous guitars. Favorite electric.... Strat with S5 switching and flame maple top. The best of both worlds (single coil and humbucker). Favorite acoustic... depends on the song and setting... but around the house it's a Taylor NS-74 CE. I'm very blessed. On sax I play a selmer Mark VI Tenor. That's enough!

[stratman62]

For electric music 62 Strat
for acoustic blues/jazz McKenzie f5
bluegrass Franz Heberlein Fiddle
personal entertainment my dad's 58 Gibson j-45

[Timbofood]

well since I was asked to "Use" Mr Halsey's prototype, that has been all I've played and it's coming along nicely. Other than that the old Alvarez (1975) still works well enough. I have a feeling it's going to be a little contrary when I have to give the Halsey back as it has not hardly seen the light of day since last July. To paraphrase Ferris Bueller:
"If one has the means, I suggest you get one, it is Sooooo nice."

[Eric Platt]

Last few weeks it has been the Tacoma DM9 I won on eBay. Really nice guitar for the money. Otherwise, it's probably either my Bonanzinga Monterey or the Guild D-4 made in the Tacoma shop.

For mandolin, it's easy, just have one (right now). Mid-Missouri M-0 that was also purchased off eBay.

Strange, for the last 20+ years could never convince myself to buy an instrument on line. This month not only did that all change, but are my main players.

[Oggy]

My "go to axe" is my only axe. Poor me, I don't have a choice. Have nothing but a Kimble to play... But I'm not complaining.

[lenf12]

I go to the 1956 Gibson F-12 (revoiced by Randy Wood last Spring) most all the time despite the Duff F-5 and H-5, 1916 Gibson F-4 and 2 Rigel A Plus Deluxes sitting idly within their cases. For guitar moments, the 1998 Martin SP000-16 or the 1994 round neck Dobro get the call. My poor fiddle (made by my great-grandfather in 1949) is like the red headed step child..........so lonely and unplayed. I have been blessed with more than I need. I have what I want, although a DMM, a MF5V or a Dude F-5 would kinda nice, but I digress........

Len B.
Clearwater, FL