tburcham
Jan-28-2009, 10:44am
Folks,
As any of you who have read one of my posts knows, I own Silverangel #257, a distressed F-style mandolin built by Ken Ratcliff in 2007. This was the first F-style mandolin that Ken had used X-bracing on since serial numbers is the 60s (I think). He now uses X-bracing on virtually all of his mandolins (to my knowledge). I can truly say that of all the mandolins I have played (Gibson, Weber, Breedlove, MK, Eastman, Ratliff, etc.) only one mandolin has equaled my SA...that happened last weekend at the Gibson showcase where I auditioned a 2005 Gibson Master Model on consignment ($16,000). It was great, but out of virtually anybody's price range (including mine). So let me say this right off the bat...I Love My Silverangel!
Today, my friend Terry received one of Ken's new Economy A models that you might have seen in a previous post by Ken. Here's what I can tell the Cafe audience....call in your order for the Economy A as fast as your fingers will dial Ken's number! The Economy A delivered to my friend today is EVERYTHING my F-style SA is for about 1/4 of the cost. I mean it plays the same, sounds the same (maybe with even a little more bite), great volume, classic SA deep tone, construction quality is very good, beautiful woods, etc. If you can live without the scroll, this is an opportunity!
No Pac-Rim, that I have ever played, will remotely compare to this $1,250 mandolin! Any appropriate comparisons with this Economy A would have to be directed at the best of the mandolins that are in my circle of pickers (F5Gs, F-9s, Weber's, etc.).
Sorry if this sounds like a compensated endorsement for Ken's mandolins. Its not! I'm simply stating an opinion that may be ENORMOUSLY beneficial to Cafe members who are looking to get a fabulous mandolin in the $1,200 - $1,500 price range.
As any of you who have read one of my posts knows, I own Silverangel #257, a distressed F-style mandolin built by Ken Ratcliff in 2007. This was the first F-style mandolin that Ken had used X-bracing on since serial numbers is the 60s (I think). He now uses X-bracing on virtually all of his mandolins (to my knowledge). I can truly say that of all the mandolins I have played (Gibson, Weber, Breedlove, MK, Eastman, Ratliff, etc.) only one mandolin has equaled my SA...that happened last weekend at the Gibson showcase where I auditioned a 2005 Gibson Master Model on consignment ($16,000). It was great, but out of virtually anybody's price range (including mine). So let me say this right off the bat...I Love My Silverangel!
Today, my friend Terry received one of Ken's new Economy A models that you might have seen in a previous post by Ken. Here's what I can tell the Cafe audience....call in your order for the Economy A as fast as your fingers will dial Ken's number! The Economy A delivered to my friend today is EVERYTHING my F-style SA is for about 1/4 of the cost. I mean it plays the same, sounds the same (maybe with even a little more bite), great volume, classic SA deep tone, construction quality is very good, beautiful woods, etc. If you can live without the scroll, this is an opportunity!
No Pac-Rim, that I have ever played, will remotely compare to this $1,250 mandolin! Any appropriate comparisons with this Economy A would have to be directed at the best of the mandolins that are in my circle of pickers (F5Gs, F-9s, Weber's, etc.).
Sorry if this sounds like a compensated endorsement for Ken's mandolins. Its not! I'm simply stating an opinion that may be ENORMOUSLY beneficial to Cafe members who are looking to get a fabulous mandolin in the $1,200 - $1,500 price range.