View Full Version : Mando shops in Boulder/Denver?
Rob Powell
May-19-2009, 4:12pm
I'm going to be in Denver/Boulder on Thursday with some time to kill. Anyone know a good shop where there's some nice mandos?
man dough nollij
May-19-2009, 4:25pm
The Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada has a bunch. The Denver Folklore Center (near DU) is cool, and has some good hard-to-find CDs. Acoustic Music Revival on Broadway in Englewood has some.
In Boulder, there's HB Woodsongs on Pearl Street just east of the Target store. It is a real hassle to get to if you happen to be westbound on Pearl, but it's fine if you're eastbound. Yep.
jramsey
May-19-2009, 5:11pm
The Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada has a bunch. The Denver Folklore Center (near DU) is cool, and has some good hard-to-find CDs. Acoustic Music Revival on Broadway in Englewood has some.
In Boulder, there's HB Woodsongs on Pearl Street just east of the Target store. It is a real hassle to get to if you happen to be westbound on Pearl, but it's fine if you're eastbound. Yep.
+1 on everything Man Dough said. Pickin' Parlor definitely has the nicest mandolins in the area (minus the Loar sitting in the Folklore Center, if it's still there). Last time I was at the PP (a couple of months ago) they had a couple of old oval Gibsons, a couple nice Collings, Pomeroys, a Randy Wood on consignment. Woodsongs in Boulder has a new Larivee A that's pretty nice, but that's the best thing I remember in there about two weeks ago. If you go to the Pickin' Parlor, look for a tall feller with long curly hair named Martin Gilmore. He'll make sure you play everything you want to, tell him I said hello.
Another vote for the Picken Parlor in Old Town Arvada, lot's of different mandolins that you will not see anywhere else in town. If you want to hear the mandolin from the front, Martin can also play at least a few pretty good licks. If Martin is not there, Kit (the owner) or anyone else there will let you play anything they have. Worst thing that can happen there is you get dragged into an impromptu jam. Hate it when that happens. It is a great place to hang. Old Town is pretty cool too.
The Folkloar center has fewer mandolins than the PP but have always let me inspect or play what they have. They had some real nice Webers and some affordable Kentuckys last time I was there. It's a cool place and the owner knows more about the history of folk and bg in Denver than anyone else.
Acoustic Music Revival will not let you handle the mandolins unless you are very serious about buying.
Thursday is a good music night also. Great BG jam on "the hill" at Abo's pizza in Boulder, A new jam in Lafayette right on the new plaza on main street (or nearby bar if the weather is bad). Or some new local band (Long Road Home) playing in Longmont at the library. JRamsey, can you elaborate?
jramsey
May-20-2009, 2:14pm
some new local band (Long Road Home) playing in Longmont at the library. JRamsey, can you elaborate?
Sure, thanks for the plug, Matt. Long Road Home is myself, Pete Wernick, Gene Libbea, Justin Hoffenberg, and Martin Gilmore (aforementioned Pickin' Parlor employee). The music is traditional bluegrass with the occasional original from Pete or Martin. We're playing the Longmont Public Library on Thursday evening from 7 until 8pm, Oskar Blues in Lyons on Sunday starting a @6:30pm, and we will be doing a live recording over three nights next week (5-25, 26, and 27) at the new Etown Hall (1535 Spruce St., Boulder). Hope to see you all at one of the shows, make sure and say hello.
Jordan, I was at the pickin parlor last friday, and to my dismay, the Randy Wood was gone. I spent some time with that Axe and fell in love. Made me glad I didn't have $6k in my pocket. Killer mando....
jramsey
May-20-2009, 4:49pm
Hey Tbone, that Randy Wood was a real good mandolin, didn't know they sold it. I just saw they posted an '87 Nugget today in the classifieds. Looks like it has lived a lot in its time, can't wait to get down there and test it out.
Rob Powell
May-20-2009, 5:39pm
Wow....great stuff! Thanks one and all...if I getup to Longmont, I'll say hi for sure! I'll try to make the jam too but I'm not bringing a mando. Both flights are jammed and I'm not interested in checking one.
BTW Matt, I'm always serious about buying ;)
lespaul_79
May-21-2009, 9:49am
Rob,
Bring yer mando. Don't check it in. I just flew out of town this past weekend. Had no problem bringing the mando and a backpack. And the plane was packed.
It's worth it. Especially if you end up in Lyons on Tuesday or any of the other nightly Front Range jams. There are so many here......
In fact, the mando is so small, I never leave home without it.:mandosmiley:
Rob Powell
May-21-2009, 9:00pm
So, I went to the Pickin' Parlor...very nice place!
When I walked in, I heard incredible mandolin tones. Looked around while the person playing continued pickin'. It was simply outstanding...picker and pickee ;)
A gentleman walked up and asked if I was finding everything alright, so I introduced myself and asked him his name. That was Bob. I told him I came all the way from Virginia to see the Pickin' Parlor and he mentioned that he had been at Gettysburg last weekend (so had I.)
The mandolin picker asked me if I had seen Pete Wernick and I mentioned that Pete was doing a workshop when I got there on Saturday. He picked a little more then said that he had to pack up some sound gear for a show. I asked him if it was in Longmont and he said yes. Turns out, it was Martin. I told him that Jordan said to say hi and mentioned that I only knew Jordan from the cafe and youtube.
I also got to meet Kit and while I was playing a little guitar, he turned to me and said "Willis Alan Ramsey" which I got a kick out of because almost no one knows who Willis Alan Ramsey is. (I was playing Northeast Texas Women.)
Anyway, long story short...I have always wanted to try a Sam Bush and they had a used one there. So I got to play that and a few other older Gibsons. Now I know that I don't really have to have one.
On the other hand, there was the aforementioned Nugget that both Martin and someone else played while I was there. I can honestly say it was the finest sounding mandolin I have ever heard. It was incredible, IMHO.
Jordan, you played it....what did you think?
Unfortunately, even though I have way more money than talent, I don't have the scratch for that one. Comparing it to Master Models that I have heard, it kicked. I know it would be a MAS killer for me but if I bought it, I'd be playing it in Heaven after my wife got through with me ;)
It's definitely on my list though. I'm gunna save up and get one someday.
Pickin Parlor is on my list to stop when I make these trips from now on.
Pickin Parlor is on my list to stop when I make these trips from now on.
Glad you made it. Next time you travel to the area, stop by a jam if you like Bluegrass. There is at least one any night of the week.