Check This Out

ugh (http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3741869110&rd=1)

[ira]

so the workmanship is not quite spectacular. at 10 bucks it aint too bad.

[John Flynn]

I second your ugh. What I can't get over is he goes out of his way to say, "Beautiful sound and workmanship ...see pictures," the pictures are unusually clear and detailed for an EBay listing and the pictures seem to focus on some of the bad spots.

Is this mando and its listing a sub-conscious cry for help? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[jim_n_virginia]

...uhhhhh....I think someone needs to give this guy a "How To" book on refinishing......unless of course Faux finishing is something new for mandolins that I missed! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

But lets look at the positive Dale, how many mandolins have you ever seen with inlay on the BACK of the headstock?

And as long as the mandolin used to belong to a guy named "Joe" that makes it even MORE worthwhile! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

You gotta start somewhere! Maybe Gilchrist, Monteleone and Brentrup all started out like this! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Scotti Adams]

..hey..its better than I could do.....probably...

[jmkatcher]

Be careful what you say, someone might threaten to sue you. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

It's way better than I could likely ever do. I actually like the color - It's much better than a lot of sunbursts. However the fit an finish on the binding etc does leave a lot to be desired IMO. An your right Jim-n-Va how often do you see inlay on the back of the headstock. I'm tempted to bid just outta curiosity - not much tho.

Take Care! -Ed-

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Quick followup. (I hate it when I push send too fast!) Now how many of you actually think Marty Stuart's mando looks better than this one?

Take Care! -Ed-

[Ken]

Yeah its a little rough, but I'd still rather see someone try to build their own and have it come out rough. Should it be up for sale tho?, well as long as it is built solid and sounds good and is priced appropriately, why not. I'd rather have something like this than a glossy Pac Rim special. I do agree that the sales pitch on ebay is a little much.
Ken.

[Bill Snyder]

Right now bigmons23, a regular poster at the cafe, is the high bidder.

[GVD]

I like it if for no other reason than it at least got you to post again for a change Dale. Stick around Tex the boards a lesser place without you. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

GVD

[RobP]

C'mon you guys.. it isn't *that* bad -- I was expecting much worse from the comments http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

If the sound is good this could be a great deal for a beginner or for an office mandolin.

Cheers,

Rob

[flairbzzt]

I guess he spent all his real mando money on that John Deere in the background... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Well it could be a "distressed" model I guess......... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[JeffS]

One positive thing about having a mandolin that ugly, if you accidentlly leave her out on the front porch one night, it will be there in the morning. Unless maybe you've got a problem with beavers.

[mad dawg]

Is the body binding painted on?

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

About this mando. Aside from some of the issues which I wonder about (woods used, bracing, etc) and those which I see including:

1) tuner plates may (it's close) stick out past the side of the headstock

2) IMO sloppy binding

3) fretboard markers complete or incomplete (hard to tell)?

4) color and finish - well I'm sorry but I think it's very cool although I admit it may not have been intended to be that way.

The main thing I'm wondering about is the fact that - to my eyes the center of the tailpiece doesn't align with the center of the fretboard. This suggests to me that the tensions on the strings and the down (and side?) pressure on the bridge would have to be variable. It would also vary the pressure on the rim wouldn't it? Does it matter? Or is it purely aesthetics? Also note the variable string spacing - especially the A strings at the tailpiece. Comments anyone?

Also I have a Pac rim special - KM250s. According to Ken I'd be trading up! Although I doubt it cause I am lucky enough to have a pretty good one - at least according to the musicians who prefer mine to their Martins, Johnsons, old Harmonys and Epiphones - most of whom also produce their own CDs. However I realize that the above is in many eyes equivalent to being damned by faint praise (Sorry Scott I couldn't think of an equivalent expression without using the D word). As for myself I'm watching for an Absaroka or Flatiron or maybe Czech built but I'm thinking about my 12 year old daughter who is expressing an interest. If the sound was good enough I might play it myself even though it's not the A style which I usually prefer.

Of course it all depends on price - I likely wouldn't pay much more than I did for my Pac rim special. Mostly I was just curious about the construction issue.

Take Care! -Ed-

PS I'll echo GVD - It's good to read you again Dale.

[jim simpson]

I think the inlay on the back was a "whoops, I thought this was the front!"

[Darryl Wolfe]

Hey guys...don't you have any "festival etiquette". When someone walks up and shows you a mandolin like that..and asks your opinion, you are supposed to say "that's nice" and move on. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Scotti Adams]

..thats so right Darryl...Ive done that many a time...

[ronlane3]

Hey Dale, don't you mean beauty is in the eyes of the BEER HOLDER?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif