View Full Version : Rose mandolins
Danny Clark
Aug-12-2004, 10:25am
any info on this builder?prices?
doanepoole
Aug-12-2004, 10:34am
The builder is Darby Boofer. He lives closeby to me and I visited his shop once. I tried one of his mandos and it was really choppy with a very throaty, nice tone. He has posted some pictures on the Post a Picture board (I think the Mandos in Progress thread). Looks like his workmanship is really honing in with each one he builds. I think a search of this board for Rose would bring up some other threads. Every owner who's posted here seems to like theirs a bunch.
If I recall, Darby prefers to the sound of fir tops.
I met with him a while ago, so I don't know about current pricing, but I remember them being a great value compared to the market. If I had the cash to spare, I would have placed an order with him.
doanepoole
Aug-12-2004, 10:40am
This post shows a recent Rose and some owners chimed in:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=14992 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=14992)
rose#1
Aug-12-2004, 4:25pm
dont every body jump in at once... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif If I only had the letters BRW in the name Rose......
D
Scotti Adams
Aug-12-2004, 4:37pm
ouch..ok watch it there Darby http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Seriously...I think you are making some fine looking mandos. In fact..the latest one you have on the bench there is going to a former BRW owner...keep up the good work and I am looking forward to seeing one of yours in person someday...
I owned a spruce F5 , and now have a fir F5 , both real good mandolins , and probably the best deal out there for the price. Darby's workmanship is really getting up there with the big boys.
dj9124
Aug-12-2004, 8:45pm
The latest pictures Darby has been posting is my mando in progress, #20. I was fortunate enough to have placed my order when the price was $2000, he is now charging $2500 as his skills have been improving. I ordered mine with Engleman spruce. Although I have never played or heard a Rose in person everything I have read has been very positive, Kbone played a big part in my decision to go with Darby, Kbone also has a Brentrip so he knows good tone when he hears it. Darby just recently took an order to build one for the mando player in The Lonesome River Band so Darby is definitely on his way up. I will post after getting mine to let you know what I think. From all the reviews even at $2500 Darby's mandos sound like a steal.
dasspunk
Aug-13-2004, 8:05am
I own #10. Feel free to take a listen/look... (http://dasspunk.com/index.php?wl_mode=more&wl_eid=118)
wayfaringstranger
Aug-13-2004, 1:51pm
I drove out to his place a few weeks ago and saw a few of Darby's mandos in varying stages of construction (including one that wasn't far from being strung up). Got to play one (#16, maybe? Darby would know; it belonged to a guy who lived down the road, I think), and it was a beast. Looked really nice, too.
I've played a few really nice mandolins in my time, and these were definitely up there with the best of 'em. These things are the real thing, folks, and they're an incredible value for the price. I'm looking forward to getting my own.
(By the way: that's some really nice playing, dasspunk)
dj9124
Aug-20-2004, 10:18pm
Well I can finally comment now, just received my new Rose yesterday and Darby by far exceeded my expectations. It responds beautifully with just a light touch and the tone is just awesome. The chop is also incredible, a huge woofy sound that also pops, again with little effort. I am very happy that I took the advice of previous owners, they are everything they say they are. I might add that it has the most comfortable neck I have ever played, it is just downright a blast to pick. If anyone in the Indianapolis area wants to check it out come on over.
Dave