Congratulations! You get to "inherit" any mandolin in the world!

[man dough nollij]

Okay, here's the scenario: I'm at a festival, having a great time plunking around on my humble Eastman. Who should approach me, but the great Dawg, David Grisman himself. He has his fabled Loar, Crusher with him. He's wearing a bedsheet, and has shaven his head. He informs me that he as recently joined the Hari Krishnas, and is experiencing spiritual bliss. A condition of his membership is that he must renounce all material things immediately, and never play the mandolin again, as long as he lives. He's quite blissed out, and is happy with the new arrangement. He hands me Crusher, unconditionally transferring ownership of it to me forever.

Okay, if you could rewrite this scenario with any players you would like to substitute, who would it be? In other words, if you could instantly inherit any great mandolin, who's would it be. Personally, I'm thinking terms of tone, but if you want to just go for the cash, that's fine. In case your holy grail is in a museum, or owned by some other organization, the alternative scenario is that they raffle it off, and you have the winning ticket (e.g, Big Mon's Loar).

I'll add another scenario, in case your ideal instrument is for sale now. You save Bill Gates's son from drowning, and he wants to buy you a special surprise by way of reward. No limits.

Here are mine (again, based on tone):

Sharon Gilchrist's Gilchrist
Matt Flinner's Gilchrist
Don Stiernbergs' Nugget
Mike Marshall's Monteleone Mandocello

:popcorn:

[Ivan Kelsall]

Undoubtably John Reischman & his Loar. I could then spend the rest of my life trying to bring myself up to a playing level that warranted it.
My Stelling Banjo is of a class that many top playes already use - no need to change that.I'm not that good a Guitarist to warrant any change to the ones i own. But i would like a Trumpet !!,:))
Ivan~:>

[300win]

Here is my list:

mandolin-Bobby Osborne's first Gibson F-5
banjo- Don Reno's "Old Nelly" Gibson Mastertone
guitar- Tony Rice's "Clarence White Martin D-28" or second choice Red Smiley's D-45 Martin

[carleshicks]

f5 journal's july 9 Loar. I have never heard it but it is the prettiest thing I have ever seen.

[Skip Kelley]

For me it would be Butch's 25'.

[Dan Hoover]

i would like to see just what mike marshall has in his secret closet..i know there's got to be some goodies..

[Jill McAuley]

Me to Bill Gates: "Teach that kid to swim, oh and while you're at it, I'll have a lovely Gilchrist Model 1 please!"

Cheers,
Jill

[journeybear]

I dunno, Mr. G, I dunno ... I think them ear worms mighta finally burrowed through and done some serious damage ... :whistling:

[Trey Young]

Mandolin-Reischman's Loar, Compton's current Gilchrist (although I suspect there it is very much the player's tone I admire)

Guitar-The '34 D18 Norman Blake used on the Whiskey Before Breakfast album.

[Ken_P]

Mandolin-Reischman's Loar, Compton's current Gilchrist (although I suspect there it is very much the player's tone I admire)

This is almost certainly the case in just about every instance cited here. It's the player that makes the tone, always. Not to say that Reischmann, Compton, and all the others don't have exceptional instruments - they do. But if I were to pick up Compton's Gil, I wouldn't sound anything like him.

I'm going to second the vote for Mike Marshall's 'cello, though! Even though I wouldn't sound like Mike, it's still a monstrous sound!

[Mike Bunting]

Lots of time on your hands down there! Go lay some scales :grin:

[lenf12]

I gotta agree. That isolation from society at large and perhaps some serious "brain freeze" are giving you delusions. Either that or you get some serious time off work and I need to look into coming down there for the summer (or is it winter??). ;) Nice delusion though!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Keith Erickson]

My biggest fantasy would be to walk into an antique shop and to find a Loyd Loar signed mandocello for $100 bucks or best offer :))

[bobby bill]

Congratulations Man Dough! The Royal Nigerian Department of Mandolin Inheritance recently discovered a mandolin signed by Lloyd Loar with the inscription that it be left to you. We have taken great troubles to find you. If you would forward just a small pittance for expenses in handling this transaction . . .

[Keith Erickson]

Congratulations Man Dough! The Royal Nigerian Department of Mandolin Inheritance recently discovered a mandolin signed by Lloyd Loar with the inscription that it be left to you. We have taken great troubles to find you. If you would forward just a small pittance for expenses in handling this transaction . . .

:)) You forgot to mention that The Royal Nigerian Department of Mandolin Inheritance is run by the oldest Prince of the royal family who is unable to leave his country for reason's that he is unable to divulge at this time

.....another round of laughter :))

[man dough nollij]

:)) You forgot to mention that The Royal Nigerian Department of Mandolin Inheritance is run by the oldest Prince of the royal family who is unable to leave his country for reason's that he is unable to divulge at this time

.....another round of laughter :))

Funny you mention that-- I just got an e-mail from them, and it turns out I am a VERY lucky man! Woo Hoo! (Now, where's my checkbook...?)

[journeybear]

Dang pesky pengies! Runnin' off with your checkbook, just when you need it most! ~:>

[J.Albert]

C'mon, guys.

With the choice to have _any_ mandolin in the world, there's only _one_ that counts.

Need I say more?

- John

[John Rosett]

Jethro's (now Sam's) Red.

[Bluegrassrules]

Mine without a doubt would be signed and dated by Lloyd Loar July 9, 1923 Serial Number 73987….Need I say more.
Cheers Brian