Danny Ferrington

[Ken]

Watched the movie the Ladykillers with Tom Hanks with my wife the other night (on DVD). One of the bonus features was a long interview with luthier Danny Ferrington and included a look at a mandolin he's building for Tom Hanks. I liked a lot of what he said in the interview and wondering if anyone had info our pictures about his mandolins. A friend of mine does have the book about his work that came out about ten years ago and I'll also take a look at that when I'm down there next.
Ken.

[johnsmusic]

I believe that Danny studied under Randy Wood when Randy was in Nashville, so he should be able to build a pretty nice mando. John

[ManjoMan]

Tom Hanks plays mandolin? That's incredible. I like
his acting and have seen most of his movies, but to
find out he plays the mando - I'll have to see all
his movies now. I wonder if he is a member of
the MandolinCafe? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Moose]

Manjoman..: YUP!! - my interest is really "piqued" now ; Everybody picks...; a mandolin in every pot!! ; maybe he'll get MAS , get real serious.., become a Bluegrass fanatic ...; an' drop outta' the Actor's Union...mmmmmmm!!!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[delsbrother]

Did the mando in question look like a traditional F or A, or was it like his guitar shapes? I'm a fan of his wonky Kramer stuff (well, the shapes at least..). I'd be cool if there were Kramer-esque emandos out there.

[mandroid]

A number of years ago I found a book 'Ferrington Guitars' harper-collins 92,
[Isbn 0-06-016897-8 , included CD Isbn 0-06-099268-9] no mandolin content, but the cutaway violin family was interesting, as long as you are not used to locating upper positions over the body edge.

[mrmando]

Fellow named Larry Sledge plays a Ferrington electric mandolin, more or less a Mandocaster copy from what I understand. I've seen pictures of an F5-ish Ferrington acoustic if memory serves.

Also check out this
dissertation (http://www.mandozine.com/resources/CGOW/ostroushko.php) by Peter Oustroushko on a Ferrington he once owned.

[Ken]

That's quite a story about Peter Oustroushko's Ferrington, hard to believe but I can sure see it happening. I guess when you are using anything as your template you'd better check it our first, even a Loar.

delsbrother - the shape was not tradional, I don't know what his guitars look like, but this could be like them. Sort of an upper body "horn" instead of a scroll, also the body was deeper than normal. It was an oval hole, too. Also the neck joint was more like an electric with no heel on the neck and the neck fitting into a mortise along the top of the mando.

Ken.

[Professor PT]

I have that book, too. I recall him saying something about the fact that back in the 70's, he built an F style mandolin and was quite proud of the accomplishment, but a friend told him to work on his own original ideas/ designs instead. I guess he took that to heart. He built a couple of instruments for Elvis Costello that mimic some of the F style lines, but I don't think he builds many mandolins. My guess is that if he did, they'd look somewhat like a Rigel.

[AlanN]

I believe our own august board memeber Charlie owned an F-5 built by Danny Ferrington, ain't that right?

[mrbook]

Tom Hanks plays the mandolin? I think that is what someone meant by celebrities with mandolins in a recent thread.

[delsbrother]

Finally rented this DVD, and the mandolin in question (not his F5 copies) looks very "Ferringtonesque" - double cutaway with his signature tri-oval hole and headstock shape. A lot like one of his basses shrunk to mando size.

[edit] Just finished the movie, and I gotta say the only things to recommend are the Ferrington bit and the Gospel numbers in the bonus menu. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[sunburst]

Did anybody else catch the part about the landlady having a fife made by her late husband Otha?
Seemed like a reference to Otha Turner to me. Makes me think the people that made that movie have more than a passing interest in American music.

[adgefan]

Makes me think the people that made that movie have more than a passing interest in American music.
That would be the Coen brothers who also made 'O Brother Where Art Thou'.

[delsbrother]

Ferrington F5 (already on hold). Interesting label. (http://www.vintagemandolin.com/76ferringtonf5_1.html)

[JEStanek]

Coen brothers and T Bone Burnett collaboration again. I thought the movie was great, same with the soundtrack. The bonus on Ferrington was a real plus too. The story of the fiddle was cool as well.

Jamie

[Spruce]

Danny's a great guy and a very interesting character....

I love his approach to instrument making (making a guitar for Ry Cooder in a couple hours out of a 2x4 comes to mind), and his sense of whimsy...