jade mandolins

[backwoodsborn10]

does anyone have one of these, or know anything about these? there's a beaut on the classifieds.i feel that fever comin on.:crying:

[onassis]

I have #18, also a JF18. Mine has great playability, nice tone and wonderful volume. Not quite as cosmetically nice as the one in the classifieds seems to be (the neck and body binding are distinctly different shades, and the finish is less than perfect in spots), but it was a terrific deal.

As for info about the brand itself, I believe they were made in a small (3 man or so) shop in China, run by a guy from Texas. They appear to have ceased production. If you search, you'll find a few threads about them. NFI, but I think that one would be a great buy.

[grassrootphilosopher]

I will never own one (I have all the bases covered) nor did I own one.

But they are good instruments in the price segment that they live in. I gave a lesson to a guy who owns one and I felt that they were well made, well playing instruments for the money that they were sold at. I liked the Jade that I tried out at the lesson (for curiosities sake) better than the Eastman of a friend (more punch and raw power). I do certainly love my Strad-O-Lin way better than any instruments up to 2 - 3 k (if only for the ugly duckling, punch, power, vintage tone and the funky fun angle of it).

With instruments of the Jade´s price range I´d strongly sugest pick before you buy though.

[barrangatan]

As for info about the brand itself, I believe they were made in a small (3 man or so) shop in China, run by a guy from Texas.

I am curious as to what happened to Jade. I remember still seeing some new ones coming out of the shop perhaps as recently as late '09 (if memory serves) but since then have not heard anything. Searching through the forum for a latest update came up empty.

I would be very interested to hear from someone who have purchased a new Jade this year, or have spoken with the proprietor Bob or Ed.

The one for sale in the classifieds is definitely a beauty and I expect it to sell pretty quickly.

[hisongz]

I owned prototype #4 of the F18 series, and it was a superb instrument.
My instructor at the time, Roscoe Morgan, said it sounded and played
better than many 5k mandos he had played. If I had the money right
now, the one in classified would be sold!

Ron

[Hans_k]

. I gave a lesson to a guy who owns one and I felt that they were well made, well playing instruments for the money that they were sold at. I liked the Jade that I tried out at the lesson (for curiosities sake) better than the Eastman of a friend (more punch and raw power).
I'm the guy of Olaf's lesson.... Olaf tought me my first G-lick (I'm getting better by the way..)
I like my Jade very much. I've made some improvements, for instance a Cumberland Acoustic bridge. The tone is great, it has good volume, a very nice bluegrass chop and a nice mellow tone as well. I haven't seen a better mandolin in that price range yet.

[Caleb]

I followed the Jade discussions from their beginning and I liked the concept. I liked how Bob would get on here and post detailed information about how the company and the mandolins were progressing. I really wanted to see it all work, and I was a bit sad when it didn't. I finally got to play a Jade a while ago in a local shop and it was the best-sounding mandolin on the wall. Whatever they were doing with these mandolins, they were doing it right. I'd still like to own one at some point. Not only are they great instruments, but they are also an interesting (and brief) part of mandolin-making history.

[jswag]

I own a Jade, JF-18, prototype #20, sunburst finish. I bought it new from Ed in Texas in the summer of 2008. I bought it to be my "2nd" mandolin, my "1st" or main mando is a Wayne Henderson, #42. I have added a cumberland bridge and a new tail piece. This Jade just sounds better and better, and gets played quite a bit!! When I first got it I exchanged some emails with Bob in China, he remembered working on the "sunburst" finish on mine, and related some other info to me. Really nice to get that kind of "customer service"! Ed in Abilene was wonderful to deal with also. Last summer I had talked to Ed, and he said he had not heard from Bob at all.
I don't know if anyone has ever heard what happen. I would have liked to have played one of the F-4.5's (F-4 copy with longer neck). There had been one for sale here sometime ago....
Jeff

[Hans_k]

No one seems to know what happened to Bob. Hopefully he will turn up one day.
Jeffrey, do you have some pics of your Jade. I would like to see a Jade with a sunburst finish.

[jswag]

Hans, i will try to get some loaded, and sorry I took so long to answer your PM from last year! Just didn't see it I guess..
Now to figure out how to add images to this thread.....
Jeff