Anyone still make the F2 3-Point?

[Mandoviol]

I've always thought they were pretty nifty looking, and from what I can tell, originals are pretty rare. Does anyone still make them? I'm planning out my mandolin acquisatorial future.

[Aran]

I would like to know the answer to this question too!!! Been dreaming about one of those old Gibson Black Faces....

[toddjoles]

They have shown up from time to time. Hans Brentrup has made a few beautiful examples. I'm sure a search of the cafe archives would help you find what your looking for.

[Jim Garber]

I have an Old Wave custom 3-point that is one nice mandolin. Deep singing tone.

http://classicalmandolin.net/mandolinsale/assets/owf3_ft.jpg

http://classicalmandolin.net/mandolinsale/assets/owf3_bk.jpg

http://classicalmandolin.net/mandolinsale/assets/owf3_detbk.jpg

[jim_n_virginia]

If you got enough money (and time) you can have one made by many a good Luthier ... just ask them.

Jim the back on that Old Wave 3 pointer you got is just amazingly beautiful! GOOD LORD!!!

[allenhopkins]

If you want one, either a] find an original (they're around -- Gruhn's got one (http://www.gruhn.com/photo/MF7436.jpg) for $4k, for example), or b] get a good luthier to build you one, which is almost certainly going to set you back a bit more.

Paid $1.5K for my '06 about 20 years back, and I've played it pretty hard ever since. Recently it's been given a lot more "time off," since I've been using newer Eastmans etc. for gigging, but I think those ol' 3-points, with the slightly longer body and the inlaid pickguards, are pretty special.

[danb]

These are certainly very rare birds, but they are out there. I also feel they are undervalued, so my basic stance when I find one is "buy, if possible".

The *problem* with them, is that the older ones often don't sound very good. They're a bit tinny. For my nickel, you need a maple-backed one (which means F4 & torch inlay) to get a really nice tone. It's hard to generalize, because it's also hard to find someone who has played more than a handful of them. I find them actually quite a bit harder to lay hands on than Loar-signed F5s.

They are startlingly beautiful to look at though, and very very inspiring to play!

[Mandoviol]

Boy Jim, that one really is a beauty! Especially that back!

[Mandobar]

i nabbed the prototype of Hans' 3 pointer. these were not an inexpensive proposition. he made a handful and they were well over $10k new.

[barney 59]

Mandolin Bros. had one --restored and it looked like a really early one with the black and white binding. $4500

[sgarrity]

There's a luthier down in NC making them. Lawrence Brown I think is his name. There are some pics floating around on this site.

[frankenstein]

Mike Blohm built me a 3 point F-5 , i'm sure he could build an f-2/ 3 point and you'll get some Blohm tuner buttons too ! He builds a mighty fine mando.. Just sidetracking a little but what are the origins of the torch and wire headstock ? anybody know ?

[mandolirius]

There's a luthier down in NC making them. Lawrence Brown I think is his name. There are some pics floating around on this site.

I believe he passed away recently. I sat up and took notice of the three-points he was building. They looked great!

[Jim Garber]

Torch and Wire F4 (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=42170&query=retrieval) just appeared on the classifieds. NFI of mine except I would love to own one.

[Dan Hoover]

I have an Old Wave custom 3-point that is one nice mandolin. Deep singing tone.

very nice jim,i could get lost looking at that back..

[barrangatan]

I just noticed that one popped up for sale on ebay (NFI):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lawrence-K-Brown-F-2-Three-Point-Mandolin-/330451356583?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf06f8ba7

[northfolk]

There's a luthier down in NC making them. Lawrence Brown I think is his name. There are some pics floating around on this site.


I have one of them; my avatar; mine is one of four, the only black face, that he made about two years ago.

[northfolk]

I believe he passed away recently. I sat up and took notice of the three-points he was building. They looked great!

I had not heard that. I see his web site is no longer available. Do you mind me asking where you heard this? If true, indeed sad news. Larry was a great person to work with and he built wonderful instruments.

[barrangatan]

I had not heard that. I see his web site is no longer available. Do you mind me asking where you heard this? If true, indeed sad news. Larry was a great person to work with and he built wonderful instruments.

I think there was a thread elsewhere that confused Lawrence Brown, the luthier based in Asheville NC, with Larry Brown, the reputable instrument repairman extraordinaire based in Southern California who passed away in 2007. According to this (http://www.mail-archive.com/lute@cs.dartmouth.edu/msg33510.html) thread, the poster had received email correspondence from Lawrence Brown earlier this year.

[Mike Snyder]

Fella named Wynn has built a few over in Springfield Missouri. Don't know if he's still in buisness.
Yep. www.wynnmandolins.com

[Jim Garber]

I have one of them; my avatar; mine is one of four, the only black face, that he made about two years ago.

I don't know what is he is up to these days, but he was quite well-known and respected in lute circles. When he advertised for the three-points I wrote to him to see if he would be up to making a bowlback and i think that made him quite cranky since it was too close to a lute in construction. oh well.

I always wondered how his mandolins were.

[mandolirius]

I had not heard that. I see his web site is no longer available. Do you mind me asking where you heard this? If true, indeed sad news. Larry was a great person to work with and he built wonderful instruments.

On this site, but it seems there may some confusion as to who's death was actually reported. I thought it was the guy who made the three-points, but I could be wrong.

[barney 59]

Ran into an F2 3 point today at Eric Schoenberg's. 1908/Handle tuners. All original with the pineapple tail piece. It played really nicely was in good shape except for a repair on the headstock where the little deal that always gets broken off got broke off and glued back. Hang Tag said $3650.