Fraley mandolins

[kneauxdn]

Seen a very nice Fraley @ IBMA. Elaborate inlay
with Brazilian back/sides. Any info on this builder...

[Tim]

Fraley9 on this board used to own one. #He hasn't posted in over a year but you could try sending him a personal message.

Fraley is listed in the builder section of the board. #He lives in Dungannon, VA. #I contacted him about 18 months ago. #At that time his f-styles were going for $3K with a one year wait list.

[bud]

I've got a Fraley from 1997. I purchased it off ebay last December. I'm pretty pleased with it. Especially after adding an Allen tailpiece and a bridge from Red Henry. I've had another one on order from Mr. Fraley for about 1 1/2 years. He is no youngster and is pretty slow. However, his attention to detail, particularly on inlay is spectacular. Harry West has a real nice one that I am basically having a copy made. Here is a photo of Harry's. Harry doesn't want to sell it, so that is why I ordered one. My new one will have a tree of life on the fingerboard and the peghead will look like the old 3pt. Gibsons. I hope to have it by the end of the year, but I'm not counting on it.

[kneauxdn]

The one I played had the same inlay...it was well done.
It had a really good BG tone with the Brazilian.
Thanks for the info.

[Danny Clark]

I had one a couple of years ago,mid 90,s fern copy,curly maple on this one,neck a little chunkier than Gibson,good workmanship and sound,sold it around 2k ,new ones are 3k ,John is in his 80's in age.