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The original saddle on the EM200 is stainless steel with angled string slots.
Harsh-sounding to my ear and not possible to re-cut for proper intonation.
As well, the string-spacing is much narrower...

I was very fortunate to be there that night with my wife and Michael Schroeder. It was magnificent from start to finish.

Butch was an extraordinary guy with fabulous ears and a magic touch.
Way...

I enjoyed re-reading my sad tale from 2019. Since then, Adam Buchwald has built a number of carbon fiber mandolins based on my work that really make me want one.

Adam is uniquely skilled and it...

I have the honor of caretaking '56 Mandocaster 00779 in the Mary Kaye translucent white finish. Over the years, I've had two other '56 Mandocasters, a '58 and a couple from the early '60's. I may...

Hi Julie,
Among the many virtues of carbon fiber is the fact that it does not absorb or shed moisture and is extraordinarily strong and resilient. It is extremely unlikely that the neck has...

Thanks for the kind comments. I am very proud of my left foot. You should see my shoes.

Try this if the video doesn’t load properly:

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TLv-jflB3bI

Any fingerstyle fans out there? Austin’s OM is a treat to play!

Here’s the link if it doesn’t play: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TLv-jflB3bI

Fabricating a carbon fiber mandolin body is a very expensive proposition and all the more so when an arched top and back are involved. Through the 1990’s I went to the NAMM shows expecting to see cf...

Thanks Mike,
I’m sure embedding is what I meant! Still can’t figure out how though.
Yes, that is the same Flatiron. Now that I changed strings I’m having second thoughts.

I’m a big fan of ‘80’s Flatirons and here’s a great example:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ZoNCfbJrA

I’d upload it directly, but haven’t had any luck.

Adam Buchwald’s new electric mandolin is wonderful, even when I have no idea what I’m playing:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SoHYjaKpOWg

I’ll hope to play it again and record it before it leaves the shop for its new home. Stay tuned.....

You can check with Adam at adam@circlestrings.com

Joe’s work is wonderful: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Vb9wGR0bs

Here’s a terrific electric F5 from Hondo. History is sketchy and it may have been a NAMM show custom instrument in ‘69 or the early 70’s.

I googled Hondo once and found it quickly under the...

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FYI both the maple and the sika spruce Adam used is from Shelburne VT. Here are photos of the new ebony knobs with Adam’s inset ivoroid band. Very classy!

Adam Buchwald of Circle Strings sent photos to me of his newly completed electric mandolin recently. Today I went to meet it and took a test drive.

Typical of Adam’s work, it is exceptionally...

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Hopefully, you can see the contrast between the original ‘65 saddle and the new brass version. I always thought the originals were brass, but they are in fact stainless steel.
I don’t know...

Hi Jim,
I’ll post a photo shortly of the brass saddle next to an original. For some reason, the original stainless steel saddles had angled slots for the strings and there is no way to modify them....

Thanks, Jim. I changed the saddle on the EM as the originals are stainless steel, sound really harsh and cannot be modified. I have brass saddles made that look identical, but sound much sweeter. I...

Oh, almost forgot.....Florentine body points, hence the name.

Nope, no tangible evidence. The fellow I acquired it from corresponded with Gleason’s niece (dunno how that came about) who told him of its history as she knew it. I don’t know any particulars, but...

In 1961 during the filming of The Hustler in NYC, Jackie Gleason is said to have bought this black Gibson EM200 Electric Florentine mandolin as a gag for his co-star Paul Newman.

He meant to buy...

Over the years I’ve found that the only way I can get the volume and sustain needed for slide (without feedback) is to use a solid body mandolin. Single strings sound like a high-strung guitar, so...