I was blessed to know Earl Scruggs as well. I was at his house and we were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. We were talking about whatever comes to mind when two friends get together. ...
Type: Posts; User: Big Joe
I was blessed to know Earl Scruggs as well. I was at his house and we were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. We were talking about whatever comes to mind when two friends get together. ...
The Flatiron made several models in that time period. Each was different in several ways and everything affects tone. You did not mention which Flatiron A model you have. They are good mandolins,...
It’s been handled in a post already. I don’t recall, but I did not find them too big or too small. I don’t have them, and my grandkids live too far for me to drop in and check them.
I meant this...
I have 2 grandsons that are guitar players. One is a fair guitarist, the other is really good. They both wanted to try mandolin but couldn’t afford one. They were shocked at the cost of mandolins...
The Smother’s Brothers were an incredible influence my life. The hard part of getting old is seeing the people you love and respect leave this world. They were as good as it could get.
I find it somewhat disheartening to see Bill Monroe bandied about by many who did not know him. You never even knew the man and you are afraid of him? That’s ridiculous. The man has been dead...
The two alterations are fairly common and have not affected the price. Some people won’t buy it because it has been done, and some won’t if it has not been done. I like having the Florida scooped. ...
I have a drawer full of capos of every make and model I think. I do not use a capo on a mandolin. It just gets in the way for me. The only time I use one on a guitar is when I need a cord shape...
A lot of the big guys are playing Jonathons mandolins. I sure would if I could. A bit out of my reach for a retired guy.
We used carbon fiber for repairs where structural integrity needs to be restored, or attaching broken necks/ headstocks. It was excellent for what we needed it for, but it can be a bit of a pain to...
I would not want to do the fret job on that. It would take forever and cost an arm and a leg. I think there could be laws against that guitar in several states.
Many musicians do not read music, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play just about any song without having to have the notation. Some play just by ear, and are very accomplished. The Nashville...
Herschel and his wife , Joyce, have been dear friends for many years. Of course, he was one of the finest mandolin players and his style set the stage for many of the good ones to follow. He was...
I got my first BC pick in 2015 and it is the one I still use on mandolin and guitar. About 10 years ago I got a second. Now I have one in with my mandolin and one in with my guitar. Best non TS...
Just a coincidence, but I am a ham radio operator and had my first contact with Kazakhstan yesterday. The best thing to get back in shape picking, is to just play. It will come back fairly soon. ...
I have always held a fascination with wood. Not just for instruments, but certainly a great part for instruments. While at Gibson I was sent to the “Wood University” at Gibson. Fortunately it was...
As stated before, it is NOT a Gibson mandolin. It doesn’t even look like one in any way at all. The neck and headstock is not Gibson, a nd the body and scroll have no resemblance to any product...
About 30-40 years ago we began seeing instruments made in China arriving at a music store near you. They were poorly made and the wood was terribly green when they used it. They did not cost much,...
I don’t think the mandolin makes it a jazz mandolin, it’s you and what sounds best to you. Jethro Burns didn’t have much of a choice in his day, but he sounded like a great jazz player no matter...
Anything with Jethro Burns. I think Acoustic Disc sells them. They are as good as it gets for great mandolin playing. Jethro was part of the “Homer and Jethro” comedy musical acts of days gone by,...
Brian is one of the good guys. He also knows mandolins. It doesn’t surprise me that he showed you his Loar.
I have been fortunate to have a couple mandolins that were my holy grail. Unfortunately, they had to go because of medical issues. After 35 surgeries and disabilities that have made keeping my holy...
I am in my 70’s, and I have plenty of arthritis to share. I find two things that help me. I play guitar, mandolin, and bass. I play mandolin the most, and don’t ever want to quit. The first...
I did not know Rick all that well, but we did talk a few times, usually about different ways to build or repair something instrument related. He had some interesting ideas and some interesting...
I don’t like full size pickguards personally, but I do like a small abreviated pick guard, like Steve Smith makes. They look good, and don’t hinder sound. I feel it also holds my pick hand in a...