Eastman Mandotasting in VA

**EastmanGordon** · Feb-23-2005, 11:21am

Hi everyone,
just got off the phone with the ever entertaining John Miller at Pickers Supply in Fredricksburg, VA and we have a firm date for the next Mandotasting.

Date: Saturday March 12th. 2005
Time: 7:00pm.
Where: Pickers Supply
# # # 902 Caroline St.
# # # Fredricksburg, VA 22401
Phone for directions: 540-371-4669

I will be bringing along as many mandos as I can carry including the new mandola, two pointers, F's, A's, a few guitars for good measure and, if I can swing it, some fiddles and perhaps a bass.

The atmosphere will be relaxed and everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments for "show and tell" and picking circles will be mandatory. I am told that Pickers Supply has one of the best sounding rooms in the area so it should be a wonderful venue for a tasting.

Looking forward to seeing you all there and finally getting to meet you all.
Be square but be there anyway!
Gordon

**fatt-dad** · Feb-23-2005, 11:31am

This sounds exciting! Calendar marked.

f-d

**Tim** · Feb-23-2005, 11:58am

You can find a map to their location here.

A map of the downtown with parking show is here.

**Treetopper** · Feb-23-2005, 3:33pm

When are you going to bring you show to Houston?

**Tim** · Feb-23-2005, 3:51pm

Gordon-

Since this one will be in a retail music store will any of these be available for sale?

**ShaneJ** · Feb-23-2005, 4:36pm

Gordon, if you're ever in Dallas/Ft. Worth and plan one of these, please let us know. I'm 2 hours west of Ft. Worth, but I'd make the drive. Sounds like a blast.

**fatt-dad** · Feb-24-2005, 11:27am

fatt-dad update - Schedule conflict. I really wanted to be there, so I'll have to await the next event (will there be another?). Bummer. . . .

f-d

**GnomeGrown** · Feb-24-2005, 1:08pm

Mayhaps bringing some eastmans to MandoFest in Lawrence, Kansas (link above) would be a good idea.....

at least I would like to see that happen!

**EastmanGordon** · Feb-24-2005, 2:24pm

Okay, let's see now....

The mandos at pickers supply will all be for sale except for a couple of prototypes that I am hanging on to for use at tastings and shows elsewhere.

There is nothing I would like better than to do a tasting in the Houston area but there is one slight problem. We don't have a dealer down there. Who do you think is the best dealer out there for our kind of products? Same goes for Dallas.

I am going to try for another Washington area tasting in march also, stay tuned (pun),
Gordon

**ShaneJ** · Feb-24-2005, 4:57pm

Gordon, I don't know about Dallas or Houston, but you might talk to Caldwell Music in Abilene. They have store in a few other West Texas cities as well. They have a decent acoustic room. They carry Taylor, Martin, and some other quality guitars. Their mando stock is pathetic - one or two Fenders, etc. I don't know what kind of mando volume they would do, but surely it would pick up a bit if they had some quality instruments. I'm not sure if Gil or Gary DeShazo would still be the people to ask for or not, but you could find out. If I can help, let me know.

**gnelson651** · Feb-24-2005, 6:29pm

Hey Gordon,

How about coming out to Vegas? Don't you have a dealer out here with Ed Romna Guitars?

Sound like a gamble to me!

**gtrump** · Feb-24-2005, 7:49pm

That's a 7-hour drive from Asheville. I hope we can do it and I will try if at all possible.

Are you going to have any 04 or 14 models available?

**Charles Johnson** · Feb-25-2005, 8:15pm

For a Houston dealer try Fullers Vintage Guitars on the North Loop at Yale. 713-880-2188. Talk to Mike Fuller, the owner. Despite the store name, its almost all new instruments, and he deals a lot in acoustic instruments. BTW, Mike plays in a bluegrass band.

Charles

**EastmanGordon** · Mar-07-2005, 9:59am

Just a quick reminder to all to make sure you come to Fredricksburg on Saturday evening. I will have a mandola, a two pointer and of course all the other models plus a few guitars, some fiddles and a standup bass. If the container gets here in time (it's due at any moment) I will also have some other goodies to show off.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Gordon

**EastmanGordon** · Mar-07-2005, 10:01am

Oops, I forgot to ask.....
Is there anyone here that would like me to bring a viola or two? I am never sure whether to bring these or not.
Gordon

**lindensensei** · Mar-07-2005, 2:06pm

yes

**Skittle** · Mar-13-2005, 7:09am

Ok now........its over..........we need pictures and details.

**Rob Powell** · Mar-14-2005, 2:02pm

I'm with Skittle...what's the review from those who were able to go?

?

**EastmanGordon** · Mar-15-2005, 9:02am

Well.....
I lugged a van load of mandos down to the beautiful town of Fredricksburg, VA (my wife went shopping and cost me a small fortune, wonderful shopping in F-burg). I set everything up, spent a lovely evening with some mando fanatics, played a little, listened a lot (John Miller is an incredible player, he will be a force in the mando world one day methinks)and even fell in love with a little parlor guitar that Bran (the owner) had hanging on the wall of his office which I'm sure is going to cost me dearly in the not too distant future and....... after all this NO POSTS? I'm devastated

It's not like mandocafe society to be struck dumb, did I do something wrong? If someone doesn't post soon I might be tempted to throw myself from the top of the Eastman Tower here in downtown Clarksburg.
Gordon
ps. Geez, that parlor guitar was so sweet, if you go to Pickers Supply make sure you don't tell Bran that there is something missing from your collection because he is heartless enough to produce that very thing and price it in a way that makes you lose sleep for days. Doncha hate that?

**Eric F.** · Mar-15-2005, 10:16am

Gordon, I assumed the reason for the silence was you had taken all the attendees to the Eastman "secure loaction" for the brain chip implants.

C'mon, SOMEBODY post some notes for cryin' out loud. Where I live now, you can go to the music store and play a Dean or ... a Dean, so I live vicariously through these accounts of playing multiple mandolins.

**Rob Powell** · Mar-15-2005, 10:49am

Gordon,

Yeah...inquiring minds want to know and all that...

BTW, glad to hear that Bran is still the owner of Picker's...

I remember when he WAS Picker's... I was a bit short on the rent one time and I sold him my prized Les Paul and an amp I had custom made. Bran made out on the deal but then again, I managed to keep a roof over my head.

Later, he was producing a cable show in F'burg and my band was on it...he also produced at least one record of local talent and a few friends of mine were on it.

Ah, the 70's....heehee...

--Rob