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Thread: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

  1. #1
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Last weekend as I was volunteering at the Philadelphia Folk Festival I got to meet Mike Guggino with the Steep Canyon Rangers. I gave him a couple of Cafe case stickers and expressed an interest in seeing the Loar on loan from Steve Martin. He was wearing a cool Simminoff blueprint T shirt and seemed cool with letting a fellow mando enthusiast check it out later.

    A few hours later after giving him a ride to where ever he needed to be, he invited me onto the bus to check it out. I asked permission to take a few photos and we hopped outside and I got these. Back on the bus about 3 minutes later he handed it over and I did the three or four chords I knew on it then handed it back. He played it some while we chatted. I had to get back to work and there it was. My encounter with a Loar signed instrument. I won't forget it or his incredible generosity and kindness.

    No, I didn't sound any better on a Loar than on my mandolins but it was pretty special.

    I didn't ask about strings but he plays this Loar with a Dawg pick. Enjoy!

    Jamie
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    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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  3. #2
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Cool!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  4. #3
    This Kid Needs Practice Bill Clements's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Good for you, Jamie! Holding a mandolin with that history, not to mention it's probable $200K plus price tag, must have been thrilling.
    I heard Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers live here in Lansing a couple years ago. It was great fun and Mike is a gifted mandolinist.
    "Music is the only noise for which one is obliged to pay." ~ Alexander Dumas

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    Registered User JAK's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    I think Steve Martin should GIVE his Loar to Mike. After all, Steve could easily afford to buy another one (or ten).
    John A. Karsemeyer

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    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    I saw their current road show a while back and it was terrific. Just about my only disappointment was that Mike played very little mandolin-- maybe one tune.
    For wooden musical fun that doesn't involve strumming, check out:
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    Registered User Londy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    thats pretty sweet man!
    Amateurs practice until they can play it right.
    Professionals practice until they can't play it wrong.

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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    I think the long term loan is perfectly acceptable and I know Mike appreciates it. He gets how cool this mandolin is and honestly, the action on it was great.... not too high, not too low. Steve may be able to afford ten but where's he gonna get them... further, what would he do with that many? I think this arrangement between Steve and the SCRs is great for both of them. The band is pretty darn good and tight on their own and Steve has ready access to a bunch of guys that can play with him well. Win win!

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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  9. #8
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Really nice
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  10. #9
    Cafe Linux Mommy danb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Nice pictures. It's 73733 in case anyone wants to see a couple more pictures!
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Great pics, Jamie.
    ...

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    Registered User dcoventry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Quote Originally Posted by JEStanek View Post
    Back on the bus about 3 minutes later he handed it over and I did the three or four chords I knew on it then handed it back. He played it some while we chatted. I had to get back to work and there it was. My encounter with a Loar signed instrument. I won't forget it or his incredible generosity and kindness.

    Jamie
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    Wait a minute!! You know FOUR or FIVE chords!! How many were repeats? ARE there that many?
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    Quote Originally Posted by JEStanek View Post
    I think the long term loan is perfectly acceptable and I know Mike appreciates it. He gets how cool this mandolin is and honestly, the action on it was great.... not too high, not too low. Steve may be able to afford ten but where's he gonna get them... further, what would he do with that many? I think this arrangement between Steve and the SCRs is great for both of them. The band is pretty darn good and tight on their own and Steve has ready access to a bunch of guys that can play with him well. Win win!

    Jamie
    It's very cool that Mike is playing a Loar. But I'm hoping and totally guessing, that Mike remembers how cool his Kimble was/is. I've owned two (one squished by a car) because of the one he was playing when he came out to the Big Horn Mountain Festival in Wyoming a few years ago. I'll never own a Loar, but am very happy with the mandolin I have. He won't remember me, but I owe a thanks to Mike for turning me on to Kimble mandolins.

    My apologies if this is a thread hijack.

    Cheers,

    Bill

    BB

  15. #13
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steep Canyon Rangers - Mike Guggino / Steve Martin Loar

    I just want to add, we saw the Steep Canyon Rangers last week in Richmond, Virginia. The show was great. And, I enjoyed Mike's mandolin playing! I noticed from my seat that the peghead said, "The Xxxxxx." I thought it was a Gibson. Didn't know it was a Loar!

    Quite a show! Really enjoyed the warm up band too - Whiskey and Camomile was their name.

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

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