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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