I hate it when the ear snaps off.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
yea i am starting to read up on the history of mandolins in the last century and see how the F came about. I mean i do really appreciate the aesthetics of the design; it's like art. music and art together. it's just that you would think as they started building these and people kept popping them off that manufacturers would say we need to fix this design flaw otherwise people will be breaking them all the time and complaining.
at the end of the day it is about the music. i totally agree on that. i have an F style and an A style now and i like both of them. i think the A style is a little easier to play for me right now but that may just be something as simple as what strings are on it. i picked about the mandolin because of the sound; not the sight. i am tall with large fingers so i definitely did not pick it up for the sight. playing on such small frets and holding the mandolin is a challenge all its own. those things are playing a lot more into the sound i get out of it than say a full size acoustic guitar.
Bluegrass. Referring, I guess, to Bill Monroe's mutilated F-5 headstock. Word is that Monroe carried around the broken-off scroll for years, always intending to get it re-attached or replaced. Finally Gibson got hold of his mandolin and repaired the headstock, did a bit of work on the body; they re-inlayed their logo, which Monroe had gouged out due to dissatisfaction with an earlier Gibson factory repair.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
ok, so i finally found the manufacturer's number. i called and they basically said they do not deal with end users directly; that i would have to go through my dealer. i asked how i would know if the dealer actually spoke to them and they said to ask who they spoke to and they could confirm on manufacturer end. Long story short I didn't have to go that far into this. i called the dealer back and went into more detail about what happened. They were gracious enough to provide a stipend to fix it for this 1 time. They did not ask but i asked if i could relay who they were in this thread because i think that any dealer who would put themselves out for a customer and manufacturer like that definitely deservers a shout out. it's the least i could possibly do.
In my case the dealer was....'The Mandolin Store'
Again they did not have to offer to fix it however once i explained my situation in detail they immediately offered to fix it without any hesitation whatsoever. They understood that I am new to Mandolins in general and took my word that I was not purposely damaging the instrument. All in all a class act in my book. Thank you 'The Mandolin Store'!!!
i will definitely keep them in mind for any future purchases; if for nothing else than the peace of mind knowing they back up their product line. Honestly it's not about the money. I do feel a hell of a lot better knowing that this dealer backs up their product even for newbies like me. You know everyone throws a warranty on things these days but most do knowing no one will ever call them out on it. These guys backed it up without any hesitation and i respect that. I will definitely look to them 1st on my future purchases. I just hope that they don't blacklist me now for being a PITA lol (just kidding). oh and i asked their permission to post this before doing so (in case anyone was interested).
Good deal! Glad it worked out for you. Always good news when a company stands behind what they sell and honors their part of the transaction.
Um, no, not exactly. They replaced the headstock plate. Monroe gave the original gouged-out one to one of the Gibson employees who got that ball rolling. It was sold at auction Dec. 3, 2009 for $37,500.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
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After years of careful pursuit it was Rendell Wall from the Gibson company who got Mr. Bill to allow the repairs and restore the peghead. At least that's the story Rendell tells.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
I would have it fixed by a competent luthier. Chances are you won't even be able to see the break when they are done.
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