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Thread: Anyone can play this baby . . .

  1. #1
    bon vivant jaycat's Avatar
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    Default Anyone can play this baby . . .

    The action is SILLY LOW!

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/351200543121

    "The neck is straight and the action is silly low al the way up the fretboard."
    "The paths of experimentation twist and turn through mountains of miscalculations, and often lose themselves in error and darkness!"
    --Leslie Daniel, "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."

    Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1...SV2qtug/videos

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Needs more pictures!

  3. #3
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Why is al on the fretboard?
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  4. #4
    bon vivant jaycat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by Timbofood View Post
    Why is al on the fretboard?
    Same reason as Paddy's on the Turnpike. Or Jesus on the Mainline.

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  6. #5
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Most well-documented Style A Martin in history…

    Still, well-played and well-worn, but those Martin Style A's are sweet little mandolins. If seller's description is accurate, could be a nice bargain.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
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    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  7. #6
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Lots of finger gunk on the board... that cleans up easily enough. I like those Martin mandolins.

    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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  8. #7

    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    As long as there's no structural cracks or sinkage, that's actually a really good deal. If it buzzes, one could always shim the bridge with a maple or ebony strip added to the bottom to address that "silly low" action.

    EDIT: upon further inspection of all of the extra photos added at the bottom of the ad, I didn't see any structural issue whatsoever. Besides the finish scratches on the top, it looks to be in very good shape, and the action is about where my '19 Style B is at, so more of a "reasonable low" rather than "silly low." Intonation is just a matter of moving the bridge a bit. All in all, I'd say that if I didn't already have a Martin mandolin, I'd feel comfortable buying this Style A if I wanted to.

    --Tom

  9. #8
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    I recently picked up a 20's Martin with silly low (worn) bar frets. I had to pull them all and shim them up to re-level and re-crown. Tedious work, it was. Wish I could have just tapped new frets in but not possible with the existing large slots created for bar frets. It was fun to hear how good it sounded once strung up.
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  10. #9
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Is it an optical illusion or is it partially strung in ocatves? (Scroll down about half a mile the best photo is near the end)

  11. #10
    Registered User David Rambo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone can play this baby . . .

    Looks like one of the "A" strings is wound, while one is not.
    "Put your hands to the wood
    Touch the music put there by the summer sun and wind
    The rhythms of the rain, locked within the rings
    And let your fingers find The Music in the Wood."
    Joe Grant and Al Parrish (chorus from The Music in the Wood)

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