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Thread: My new Hester A5z mandolin

  1. #1
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default My new Hester A5z mandolin

    This has been a project many years in the making.

    At first, I asked Gail to make me an A2z

    We grew a mind to mind awareness of what we were trying to do

    But after I bought a nice A2z, the project transformed to an A5 with A2z attributes

    This is the culmination of 4-5 years of chatting back and forth between her and I

    I could not be happier...this is a fantastic sounding mandolin I'm not sure why all the pics turned 90 degree

    Here are some picturesClick image for larger version. 

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    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  3. #2
    Registered User Joey Anchors's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Gorgeous!
    Waterloo WL-M

    Blues Mando Social Group - member

  4. #3
    Registered User tree's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That's a gorgeous mandolin, Darryl. Congrats to you and Gail!

    Sheraton brown ribs, very nice color on the top, nice subtle sunburst on the one piece back. Mmm, mmm, tasty!

    Would be cool to hear a sound clip . . .
    Clark Beavans

  5. #4
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    I would like to say that this is a great sounding mandolin and that Gail is in the upper echelon of mandolin builders
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  7. #5
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    I've always held that the best reason to commission a build is to acquire an instrument that would not otherwise exist in nature. This mandolin certainly qualifies. Congrats!
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
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    2009 Passernig A5
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  8. #6
    Registered User Russ Jordan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    What a beauty, Darryl. Would love to hear it!
    Russ Jordan

  9. #7
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Please join us in the Hester Social Group: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php?groupid=304
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
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  10. #8
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That is real class. Beautiful. congrats!
    --------------------------------
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  11. #9
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Beautiful. And that neck, just...wow.

  12. #10
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That's a beauty!

  13. #11
    acoustically inert F-2 Dave's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Really nice. Gorgeous mandolin.
    "Mongo only pawn in game of life." --- Mongo

  14. #12
    Middle-Aged Old-Timer Tobin's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That sucker is gorgeous! Very nicely appointed all around.

    For those who don't know, which attributes came from the A2z, as opposed to just a regular A5? I would think the pick guard would be one, but I'm having a hard time identifying anything else that isn't typical for a modern A5.

    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    But after I bought a nice A2z, the project transformed to an A5 with A2z attributes

  15. #13
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Darryl,
    Congrats on your Hester A2z. Soundls like the process was much like mine with Gail. Initially, I was leaning toward a teens F4. Gail gradually moved me toward a 20s F4 with a truss rod to allow the neck to be more narrow. Your mandolin is simply gorgeous. Gail's work is sublime.
    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

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  17. #14
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That is a stunner! Congratulations - I'm sure it plays as beautifully as it looks!
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  18. #15
    Hester Mandolins Gail Hester's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    While I have never met Darryl in person, through our shared interest in vintage Gibson mandolins we have communicated a lot and become good friends. Darryl has always been very generous and gracious in sharing his vast knowledge and experience with me as well as many others. His knowledge and historical contributions to this site have been phenomenal.

    So, I was thrilled at the opportunity when he expressed the vision and commissioned me to build the A5Z mandolin. The “Z” is represented by the non-traditional color scheme, the inner black top body binding and the black side binding. The headstock overlay is ebonized pear wood. The incredible reproduction A5 pickguard was made and installed by Darryl (these are the best I’ve ever seen). The rest of the construction is typical of my mandolins: red spruce top, red maple back, hot hide glue construction, oil varnish with French polished shellac finish.

    It was a real honor to have the opportunity and a lot of fun to build a mandolin for one of my “Heroes”. Darryl, thanks for everything and I hope you enjoy and play the heck out of it for many years to come.

    Here are a few random early pictures that may be interesting to see.
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    Gail Hester

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  20. #16
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Tobin View Post
    For those who don't know, which attributes came from the A2z, as opposed to just a regular A5?
    To my untrained eye, the answer appears largely to be aesthetic features: natural top, sheraton brown back, unbound headstock, single bound back, etc.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
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    2018 Vessel TM5
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  21. #17
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Fantastic color combination and, my oh my, the flame on the back & neck is spectacular. I hope it gives joy for years to come.

  22. #18
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    The body shape appears to be more like the A2Z or the Griffen A5Loar not like most A5's today.

  23. #19
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That is exactly correct sir And so are the carvings of the top and back
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  24. #20
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Here are a few photos with its model in the picture The idea was to emulate a 1924 A2z

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    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  26. #21
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    And here are a few Mutt and Jeff photos with pickguards in place
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    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  28. #22
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    I thank Gail for the kind words, I am not the star here...she is....what a wonderful project and end result. I am truly thrilled.....this is a great mandolin
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  29. #23

    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    I thank Gail for the kind words, I am not the star here...she is....what a wonderful project and end result. I am truly thrilled.....this is a great mandolin
    I bet I'm not alone in hoping that the star's mandolin gets to shine soon via some sound clips/video clips.

    rm
    Last edited by Ron McMillan; Dec-30-2016 at 1:55am.

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  31. #24
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    That's a stunning looking mandolin Daryl !. I love everything about it,colour,proportions - the lot !. My own personal preference would be to use it without the pick guard - only because,for me,it covers up too much mandolin that should be seen. However,if that the way an A2z looks (i've never seen one - or have i ?),then i suppose it's necessary.
    Looking like this, sans pickguard,it's one of the most beautiful "A" styles i've ever laid eyes on.
    It's not that often that i feel envious,but i'll make an exception in the case of this beauty !!!'
    Ivan
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  33. #25
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new Hester A5z mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    That is exactly correct sir And so are the carvings of the top and back
    Out of curiosity, what factors informed your choice in terms of the fretboard extension?
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
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