stores near charlston south carolina.

[varmonter]

Any high end dealers in this area.
Gibson,collings,ellis,mowry,and the like.?? I am here visiting.

[danielpatrick]

Sadly, nothing at all.

[Bill Kammerzell]

Sadly, nothing at all.

When I lived in coastal SC in 1980's and '90's, I can't recall anywhere in Charleston that sold mandolins. I recall a guy up in Horry County, in Conway, named Jennings Chestnut that custom made mandolins. I read that he had died around 2010. This past summer when I vacationed in Georgetown County I couldn't find any music store that had much in the way of mandolins.

[Chris Daniels]

When I lived in coastal SC in 1980's and '90's, I can't recall anywhere in Charleston that sold mandolins. I recall a guy up in Horry County, in Conway, named Jennings Chestnut that custom made mandolins. I read that he had died around 2010. This past summer when I vacationed in Georgetown County I couldn't find any music store that had much in the way of mandolins.

A young guy at the Bibey Mandolin Camp last year had a Chestnut. A very cool mando with a nice warm tone.

There is a GC in North Charleston that usually carries a couple of Gretsch New Yorkers, which are at least playable compared to the $500 junk (2 Lunas and a Morgan Monroe) that can be found at a small store off 544 in Myrtle Beach which otherwise has a decent selection of guitars.

Bill's Pickin' Parlor in Columbia had a old beat-up Gibson F5 the last time I was there along with a few new mid-levels (Kentucky, The Loar, etc). Other than that, it's a wasteland 'round these parts.

C.

[Bill Kammerzell]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_Chestnut

http://discoversouthcarolina.com/products/26635

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtJwzqCBPs

[Bill Kammerzell]

A young guy at the Bibey Mandolin Camp last year had a Chestnut. A very cool mando with a nice warm tone.

There is a GC in North Charleston that usually carries a couple of Gretsch New Yorkers, which are at least playable compared to the $500 junk (2 Lunas and a Morgan Monroe) that can be found at a small store off 544 in Myrtle Beach which otherwise has a decent selection of guitars.

Bill's Pickin' Parlor in Columbia had a old beat-up Gibson F5 the last time I was there along with a few new mid-levels (Kentucky, The Loar, etc). Other than that, it's a wasteland 'round these parts.

C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtJwzqCBPs

I just talked to this guy in the video at the Music Spot in Conway, near the old Chestnut shop. He says he gets a few mandolins in from small builders. Has one now and for the life of me I can't think of the builder's name.

[WW52]

Nearest decent mandolin offerings I'm aware of are probably at least 5-6 hrs away in NC or Georgia.

[allenhopkins]

Vermonter says he's "visiting" in Charleston, wanted to explore the local mandolin-dealer scene.

From the responses, not much to explore...

[Bill Kammerzell]

Vermonter says he's "visiting" in Charleston, wanted to explore the local mandolin-dealer scene.

From the responses, not much to explore...

No. Looked to me that the nearest Collings or Weber dealer, according to their website's were in North Carolina.

[fishnjim]

Ye Olde Music on Yeamans Hall Rd - Mike might have something on consignment in regard to high end mandolins. He carries a lot of high end guitars - accoustic & electric.

[dwc]

Vermonter says he's "visiting" in Charleston, wanted to explore the local mandolin-dealer scene.

From the responses, not much to explore...

You can replace "not much" with "absolutely nothing" and have a more correct statement. Ye Olde Music is a very good guitar shop, but nothing in the way of quality mandolins.

Now, you want to talk restaurants.... different story entirely.

[CES]

You can replace "not much" with "absolutely nothing" and have a more correct statement. Ye Olde Music is a very good guitar shop, but nothing in the way of quality mandolins.

Now, you want to talk restaurants.... different story entirely.

Amen, brotha!! Lived there for seven years and come back to Sullivan's Island for a family beach trip every summer. Restaurant scene is amazing...bad ones just don't survive. We've got our "old stand bys," but manage to find someplace we haven't been that's amazing most years we're there...

Mando scene is, admittedly, paltry compared to my present location in Concord, NC...

[Bob Buckingham]

I live in the upstate of SC and you will have to go to Asheville, Raleigh, Atlanta or Gatlinburg to find and play a high quality mandolin. There are a couple of pretty good mandos at the 5th String in Greenville. An old black Gibson A and a handmade F with a clubby neck. The rest are all Eastman and such.

[Denny Gies]

Go to Savanna and see Randy Wood.

[juneman]

Hi Varmonter, if you are heading up I26 when you go back north , you are more than welcome to stop at my "JUNE " mandolin and guitar shop in the Campobello-Landrum area of SC. My shop is about 5 minutes off the interstate. Visitors are always welcome.

Walter "JUNE mandolins and guitars since 2001"

[Bill Kammerzell]

Go to Savanna and see Randy Wood.

Did not realize he had a spot out in Bloomingdale. That is only about a 2 hour drive from Charleston. Not a bad drive either by my standards. Charleston/Savannah traffic is a heck of a lot better than Baltimore/Washington traffic. I'd drive that far to look at and play a good mandolin.

http://www.randywoodmusic.com/

Looks like he has live music too.

[varmonter]

Did not realize he had a spot out in Bloomingdale. That is only about a 2 hour drive from Charleston. Not a bad drive either by my standards. Charleston/Savannah traffic is a heck of a lot better than Baltimore/Washington traffic. I'd drive that far to look at and play a good mandolin.

http://www.randywoodmusic.com/

Looks like he has live music too.

Thanks much for the info. Looked at a couple of places while there. Mostly low end
Stuff like cort and the like. Could not inconvenience our non musician relatives as they
We're carting us around all week.we did visit a live music venue.saw a cool greatful dead
Cover band at a place called the pour house (craft beer a plenty) I believe on James island.restaraunts were great.had my fill of oysters one night..yum
I am looking for an Ellis a5 special..not having much luck.ellis is 12 months out on builds..

[pheffernan]

I am looking for an Ellis a5 special..not having much luck.ellis is 12 months out on builds..

I don't know where you're located in Vermont, but have you considered this option closer to home?

http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/106127#106127

[Mandobar]

many dealers have stuff in the pipeline. You might try asking Ellis or call some of the dealers and inquire.

[Mandobar]

Seems like Mandomutt.com has just what you are looking for.

http://www.mandomutt.com/products-pa...is-a-5-special