Daley F 5 Classic ?

[Gaelen]

Any opinions on the Daley F5 Classic ?

There is a one available not too far away from where I live.

[Jshankle]

Hello Gaelen,
Please see my response in the previous thread in regards to my Sim Daley Classic F5.

[Gaelen]

Thanks

That is an amazing series of photos.

I would have been tempted to have it Blonde the wood is so nice its a shame to stain it.

Fabulous flames.

I have a few £'s to raise and I have a Schecter California Custome series strat to sell before I can proceed to getting my F style but the Daley has gone right up the list.

Thanks again for sharing the creation process.

[cutbait2]

Go give it a play. I have a Daley A-5. Best sounding/playing mando I've owned, and that's not a short list.

[adgefan]

Daleys are played by some of the best mandolinists out there (I believe Butch Baldassari plays one), so there is no questioning their quality. Whether it sounds right to you is a purely personal thing, however.

Have you enquired about getting an approval period on the mandolin? I recently bought a banjo (yeah, I know) and had to do so online as there are no decent shops near me. I was given a 14 day approval period during which time I could have returned it for a full refund for no more reason than I didn't like it. Since you're having to buy unseen and unplayed, I would strongly advise you to ask about doing this.

[A9cp]

I had a chance to visit Sim's shop while on my quest to find "that sound" I wanted. Great person to chat with and tells it like it is. His work both inside and outside of the mando is well done and like another poster said, Sim will ensure you are totally satisfied with your instrument. I just liked his attittude about getting in there and discussing what I wanted instead of what he "builds". Totally cooperative.

[Dfyngravity]

Steffey's Daley seems to being working good.

Isn't that kind of stuff amazing, just like Dudenbostel. Someone right here on the cafe could build a mando or two and take em' to a festival and someone like a Steffey of Thile plays it and falls in love with it. Next thing you know you have a backlog for 3 years and they are selling for 10-15K.

Anyways, I played one Daley and it was a pleasure to play. If I had about 25K, he would be on my list of small builders to buy.

[jim simpson]

"Anyways, I played one Daley and it was a pleasure to play. If I had about 25K, he would be on my list of small builders to buy."

Hey, they aren't that much! check his website. If they suddenly went up, I might have to cash in, no, I just couldn't.

[sgarrity]

I cant get his page on the Classic model to come up.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Well, just today I went to the local Saturday jam and a fellow there has a couple of 50's vintage Martin D28's (that's a GUITAR, folks, don't start searching google for Martin mandolin model #'s). #Anyway... one of 50's is very good and one is stellar (to my ear). #He brought it over so's I could pick it and I handed him my Daley Standard ($3500, no back binding or headstock binding). #Well, I really enjoyed playing his old Martin, but sitting in front of my Daley... I know it sounds great... I play it everyday, but to hear someone else play it (this guy is a great singer and good guitarist, but only a fair mando picker)... well, I really just too delighted with myself for ordering that mandolin. #

This mandolin has truly shown itself to be everything I wanted and more... I mean, I've only been playing mandolin for about 2-1/2 years so my 'ear' is changing. #I made a great decision. #Sim took care of me in spades. #I told him what cuts and artists I thought were just what I wanted and he took it from there. #He was exceedingly happy with it and I am, too... more so every single time I play it. #

My one regret (and it is not much, since I probably wouldn't trade this mandolin) is that I didn't spring for the Classic. But at $3500 it is the most expensive instrument I thought I'd ever own. Well, I've played a LOT more expensive mandolins that don't do as much for me as this one.

It will be one year old in March. #This mando is only 8-1/2 months old. #It has gotten better every month. #What in heavens will it sound like in 10 years??? #I can only grin and imagine.

I'm sure there are others who are just as happy with their mandolins, but I just had to say this about mine. #I'm sure I'll still get MAS one day but I'm a VERY happy camper today.

Thanks, Sim.

[Grandude]

Rick in Memphis (GEFool), why did you order the addy topped Daley? Is your current Daley Sitka or something else? I played Jonathan Shankle's red spruce Daley and was blown away. I have a Classic on order - considering an Engelmann top to get more sweets.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Ooohhh... how did you know I just ordered an adi-topped Daley? #I guess I did mention it on the Comando list. #Anyway, I thought about ordering an adi topped Daley when I ordered my first one, but Sim hadn't made any/many adi tops at that time and someone gave me some advice which I thought was prudent... if you liked the Sitka Daley so much that you wanted one of his mandolins, why would you order something different, also, why be the guinea pig on his learning curve for adirondack topped mandolins. #

Well, Sim has since built several adi-topped mandolins and the owners are very happy (Steffey's BTW, is Englemann). #I have several nice mandolins, but they aren't getting any playing time. #I love my current sitka Standard F5 Daley, but I'm ordering an adi-topped Daley since I can afford it, and I'll have two mandolins which will be keepers for life. #It is sort of insane, since I love my current one so much, but I just can't help myself. #I thought about going after D-gravity's Red Diamond, then I thought about getting a Krishot, then I REALLY thought about Scotti's Rose #29. #In the end, I knew I'd get another Daley, though. I just trust Sim to make a super mandolin and he'll build an affordable Standard version.

I have no plans to sell #21 ... so don't ask! The new one won't be ready for 13 months or so. #I can wait since I have the best mando at the jam IMHO.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Duhh!!! its in my signature line... absent minded professor here:p

[Grandude]

I have the same dilemma. The Daley I played had a red spruce top, (I'm assuming it was Adirondack), and it had such power and cut through the jam that I am very hesitant to try anything else, such as Engelmann. The only thing I would have liked more was a pop-chop that my ten year old sitka Flatiron A-5 has. However, when I played the Daley #31 it (and I) were cold. And the mandolin was only two months old. It could be that the chop was there to be realized, but I didn't spend enough time to find it. Steffey and Thile play Engelmann tops and have the most pronounced chops that I know of. On the other hand, they don't have the cut/power that McCoury and Compton (& Daley #31) have.