My good pal Randy Clepper, who just recently joined here as a part of the saga of having -just- missed a short-scale Sobell cittern by being sniped out in the very last seconds of an auction, now reports that he has actually, really and truly bought one from northern Europe!
Hooray and congrats to Randy.
This one is a cedar-topped 23" (ok, actually 22 and some more, almost 23) five-course, made, I think, in the mid-'80's. Randy's relationship with seller, a veteran Irish music player, is reported to be most pleasant. It has a pickup adn some other minor mods. Randy has also corresponded with Stefan about it, and all seems copacetic on all fronts. Woohoo!
Of course, I'm delighted. Randy is in Ohio, not all that far from me, so I'll get to hear it, and maybe play it a little (I have trouble grasping five courses... <G>), but the real treat will be to hear him play it. Randy is very well accustomed to five courses, and I think that the classic 'Sobell sound' will be the perfect complement to the way he thinks and plays.
And, of course, with every new instrument in the hands of a veteran player, some other ones will change partners! Randy has some lovely Doug Dieter Kennaquahair citterns and maybe he'll even offer the big Brazilian rosewood Nigel Forster for sale... who knows? <GG>
Stay tuned...
I'll bug him to post some pix, maybe of the whole famdamily of his instruments, here.
Congrats, Randy!
stv
Bookmarks