Chocolate Bitterroot in Chicago

[steve V. johnson]

I see that Ted Parrish has posted two OMs from his Old Town School of Folk Music shop in the classifieds. I've seen and played the Bitterroot.

We were in Chicago in March of '04, just landed from a trip to Ireland and went on an OM expedition to HogEye Music in Evanston and the Old Town School. Ted wasn't available that day, but I did get someone to pull the chocolate Bitterroot down from its spot high on the wall. The fellow who went up on the ladder to get it told me that he didn't know if they made these any more, that he thought it was rare, and that it had been there for a while and that I really ought to buy it.

I had expected a tight, mandolin-type sound from a Weber, but this one had more of the sound of the body than I had expected, with a bit deeper timbre and sustain. I was really surprised at how prominent the 'body-box' was in the sound, as opposed to an F-mandolin. It didn't sound "like a guitar" at all, but it did have more of a guitar-ish sound than I ever anticipated.

It is really and truly a deep Hershey-bar matte brown, too! All over. I don't remember if the body is mahogany or maple (I think that maple is an upgrade and that the std Bitterroot is mahogany....), but the top will be spruce, and the sound is much more warm than 'bright.'

When I played it it hadn't been set up nor had new strings in quite a while, but the character of it was there.

Oh, it has the regular Weber OM scale of 22", and I believe that it has an F-style headstock.

It's a nice one, esp. if that Hershey look is your look! He doesn't mention a trial period, tho...

Oh yeah... after I played that Bitterroot, we heard Danu and Tim O'Brien in the Old Town School's beautiful auditorium! Wooooohoooooo!!!! <GGG>

All the best,

stv

[sunburst]

Chocolate Bitterroot...Hmmm...sounds like something that would go well with a sturdy Cabernet Sauvignon.

[Gerry Cassidy]

Steve,

Thanks for the very nice first hand report. It sounds like a very nice instrument.

I sure do enjoy reading your reviews on stuff. Very eloquent and fair.

I really like the 'Chocolate' matte finishes Weber comes up with from time to time. My Bridger F4 is a Chocolate Burst and I sometimes wish I had gone with a matte finish.

[steve V. johnson]

Hey John,

"Chocolate Bitterroot...Hmmm...sounds like something that would go well with a sturdy Cabernet Sauvignon. "

Good choice! "Sturdy" is definitely in order! LOL!!

Thanks Gerry! I just have a good time, y'know... <GG>

This Chicago OM is really a dark chocolate (watch out for that caffeine content, eh!) as I recall. Very different from the current 'burst.

I should add that I have no interest, personal nor financial, in the sale of this instrument, nor in any business of the Old Town School. I just have a jones for an F-style octave (that, AFAIK, hasn't been made yet... <GGG>).

stv

[Steve Baker]

I saw the same one Sunday night at the Tom Russell concert (an excellent show BTW). I felt like a little orphan kid, pressing my face against the window of that closed-up shop, straining to check out that chocolate beauty. It IS a beauty! If I wasn't already way over the top on stuff like this ...

Steve Baker
McDonald Type 3

[Gerry Cassidy]

I wonder if it sold? The price tag was decent.