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Thread: Custom Made Mandolins

  1. #1
    Registered User Lane Pryce's Avatar
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    Unhappy

    Just curious but how many of you folks are currently waiting on custom orders and how many of you are playing a small builder mandolin?

    I am currently playing one of Skip Kelley's A5s and I am waiting on an A5 from Andrew Mowry. Lp
    J.Lane Pryce

  2. #2
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    Currently (as in right this minute) playing a small builder mandolin, and have two others next to me that I am rotating about every half-hour or so. Also own at least two others.

    Currently have two custom mandolins on order. Possibly three (long story). Am considering ordering another one right now. (You have to time the ordering so you get a new one every six months or so...like making wine....)
    J. Mark Lane
    Stanley #10 F5
    Pomeroy #72 F4
    Brian Dean #30 Bowlback

  3. #3
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    I currently have 3 mandos and 2 octave mandos from four different small builders. Of those, 2 were custom ordered, and the other 3 were built on spec by the builder, but I'm happy with them. Nothing against bigger shops, just an aesthetic preference.

    Actually, I don't know how tall the builders are or how much they weigh.
    Fiddles
    Arches F4 / Newson F5
    Crump B1 / Old Wave GOM

  4. #4
    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
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    One custom, small-shop mando, an Arches A. Nothing on order.

  5. #5
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    I prefer small builders as well, for both guitars and mandolins. My Pomeroy F5 should be ready the first part of May. It's the first instrument I've actually had built for me and the experience has been a pleasure. I bought my Old Wave used from the classifieds and my Proulx guitar from a friend here in OKC. And when Mario opens his list again, I'll probably order another one.

    Shaun

  6. #6
    Jason Wicklund DryBones's Avatar
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    would a lefty Mid-Mo be considered custom?
    Jason

    Lefty JBovier F5 Tradition, Lefty Mid-Mo M1

  7. #7
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    Sim Daley Vintage F. He's putting the French polish on now:p

  8. #8
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    Small-builder owner here. I've recently become the third Cafe member to own Glenn A5 #59. I'm quite happy with it, so it will probably be a while before I order anything else (at least my wife sure hopes so!).
    Chris

  9. #9
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    If some Overtime works through in a month I'lll be placing an order... I played a bunch of vintage Gibson A ovals yesterday though (another thread...). I'm so torn. Actually I'm not. The build will come before a vintage.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  10. #10
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    I play a Brentrup 21V, and have an Arches on order.

    Chip

  11. #11
    Registered User Milan Christi's Avatar
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    On the Arches waiting list.
    Milan

  12. #12
    Registered User otterly2k's Avatar
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    All three of my instruments are small builders... Old Wave oval (bought used)...Brian Dean OM (custom order) and the smallest of all, the OM I made in Don K's workshop. #1 out of 1.

    I like some of the larger production scale mandos out there... but I really like the personal touch of working with a smaller builder and the exciting construction process of watching a custom order take shape. There is a bit of a gamble involved, but that's part of the fun, imho.

    KE
    Karen Escovitz
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Otter OM #1
    Brian Dean OM #32
    Old Wave Mandola #372
    Phoenix Neoclassical #256
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    If you're gonna walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!

  13. #13
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    playing an Old Wave (11/04) and looking forward to a Neil Dean in '07. Lefties almost always have to order a mandolin and the smaller builders I have spoken to don't charge extra for a lefty. I think all of the "production" shops do charge more.

  14. #14
    Gilchrist (pick) Owner! jasona's Avatar
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    I own one small shop mandolin. I have nothing on order--can only play one at a time
    Jason Anderson

    "...while a great mandolin is a wonderful treat, I would venture to say that there is always more each of us can do with the tools we have available at hand. The biggest limiting factors belong to us not the instruments." Paul Glasse

    Stumbling Towards Competence

  15. #15
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    I play a Brentrup (l-21v) and have an A.L. Smart on order.
    1914 Gibson A-4
    2002 Collings MT-2
    2004 Brentrup L-21V
    2008 A.L. Smart A-5

  16. #16

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    I've ordered a Neil J Dean custon A-5. Should be going to pick it up in September!
    Neil J Dean A-5 #GR75 (Jeff Lewis Model)

  17. #17
    Registered User Dave Gumbart's Avatar
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    Well, early next week, my work day will be shot to smithereens whenever the Fed Ex guy shows up at my office with a brand spankin' new F5 from Andrew Mowry. That oughta brighten up the day.

  18. #18
    Ben Beran Dfyngravity's Avatar
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    I am currently playing a Red Diamond and a Mann 5 string electric. Soon to be on the waiting list of two small builders.....hopefully real soon.

  19. #19
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    Playing two mandos from custom builder Jon McClanahan. His "Via Dolorosa" and "Desending Dove" models. Incredible mandolins!
    Have "Merrill & Company's" #1 mandolin on order. Have every confidence it will be as great as their guitars!

  20. #20
    Registered User Brad Weiss's Avatar
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    Phoenix, Europa Neoclassical. Not a special order, but Rolfe Gerhardt is a "small builder"

  21. #21
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    playing a washburn, one custom being built, and two more that I am saving to purchase

  22. #22
    Registered Something good_ol_al_61's Avatar
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    Just read below my signature line....
    Al Henderson
    Jacksonville, FL

    "Only two kinds of people never make mistakes: Dead people and people that do nothing!" [Al's Dad]

    '81 Gibson F5L Fern, J Rowland
    '07 Arches A Style #11, "Hoss"

  23. #23
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    JLP, I hope your happy! The pictures of that amazing quilt set off my first case of MAS! I have yet to place an order with Mr. Mowry, but have had a few email discussions about a lefty black topped, blonde quilted A5. Lordy Lordy, only been playing the mando for about a month and MAS strikes! I'm going to try and time it just right so my mando will be done about the time I return home.
    "We are the music-makers,we are the dreamers of dreams"

  24. #24
    Registered User G. Fisher's Avatar
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    My Weber is my only mando not from a small builder. I have a Henderson on order and hope to have it in a month or so.



    “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

    My Mandos:
    1981 Lloyd LaPlant F5 #6
    2001 Lloyd LaPlant F5 #57
    2006 Lloyd LaPlant F5 #106
    2017 Boeh F5 #27
    2020 Boeh 2-point #31
    2012 Grey Eagle 2-point #57V

  25. #25
    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    Old Wave (Bill Bussmann) Solocomp JM in the oven; 4-string Jazz Mandola/Alto guitar.
    I'm surprised nobody's posted pictures in this thread, but I'll start:

    .
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    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

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