Davis mandolins

[b.pat]

Can anyone out there clearify the different Davis mandolins?
B.W.[Bill] Davis
Ted Davis
Buddy Davis
Olin Davis
Betty Davis
Davis Love
Oh well you get the point.
Any thing you could tell about quality, price, and overall reputation will be greatly appreciated.
This is a test,let's see what you got.
# # #Thanks, # # B.Pat

[Ted Eschliman]

I think you missed in your list, the ever talented, Sammy Davis' "Junior."

<shows his age...>

[JD Cowles]

i'll throw in a shameless plug for Bill W Davis' mandos. i have an F5 he built in 2001 thats a cannon. i'm sure the last three years have only made him a better builder. i can't vouch for the other davis' out there. BTW i have no financial or personal intrest in BWD's affairs, i just love the mando he built me.

jd

[rose#1]

Buddy Davis Builds out of Va. he has almost 40 years of building experience. he builds some of teh best sounding mandos around. he is very well known by bluegrass musicians and has some of the top mando pickers on the east coast playing his mandos his price is around 3 grand. he was kind of a staple with bluegrass bands in the D.C. area and has played in bands with such artist from Frank Wakefield to Charle Smith(former Monroe Bluegrass Boy), he is definatly from the old school of building and is phenominal at graduating a top and back. in a few words his mandos are killer. not to mention he is my mentor.

Darby

[Mandobar]

chris thile has a mando that he uses as a backup that was made by ted davis. #i also heard that dave smith who makes smith creek mandos was his apprentice. #


currently matt flinner is selling his ted davis which he won at winfield in 1991. #she's a beauty with a birds eye maple back.

Darby....$3K is still a "very good" price from a builder of such acclaim and by the looks of it Mr. Davis is a pretty fair teacher as well.

[rose#1]

it is a very good price! That is what I mean by he's old school, he is not into marketing himself he lets his instruments do all the talking for him. he used to carve the tops and backs all by hand no duplicator or any thing just free hand which still amazes me. thats passion! us youngn's are just spoiled I guess

[Jim M.]

And Olin Davis makes Rattlesnake mandos. Very traditional, Loar-style and good-sounding instruments

http://www.rattlesnakemandolins.com/

[pickinNgrinnin]

Bill Davis - the Kansas guy. I've had the chance to play 2 of his F style Mandolins at Mass Street Music, in Lawrence, KS.

Wow! I'm still dreaming about them. Great tone - perhaps the best in the store and they had a bunch of Mandolins (Gibson's, Flatiron's, Summit's, Weber's, Collings') in stock last time I was there. Fit and finish is incredible.

Check him out

[b.pat]

Thanks, EVERY ONE
Great information. These Davis guys seem to all have a following.
BUT what about the "Betty Davis"?
BTW the Ted Davis that Matt Flinner had listed has sold.
I guess you snooz you lose. I talked with Matt [notice the first name basis] this morning, and got the bad news. Man but what a nice guy.
Thanks all, B.Pat

[Karen Kay]

We have Billy's # 7. Gets better every day. Bette Davis has strange eyes, I've heard.
Us

[MEP]

I agree with PickinNgrinnin about the B.W.[Bill] Davis mandolins at Mass Street. #I gave very serious consideration to the serial #16 (I liked it best of the two F models and it is still available) #I bought a Collings MF5 instead. #There is also a very nice sounding plain jane Davis A-model at Mass Street. #Think Mid-Missouri on steriods. #

check them out at Mass Street Music

[Willie]

The last time I seen Larry Stephenson he was playing a Buddy Davis mando and it don`t take a back seat to any that I have heard...Good huntin`...You forgot Glenn Davis, some of you oldies will remember him I`m sure....Willie

Yeah Larry Stephonson plays a buddy Davis. ITs a goodun

[rose#1]

I agree Larry's is one heck of a mando deep dark and woody, it is up there with the best. I have had the oppertunity to check it out many a times and it is sweeeet.

Darby