SF Bay Area CBOM Get-together?

**EdSherry** · Apr-15-2006, 11:08pm

I've read the post about a Philadelphia-area CBOM get-together to bring instruments to drool over and share info. Any interest in doing something similar in the SF Bay Area?
I have a bunch of lovely toys (Sobell cittern, Gerald Adams cittern, Pedersen OMs and zouk, two Flatiron OMs, Fylde cittern, LarkInTheMorning / Sweet cittern and OM, Dave Melly hybrid OM/guitar, etc., etc.) that I'd be happy to bring to share. (As you might surmise, I have a very BAD case of OMAS!)
Please let me know if you're interested.

**Jim M.** · Apr-16-2006, 12:29pm

I'd be interested. Roger Landes was talking about doing some kind of workshop in the Bay Area. It would be great if we could do the workshop and the CBOM get-together at the same time.

**SternART** · Apr-16-2006, 2:14pm

I hope I'm still welcome at this Bay Area gathering........my mando family instruments are possibly too small. Mando & dola...so far anyway.

**cbobgo** · Apr-16-2006, 8:38pm

I'm a few hours away, but I would be interested in coming down.

In fact, I will be down next weekend for the mandolin festival: http://www.croatianamericanweb.org/e...x.html#mando06

- bob

**Jeff Baldwin** · Apr-16-2006, 10:26pm

would be interested...Id be there with great interest ...and my collings mando.

OM is something I am attracted to...dont have one yet
I would definately be interested...I live in San Jose...

Jeff

**otterly2k** · Apr-17-2006, 10:19am

Great idea, Ed! I only wish you could bring your collection to our gathering in Philly.... !

(and I suggest special dispensation for SternART's mando and dola!!)
KE

**Dan Eaton** · Apr-23-2006, 5:16pm

Count me in. #I'm in the East Bay, and I could bring my 2 Petersens and my Freshwater.

**Jim M.** · May-03-2006, 5:35pm

Well, this thread went into hibernation. Let's get it moving again. The good weather has arrived. Shall we try to find an outside venue to do this?

**Paul Kotapish** · May-03-2006, 7:28pm

Sounds like fun, Ed. Keep us posted. I still have the OM/bouzouki Rich Westerman made for me back in 1978, and it would be fun to have an excuse to dust it off and put some new strings on it.

What kind of venue did you have in mind?

**EdSherry** · May-03-2006, 8:16pm

I live in Berkeley, which seems reasonably central (judging by the responses that have been posted). #

I play most Sunday nights at the Irish session at the Starry Plough on Shattuck just south of Ashby in Berkeley. #I'm pretty sure I can talk the owners into letting us use the place before that session for the CBOM get-together (say, some Sunday starting at 5-ish and running until about 7:30, with the regular Irish session starting at 8). #

My reasoning is: #(a) it's a public place, (b) with lots of beers on tap and pretty good pub grub, and © people can stick around for the regular Sunday session if they want.

I'm open to other suggestions for venues or times.

**berkeleymando** · May-05-2006, 2:33pm

Ed, I live in Berkeley too and would be happy if the event was at the Starry Plough. I don't have an OM but I could bring my Arches F4. And I'd really enjoy seeing the OMs that other people have...thinking of getting one.

**EdSherry** · May-20-2006, 7:21pm

I've talked to the management at the Starry Plough in Berkeley, and they seem amenable to having us get together there on a Sunday afternoon. #

Jim M., do you have any indication as to whether/if Roger Landes might be out in the Bay Area? #Or how I might contact him? #I agree that it would be nice to schedule the OM get-together in conjunction with a workshop/master class, but I don't know what his availability is.

All are welcome, whether or not you currently have a CBOM or are "just looking." #I will bring a bunch of my CBOMs (though probably not all due to space limitations), and request that others bring their toys.

At this point, I anticipate that the get-together will invole a lot of "yakking" about different instruments, with hopefully some playing (to see how they sound and work in a session context). #

As I mentioned earlier, the Starry Plough has a regular Irish/Celtic session starting at 8 PM on Sunday nights. #It's a traditional full-speed ("take no prisoners") session, but all are welcome to attend. #We play tunes for about 45 minutes, and then take a break for singers for about 15 minutes, before starting up with tunes again. #If you want to sing, let me know. #

Lewis Santer (a local luthier and excellent zouk player) has said he wants to attend and bring his newly-designed OM to get feedback.

I still need to schedule a particular Sunday. #Please let me know what works for you, and I'll do my best to try to accomodate your feedback. #Post here or e-mail me at Ed_Sherry@lecg.com. #

As an added incentive, I'll spring for the first couple of pitchers of beer. #Thanks in advance.

**Gerry Cassidy** · May-21-2006, 12:23am

Make sure to block out at least 2 hours for Rogers workshop. He was here last week. The workshop was Harmony and Accompaniment. We used up 2 hours and could have used a couple more.

Definitely filled a couple voids for me and left me with plenty enough food for thought...and practice!

If all else fails you can contact him through his website.

**Jim M.** · May-21-2006, 3:14pm

Roger posts to the Cafe as "zoukboy". You can PM to him through the Cafe. Here is other info:

rwlandes@taosnet.com
http://rogerlandes.com

Let me know what I can do to help.

**zoukboy** · May-22-2006, 5:17pm

Originally Posted by (EdSherry @ May 20 2006, 20:21)

Jim M., do you have any indication as to whether/if Roger Landes might be out in the Bay Area? Or how I might contact him? I agree that it would be nice to schedule the OM get-together in conjunction with a workshop/master class, but I don't know what his availability is.

My ears were burnin' ;-)

You can reach me at: rwlandes@taosnet.com

**EdSherry** · May-25-2006, 1:58am

Thanks, everyone. #I've contacted Roger Landes and will keep you posted on developments. #-- Ed

**EdSherry** · May-26-2006, 6:19pm

I heard from Roger Landes. He's trying to arrange a trip to the Bay Area (some lessons, a house concert, a gig at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, etc.), but doesn't have a date yet. I'll keep you posted.

**twombo** · Jun-01-2006, 6:09pm

I played Lewis Santers' OM at Strawberry last week.. in a word, LOVELY! Really a wonderful instrument. The sound is just tops and the neck is so sensuously slim and comfortable. It just rings forever!! Lewis is a terrific player to boot!

Michael Lewis also had a prototype of his latest archtop OM in the 23.5 inch scale. It too got a lot of attention at Strawberry. Since I had a hand in it, I won't get into promotion, but it's a great thrill to hear the first music an instrument makes, especially if one has had a hand in the creation.

Both instruments got played very thoroughly by many, many players and it was a great thrill to hear such talented players wring them out so thoroughly.

Mike

**twombo** · Jun-01-2006, 6:15pm

Hey EdSherry,

Are you the superb OM player that I met at Grass Valley last June playing Michael Lewis' walnut and spruce 20" scale OM? Stop by the luthier pavilion this year and play the 23.5" version. I would love to hear the comparison.

Mike

**EdSherry** · Jun-01-2006, 7:47pm

Yes, I was playing Michael Lewis's prototype OM at Grass Valley last year. "Superb" I don't know about. I have fun and try to get by, but thanks for the compliment. I look forward to hearing Michael's new instrument.

I talked to Lewis Santer yesterday, and he said that he enjoyed hearing his instrument next to Michael Lewis' one at Strawberry. Different sounds, but complementary to one another.

**twombo** · Jun-06-2006, 12:03pm

I thought that was you, Ed. I really enjoy your playing, the pleasure is all mine. Your modesty precedes you.

I 'll see you in a couple of weeks at Grass Valley

Lewis and Bill put on a little display of OM picking late Friday nite at Strawberry and it was VERY impressive.

Later

Mike

**EdSherry** · Nov-07-2010, 4:13pm

I realize it's been WAY too long since I originally suggested this, but things got hectic, and it slipped off my radar screen. I figured I'd check in and see if there's still any interest.

FYI, I've acquired some other nice new (to me) toys to share since the last posting.

Possibilities: (a) congregate at my house in Berkeley or (b) get together at the Starry Plough in Berkeley some Sunday late afternoon/early evening, before the Irish session (which runs from 8:30 to 11 or so). I'll even buy the first pitcher of Guinness.

Please let me know if there's interest. Thanks in advance.

**Jill McAuley** · Nov-07-2010, 5:36pm

I don't have any CBOM instruments to contribute but I'd love to come and drool!

Cheers,
Jill

**Jim M.** · Nov-07-2010, 6:24pm

Sounds like fun, though I'm rusty as heck. I can bring a rusty old national tenor along with my OM's if anyone's interested. I just realized this was proposed 4 years ago. Well, short enough in geologic time.

**Marcus CA** · Nov-08-2010, 12:03am

I would definitely be interested! I can bring a Peterson OM and a Weber Gallatin mandocello. I haven't played either one in a couple of months, so this would be great motivation to get back to them.