Mando acquisition or skill acquisition

[Woody Turner]

Let's say a wealthy, long-lost relative turns up and offers to advance your musical "career," whatever that would mean. You are given only three options, however, for spending your gift: (1) purchase of another mando family instrument, (2) replacement/upgrade of (one of) your present instrument(s), or (3) one-on-one biweekly lessons with David Grisman (or Mike Marshall, Carlo Aonzo, or your favorite mando icon) at a nearby college, where he/she is in residence for 2 years. If you chose lessons, Grisman (or whoever) would give you homework for each session and require you to play solo in recital every 6 months. How would you spend your dollars?

[JHo]

I'd spend it on the time with the player of my choice for sure. My mandolins are fine and one is quite extraordinary really, I don't need another or a fancier one at this point, but to learn to make better use of them over a fairly long term with the player of my choice would be priceless. Then again, just having the time to set aside to do that would be priceless in itself.

[man dough nollij]

I'd squander it on gear, of course. Taking mando lessons from David Grisman would be like hiring Garry Kasparov to teach me checkers, or Albert Einstein to teach me to balance my checkbook. Or Lance Armstrong for tricycle lessons, or Julia Childs to nuke a frozen burrito, or...

[Denny Gies]

I'd go for the lessons with an idol.

[MLT]

No question about it I would take the lessons.

[Tom Sanderson]

After playing junk for 15 years or so, I bought my first Nugget in 1992. My playing improved dramatically. The Nugget was such an improvement, it was almost like it would play itself. It felt so good to play, it made sounds that I didn't know mandolins could make, I couldn't put it down (still can't). Owning a great instrument is way better than personal lessons with a star, besides, most of those guys have videos out. I'd go with the better mando.

[Alex Fields]

Lessons. I already have a wonderful high end instrument, else I would have to give it more thought.

I do really want one of those Gilchrist model 1s though...

[MandoSquirrel]

After spending over 30 years trying to learn mandolin, I'd take lessons regardless of my instrument possession. No amount of instrument will replace objective evaluation & advise from a qualified professional with teaching experience.
Fortunately, I have a mandolin that's good enough for now; when I'm ready to move on, I'll save & sell/trade to afford it.

PS; I doubt $2500 would get anything That much better than my Cascade, anyway !

[Joel Spaulding]

Lessons as described in the OP.

Fine mandos will always be with us. Those with the special gift are far more fleeting

[Doug Hoople]

I'd squander it on gear, of course. Taking mando lessons from David Grisman would be like hiring Garry Kasparov to teach me checkers, or Albert Einstein to teach me to balance my checkbook. Or Lance Armstrong for tricycle lessons, or Julia Childs to nuke a frozen burrito, or...

I'd put Julia through the exercise... it'd be a hoot!

[Stephen Perry]

I think I'd lie and spend it on bicycle stuff. If I had to, master classes in classical guitar. Or advanced luthiery stuff for violins.

I could just drink it over a couple of years. That's pretty musical!

[JEStanek]

Idealist answer... lessons. Realistic answer... gear.

I rather doubt Julia Childs would do well in classes. Julia Child (August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004)

Jamie

[mrmando]

I would choose the lessons, seriously ... but I consider that I have more to show a teacher than he has to show me. All he can show me is how to do it right, whereas I can show him an infinite number of ways to do it wrong!

I may soon be able to put 4 or 5 fairly good mandolins on the block and hope that I can get 1 really great one in exchange. We'll see.

[birdman98]

Lessons!

[mandolirius]

<I'd go with the better mando.>

You have a Nugget. What would you consider a better mandolin?

[Doug Hoople]

Idealist answer... lessons. #Realistic answer... gear.

I rather doubt Julia Childs would do well in classes. Julia Child (August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004)

True enough, but if she were still around and had to teach us how to nuke a frozen burrito, you can be pretty sure she'd have us in tears

[Tim2723]

Lessons absolutely. They keep making wonderful mandolins, but brilliant teachers are gone before they should be. I had friends who were given the choice to see Eubie Blake (then in his 90's I believe) or Cats (then in it's umpteenth season). They chose Cats. Eubie left us a few weeks later.

[JEStanek]

Agreed. Class act. My favorite spoof of her was a SNL skit with the sherry, a turkey, a knife and arterial spray. #I remember her from PBS and my youth.

On an off topic but related note, if I had to choose between lessons from say, three of my favs for instruction- Grisman or Marshall, Child, or Robert Mapplethorpe I would be very hard pressed to choose (assuming the latter two weren't dead).

For $2500 I could get one of those Eastman Giacomel copies or even better a Bacon Artist copy, a Vega Cylinderback maybe... An Old Wave or Hester or vintage Gibson (perhaps used perhaps new). #Realistic answer is still probably MAS fueled.

Jamie

[emitfo]

It depends. In your title you say $2500 and if that's the limit then the lessons it would be. My initial knee-jerk reaction, being experientially oriented was the lessons but as I thought about it and looked at the prices of Loars it occurred to me that were I to get my hands on a rare, coveted Lloyd Loar model that is worth $200k (or more) I've have to go with that. I don't know other folks situation but I could live pretty darn long on $200k without having a job. That means I could do a whole heck of a lot of mandolin playing! And as much as Grisman/Thile etc would be able to teach me (after I got over the deep depression brought on by hearing them 1 on 1 and realizing I don't have that much talent!) I'd still need to play and if I had an "extra" 40+ hours each week to play I'm thinking I could get a whole heck of a lot better

[allenhopkins]

Let's see...I dunno...I mean, what's the use of multiple mandolins...

Would take me .001 second to decide to go out and buy some other attractive li'l eight-stringed cutie. Honestly, I don't want to play like some "icon"; probably don't have the talent, drive or learning skills to benefit to the extent that warrants that kind of expenditure. And, at age 64, my "music career" is pretty much what I'm doing now.

But I'm crazy about all the different kinds of stringed instruments that are out there, and as someone who in the past couple years has picked up a Regal Octofone, a National Havana wood-bodied resonator guitar, and an Eastman 805 mandocello, I'd put that $2.5K to good and immediate use at Bernunzio's, Stutzman's, or some other dealer.

[Brandon Flynn]

As much as I want a new mando, lesson's for sure. You can always make money.

[Woody Turner]

So far, we've got 11 for lessons, 4 for gear, and 1 for bicycles and booze (however tempting, outside the contract). Given the juggernaut of MAS, I'm a bit taken aback.

[mandroid]

Music Education may increase your performance revenues, and make the new mandolin a deduction on future earnings.

then again going out to festivals will have the fuel tank absorb that, but you will learn something there, from your mates.

[old9600]

You have hit on my grip with musicians and I am as guilty as the next person. There is too much attention and money spent on instruments and not enough on improving skills.

[GDAE]

Lessons. I'd rather play well on a lesser mandolin, than play not so well on a great one.

I guess that I think it's more in the playing than in the instrument. I figure Grisman or whoever could teach me to make my mandolin sound its best, but without lessons, I couldn't make a great mandolin sound its best.