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Thread: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

  1. #26
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Yankees1,

    No harm done. Often new players will ask, "Who is the best mandolin player right now" or "Who is the best of all time." Those questions are not answerable because of their subjective nature, but they really get us fired up. A celebrity death match with Ricky Skaggs vs Chris Thile would be epic if broadcast on the Cafe...don't worry, you'll understand soon enough . What they really want to ask is, "Who are some good players I should be listening to?"

    I don't take offense to your question at all...I think the list of names Shaun threw out is a good one to get you started as far as looking into potential purchases ( )...add to it Giacomel, and also add to it some posters on here (Skip Kelly, Bulldog, Copperhead) who I've been told "Make mandolins that'll bark as good or better'n any Gibson out there" by some local players, or James Corino out of Asheville, who makes uniquely styled mandos (The Cricket, for one). And I love the Clark 2-pt featured on the homepage of Jazzmando.com.

    MOST on here would agree the "gold standard" for bluegrass is Gibson's Loar era mandos, though not everyone prefers their tone or playability to modern builders, and those who've played/owned several will also tell you that not all of those were the gems we'd like to think they were. I have not had the pleasure, though I have heard one live, and it was spectacular...Those who disagree are often flogged to death with "What did Bill Monroe play?"

    I think reputation-wise you'd be hard pressed to find a modern builder with more respect (at least in US bluegrass circles) than Dudenbostal or Gilchrist. That doesn't mean there aren't those that may build mandos as good or perhaps better, particularly when you consider all of the different styles of mandos available, but they're able to charge a premium for their work because they've built a reputation for producing top notch instruments.

    Welcome to the cafe, and I hope the Yanks close it out Saturday...I'm about ready to squash that darn rally monkey!!
    Chuck

  2. #27
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    "This thread screams controversy..." No it doesn't. Controversy would be to ask for the worst!

    "there is nothing essentially "wrong" with the question as stated." Thanks. I wish that were written after nearly every question.

    The civil response would be to simply answer.

    Randy Wood. John Paganoni. Many others, some no one has heard of. But, those 2 should at least be mentioned.

    Sim Daley's are not the high dollar, but the ones I've played are super.

    Bob
    re simmers

  3. #28
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Did I miss mention of Michael Heiden and Lawrence Smart........

  4. #29

    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Quote Originally Posted by SternART View Post
    Did I miss mention of Michael Heiden and Lawrence Smart........
    My thoughts exactly Art, and how about adding Doug Woodley to that list? The number of Doug's instruments isn't very large but the quality and variety of his work is/was very impressive. Maybe Bob Givens deserves some consideration as well. I'm just thinking..........

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

  5. #30
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Heiden was mentioned in the third post of the thread. I'm slightly biased when it comes to Heidens! Smart, Givens and Woodley would be on the list too. See how many really good manolin builders there are? When I said a lot, I meant A LOT!

  6. #31
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Hutto?
    re simmers

  7. #32

    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Chris Stanley. Is the list long enough now?

  8. #33
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    To Yankees1, get thee to the Mandolin Brothers Store and try a bunch of their inventory ..

    You may walk out the door with just the right one for you , that day, or at least know more
    about the variety of sounds that come out of them.

    Then again Peter Mix's Carbon Fiber F5 is a unique instrument, and very top notch.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  9. #34
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Gilchrist.

    Will Kimble
    www.kimblemandolins.com

  10. #35
    plectrist Ryk Loske's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Haven't seen these names yet: Montelone, Langdell and Brentrup.

    And i have to agree that for those of us playing fretted instruments we are indeed living in a Golden Age.

    Ryk
    mandolin ~ guitar ~ banjo

    "I'm convinced that playing well is not so much a technique as it is a decision. It's a commitment to do the work, strive for concentration, get strategic about advancing by steps, and push patiently forward toward the goal." Dan Crary

  11. #36
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Quote Originally Posted by sgarrity View Post
    Gilchrist is somewhere around the 650 mark, give or take a few, and his quality is undeniable. But you can get on his list for a 2010 delivery.......
    The decision's easy, sgarrity!



    A different place, a different time, a different dimension.

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    the Gil MAS Zone!!!

  12. #37
    Cluster Plucker Scott Crabtree's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Weins
    Apitius

  13. #38
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    If I won the lottery, I'd have Dave Cohen build me a mandolin. Simple as that! Sure, there are other builders out there and he may not be the most famous, I just really like his approach to building and innovation. Every one of his mandolins that I've played are great! It's just that he's only built 40 or 50 mandolins, so the numbers are not out there to get quite the same buzz. Also, he's not catering to the bluegrass market. That said, I'd be quite happy noodling over fiddle tunes on a Cohen A-model. And, if the lottery money was great enough, I'd get one in f- and oval-hole configuration!

    I like the other guys to, but gotta to support the local boy, eh?

    f-d

    p.s., got to ask the OP what is meant by "modern mandolin maker?" Is this a maker of "modern" mandolins or a "modern maker" of mandolins? I'd say anybody striving to replicate the tubby sound of an old Gibson A4 or the precussion of a Loar wouldn't be "modern."
    Last edited by fatt-dad; Oct-23-2009 at 3:23pm. Reason: my p.s.
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  14. #39
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Quote Originally Posted by mtucker View Post
    The decision's easy, sgarrity!
    the Gil MAS Zone!!!

    You have no idea the will power it's taking not to get on that list!! If they were about a grand cheaper I'd be hooked like a trophy bass.

  15. #40
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryk View Post
    Haven't seen these names yet: Montelone, Langdell and Brentrup.

    And i have to agree that for those of us playing fretted instruments we are indeed living in a Golden Age.

    Ryk
    Brentrup was in post number 3.

  16. #41

    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    If Will Kimble says Gilchrist, then Gilchrist it is.

  17. #42
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    So far we have:

    Gilchrist
    Dudenbostel
    Nugget
    Monteleone
    Heiden
    Kimble
    Brentrup
    Ellis
    Red Diamond
    Mowry
    Phoenix
    Collings
    Hamlett
    Gibson
    Sumi
    Clark
    Sobell
    Giacomel
    Kelley
    Bulldog
    Copperhead
    Condino
    Wood
    Paganoni
    Daley
    Smart
    Woodley
    Givens
    Hutto
    Stanley
    Weber
    Mix
    Cohen
    Langdell
    Weins
    Apitius
    and.......

  18. #43
    Registered User Elliot Luber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    That's a pretty good list. I'd be honored to play any one of those. Now where's that lottery ticket?

  19. #44
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Dale Ludwig
    Linksmaker

  20. #45
    Registered User Woody Turner's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Other notables:

    Fletcher Brock
    Brian Dean
    Gail Hester
    Mario Proulx
    David
    Clocks make no alliances.

  21. #46
    Cluster Plucker Scott Crabtree's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Gerald Anderson

  22. #47
    Registered User 45ACP-GDLF5's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    According to the Builders list here, there are 476 builders here in the US, that we know of. No telling what the number is worldwide.

    Of course, if it wasn't for the Gibson Co. and Lloyd Loar, there wouldn't be so many F-5 builders out there today.
    Molon Labe

  23. #48
    Cluster Plucker Scott Crabtree's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Now the question should be out of that list what would you choose to pick? This thread has now transformed itself somehow back to the original post. Job well done! If I had to choose, I would have to go with a Nugget or a Weins.

  24. #49
    Registered User fishdawg40's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    Quote Originally Posted by Will Kimble View Post
    Gilchrist.

    Will Kimble
    www.kimblemandolins.com
    Even though I've never played a Gil, in my mind he is the top independent builder. And like the above quote, I'm guessing a lot of other top mandolin builders think he's top dog as well. Just for the fact of output, quality, prestige, and professionals who use them. That's just a guess though.

  25. #50
    Registered User Bill Bradshaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: Top Modern Mandolin Maker

    It probably goes without saying, but I feel compelled to say it anyway. Lou Stiver.

    Cheers,

    Bill

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