Black #6

**pjlama** · Aug-20-2010, 9:01am

Wow, very nice, great job!

**benjam** · Oct-08-2010, 9:27am

Wow. Very nice.

Heart-ache!

**Pete Summers** · Oct-08-2010, 9:37am

Sensational. I'm dying of envy.

**nobullmando74** · Oct-08-2010, 10:15am

Very Nice. Sounds Great.

**Avi Ziv** · Oct-09-2010, 11:54am

Outstanding!

**Denny Gies** · Oct-09-2010, 12:38pm

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

**John Gardinsky** · Oct-09-2010, 12:40pm

Sharp work there.

**Mike Black** · Oct-27-2010, 9:27pm

I had someone asking for more pictures so I figured that I'd post them here too.

**Jill McAuley** · Oct-27-2010, 9:38pm

What a beauty!

Cheers,
Jill

**Mike Black** · Oct-27-2010, 9:58pm

Thanks Jill & everyone else for their kind comments. I enjoy playing it as much as I can while I still have it.

**Eric Hanson** · Oct-27-2010, 10:07pm

That is gorgeous! I really like the three piece neck and how it works so well with the flame on the neck.
I now have the worst MAS I have had in some time.
Congrats on such a beautiful build.

**GKWilson** · Dec-11-2010, 12:52am

This IS a gorgeous OM. But, Mike doesn't get to play it anymore. I do.
I've had it for 4 days and my fingers are raw. [who needs sleep?]
She sounds better than she looks and plays like 'butta'.
I would like to thank all of you who thought they might want her and hesitated.
And Mike for making her. I don't see needing another OM in this lifetime.
But, I might need a Black A5 in my future.
Gary
[I have no monetary interest in Mike Black Mandolins. Just an interest in quality mandolins.]

**Brent Hutto** · Dec-11-2010, 5:32am

Gary,

Congrats. I grabbed the #5 A5 a few weeks ago. Happy, happy.

What kind of music are you mostly into? Based on Mike's sample clips, I like the fact that #6 isn't as clattery/clangy sounding as some of the OM's used in traditional Irish and Scottish music. I would think it might work well for a wide variety of styles with such a clear voice and full tone.

**Skip Kelley** · Dec-11-2010, 5:43am

Gary, congratulations! That would be fun to play! Nice job, Mike!!

**GKWilson** · Dec-11-2010, 3:11pm

Thanks Skip. I am having fun. It's my first [and probably last] OM, and I'm busy retraining fingers. My little finger is about worn out.
Speaking of nice mando's. I wouldn't mind being 'stuck' with one of yours someday. I live on the wrong Ocean so I haven't seen one in person. But the ones I've seen via the net are awsome. The sound from them is KILLER.

Hi Brent, I like most music. I'll be playing Blues, Traditional, Folk, Old Time, and some Irish. The sound on this little beauty is amazing.
If you pick it back towards the bridge you get that more traditional 'zouk' sound [without the clatter]. By the time you work your way up to the fret board it's so mellow you could fall asleep while playing it.
Glad you like your A5 too. That's a beautiful looking and sounding mando. I was 'eyeballing' it also. But, a guy can only do so much. Mike is such a good guy. I think he is going to be very busy as word gets out about his mandolins.
Gary

**hank** · Dec-11-2010, 4:42pm

Congratulations Gary. I really like the body shape and ornamentation Mike used. I think a shrunk down version for a mandola would be my dream build.

**Mike Snyder** · Dec-11-2010, 5:43pm

Mike, how are those juniors coming?

**Mike Black** · Dec-11-2010, 9:09pm

Originally Posted by Mike Snyder

Mike, how are those juniors coming?

They are going to be A4's, and one is already spoken for. I fitted the dovetail on that one tonight.

The other could easily become an A1.

**NG53** · Mar-18-2012, 10:31pm

Hi Mike,

Thanks for posting the sound clip. Quite frankfully, I can't place the sound of your Zoom H2 guitar-bodied bouzouki? I have two traditional tear drop shaped bouzoukis and they don't sound anything like you beautifully sculptured work of art.

Nic

Stuart 2010 flat-topped celtic mandolin
Burgin 2011 archtopped bouzouki
Gallacher flat-topped octave mandolin

**Bill Snyder** · Mar-19-2012, 12:19am

NG53 this is what a Zoom H2 looks like.

Click image for larger version.

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FWIW, as noted in an earlier post Mike's instrument is an Octave Mandolin with a 21.5" scale length. Besides shape if your bouzoukis have a longer scale length (25 + inches) or have oval holes that could explain some of the difference,