Compton and Long in Stayton

[Clyde Clevenger]

The boys are using this tour to get their chops down for a recording next week. Seems to me they've got it. Mike played the new F-4 about a third of the time, different from the 5, a little brighter, just as loud. Mike said he still isn't sure what he's going to use it for, but he likes it. Said he played it in a bluegrass setting last week and i t held up just fine. I took a bunch of pictures and all the F-5 pictures came out great, the F-4 pictures were all out of focus, or bad exposures. Hearing the two Gilchrest's together was a real treat, or course either of these guys could make a two by four sound good. After the show Mike hands me his F-5 and says, "here Clyde, piick me a tune" My brain immediately turned to mush and I felt like I was wearing mittens. I hate it when that happens. the fog finally cleared enough that I could play a couple of tunes with Mike on both mandolins. The F-4 really seemed to want to play Celtic tunes in my hands. Both great mandolins, wish I had the problem of deciding which to play for what.

[Fuzzyway]

clyde,

Sounded to me like you must have taken the mittens off your hands when you played "old french" on the F4. Beautiful instrument, that one...

Fuzzy

[johnhgayjr]

They came through Memphis in July - really enjoyed the show. I was disappointed with the turn out. I think most of the bluegrass mandolin players in town were there but few others - maybe about 20 people?? It was on a Monday night.

I'm a big fan of Mike and David Long is just about a 1/2 step behind interms of his playing.

Mike and David both were handing out mandolins and guitars during their break and after the show. Mike had a really cool mid-thirties Gibson guitar in addition to his Gil's and David had a Gilchrist and a Gibson I believe.

I've been in a couple of workshops with Mike previously - really great teacher of the Monroe/drivin'/bluesy style.

John Gay
Memphis

[Clyde Clevenger]

I forgot to mention, there were 43 at the show last night, most of them not mandolin players. A great turnout for a weeknight show in a small town. I know they hand instruments out for others to play all the time, but I'm still going to feel "special" for a couple of days by golly.

[Mando Medic]

It was a great show! The Gibson guitar was a 31-32' L-1 with pretty low action and a great oldtimey/blues tone. I just love mahogany. David sure has come a long way as a mandolin player in the past year. Clyde you picked a pretty good mandolin yourself. Those of you who haven't seen them on the west coast yet, you better check the schedules and go see them. You will be completely entertained. Kenc

[jasona]

Been thinking of catching them on Dec. 10th. This might push me over the edge

[goose 2]

I saw them in Wichita Falls this summer. That was an eight hour round trip drive for me and worth every mile on the road. I bought David's cd which I like a lot. I got to play their F-5s and the F-4. David's mandolin is red topped with x bracing and Mike's is red topped with tone bars. I agree with Ken, perhaps the coolest instrument on the stage was Mike's old Gibson guitar. Fabulous show. I drove with a non-bluegrasser who was blown away by the uniqueness and quality of the music and, yep, he is now a bluegrasser.

[sailaway]

Hey guys, don't miss any chance ya get to see these 2, or to take one of their workshops. IMHO Mike Compton and Dave Long are new masters of the Mon's style. David Long is from around the Pgh. PA area and is a fine mando player and a nice human being in the bargain who still shows up unannounced at the local jams . Their latest CD, Compton and Long's 'Midnite to Memphis' is good listening.