Duff A5 Review

**Don Grieser** · Mar-25-2012, 7:40pm

I received a Duff A5 a couple of weeks ago. Paul Duff had sent 2 to Gruhn and Mike Compton was gracious enough to go play them for me. He liked this one and Walter Carter at Gruhn like the one they still have there. I suspect they are both great.

Woods/Material
It has a wide grained red spruce top and birdseye maple back and sides that also has some curl to it. Just amazing wood. Duff's workmanship isn't Collings perfect, but it's very well made with a nice varnish finish. This one has small mando frets and a flat fretboard, with a slim Ellis-like neck profile. It's super easy to play and the setup is just right. The tuners are the new Stew Mac tuners and work well. James tailpiece and quality bridge. It came with a nice Aussie-made Presto fiberglass case. Really a quality case.

Tone
I recorded a couple videos using my Kodak Zi8, no other processing so you can get a sense of the tone. It seems to be a pretty accurate representation of its tone. I think it has one of the nicest high ends of any mandolins I've played. Tremendous midrange pop and low end too. The mandolin is very responsive--it can play sweet or you can dig in closer to the bridge and it'll give you that signature Monroe tone. Compton thought this one had a meaty tone--I think that description is a good one.

I'm really happy with everything about this mandolin. I had heard that Duff had reached a new level in his building in the past few years, and I'm very glad to have this beautiful A5 of his. I've bought and sold a lot of mandolins through the years; this one will be staying here for a long long time.

First video uses all the strings and goes up the neck. I'll try to post some still photos later.

**jjboone101** · Mar-25-2012, 8:20pm

Congrats Don. The Duff looks & sounds great. Paul has really got it going on. Enjoy!

**Mike Bunting** · Mar-26-2012, 12:35am

I'm trying to raise the money now!

**grassrootphilosopher** · Mar-26-2012, 6:00am

This is a nice review of a great builder´s mandolin. Enjoy your mandolin in good health.

**Rosemary Philips** · Mar-26-2012, 7:24am

Duffs are great mandolins--enjoy!

**mtucker** · Mar-26-2012, 2:38pm

Ooolala! he's got it going...meaty is good..I really like Paul's bursts, too... glad you decided on the 20's style frets and board after hearing from your hired 'field gun'

- my G-5 has a slim neck, flat board and small frets and i likes it A lot...maybe less tiring to play...sliding seemingly easier for an old geezer too, feels more like playing an old A, which is a good thing.

**Markus** · Mar-26-2012, 2:45pm

Thanks for the review.

I bet it sounds like a dream. Of all the mandolins around town here [Kimble, Stanley, Dude, etc] - the Duff is the one I like head and shoulders better than the others.

Someday .... thanks for the videos for the meantime.

**pjlama** · Mar-26-2012, 3:01pm

Very nice! When is the ABQ debut for this one? I have a nice Heiden you need to check out.

**robert.najlis** · Mar-26-2012, 3:47pm

wow, great! Thanks for sharing!
Thinking ahead (to the future...) Stanley and Duff come to mind. They both seem to have that old Loar sound. Though I can't say as though I am an expert at figuring that out from video clips (even though I try...).

**mtucker** · Mar-26-2012, 4:20pm

Originally Posted by pjlama

I have a nice Heiden you need to check out.

i already told him you were sitting on one of those rifles up there in them badlands...holed up on him...

**Don Grieser** · Mar-26-2012, 7:39pm

Thanks everyone. Duff's a great mandolin at a very fair price for the quality of tone you get.

PJ, next week is spring break. I'll be in touch if I'm heading to the big city. Can't believe you didn't let me know you have the Heiden.

mtucker, this is as close to my 5 as anything I've owned. So much fun to play. I think I saw those guys in the photo in Gallup last weekend.

Marcus, you must be talking about the orange Duff--that's the first one that really caught my ear.

**pjlama** · Mar-26-2012, 9:45pm

I didn't even know Gruhn had any Duffs. They're like that, there's the stuff on the site and the "special" stuff. I got a better listen to your new A5 and my gosh that's outstanding. I had an older F5 of his a while back and that simply smokes it, wow! I definetly need a personal tasting. We need to get that thing in my dome room for a full listen, I'll buy the beer. The Heiden is pretty darn good, you'll really enjoy it I'm sure, more of a cannon than a rifle

. Congrats again, I'm green with envy.

**Markus** · Mar-26-2012, 10:05pm

Don, that's the one. A picker that good sure makes it shine, too.

I don't know if the sound is Loar-like, I would just describe it 'how a mandolin should sound, if perfected'.

**sgarrity** · Mar-27-2012, 8:46pm

He is making some very nice stuff these days!!

**JeffD** · Mar-27-2012, 9:29pm

Don what a great sound. I love the tone. It sure comes across in the recording, and is impressive, even on my Cambridge Soundworks computer speakers.

Very impressive.

**pjlama** · Mar-27-2012, 9:43pm

[QUOTE=sgarrity;1037156]He is making some very nice stuff these days!!

So I guess it's safe to say the other Duff A5 is "Relaxing At Camarillo"? You guys are the type of people my mother warned me about.

**sgarrity** · Mar-28-2012, 12:49pm

When I was at Gruhn's last Sep. playing some Gils and talking to Christy, she told me she had two A5s on order. I kept checking the site every month or so and finally saw one. I posted something about it on FB and then Don responded with a pic of the one that Compton had picked out for him. I thought it over for a few days and then Don posted the Spring Creek Gals video. That did it for me! The player obviously has a major influence on the tone of a mandolin but you could tell that was one fine A5. I was on the phone to Gruhns first thing Monday morning and had it in my hands yesterday.

I echo everything Don said above. There are a few things I might do differently if I had ordered it but they are minor. And as Don mentioned if you're looking specifically for flawless fit and finish like Collings and Ellis, the Duff won't have that. But keep in mind they are built by hand by one person. What I'm most impressed with is the tone. I have a great "modern" sounding mandolin with my Heiden A5. The Duff really was that more mid-rangey, traditional tone with trebles that'll cut glass. I took it to a jam last night with two D-28s, THREE banjos, two dobros, a fiddler, and another mando picker on a Gibson F5G. I usually can barely hear myself at that jam and others can't hear me. Last night they heard me loud and clear!

I know it's probably common to compare Duff to Gilchrist because they're both from AUS and both build great traditional mandolins. But the similarities continue to grow as Paul continues to refine his craft. The mandolins of his I've played over the last couple of years have all been impressive!

**Oggy** · Mar-28-2012, 1:02pm

Congrats guys! Nice sounding and looking Duffs!

**pjlama** · Mar-28-2012, 1:14pm

So you're saying a Heiden and Duff are worthy compliments to one another?

I need to try Don's for myself. Spring Break Don lot's to do in ABQ

**mtucker** · Mar-28-2012, 1:36pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

He is making some very nice stuff these days!!

yet, more gold rush...Mr Duff and Donal ..grinning from ear to ear and really enjoying the southern cooking, as nathan serves up some first quality hospitality... snap....boing...

cheers to the new shooters ..errr...cannons!

**Mike Bunting** · Mar-28-2012, 2:29pm

I gotta get off my duff and start saving for one. The price on his webpage says that it includes shipping (I hope that I didn't misread that!)

**robert.najlis** · Mar-28-2012, 5:10pm

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

I gotta get off my duff and start saving for one. The price on his webpage says that it includes shipping (I hope that I didn't misread that!)

I read shipping included as well.

Just curious, would this be in addition to, or instead of your Stanley? I ask because both are builders that I am considering.

**Perry** · Mar-28-2012, 5:29pm

Congrats to both of you....Don and Shaun....

Those "A"'s are sounding mighty fine. I just love a good A model.

The tone reminds me a little of my 2011 Kimble A....dry in a good way....

I find my Kimble to fit in real nice with a band....has it's place in the mix

My Gil 5 is a much different sound then the Duffs or Kimble...bigger wetter deeper but that does not make it better just different

**Mike Bunting** · Mar-28-2012, 7:25pm

Originally Posted by robert.najlis

I read shipping included as well.

Just curious, would this be in addition to, or instead of your Stanley? I ask because both are builders that I am considering.

In addition to. -) ! No logic here, I just really like Paul's work. I'd be looking at an A with f holes cause I don't have one.