Big Muddy M-3 Deluxe

**Dave Weiss** · May-21-2012, 10:27pm

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This is my new Big Muddy M-3.
Claro walnut back and sides, cedar top, Grover Golden Age tuners and engraved James tailpiece. I should have it by the end of the week.

**billkilpatrick** · May-22-2012, 3:14am

be-u-ti-ful! - just gorgeous. i love that matte, low "bling" finish mike does. mega-complimenti

**JEStanek** · May-22-2012, 7:30am

Wow, you know it's gonna sound as rich as it looks, too. Congratulations!

Jamie

**brunello97** · May-22-2012, 7:30am

Super nice, Dave. Thanks for sharing those pictures. The walnut back is beautiful. To my eye, as pretty as the classic rosewood backs of yore. Please let us know after it arrives. I'd enjoy hearing how the walnut sounds viz other BM options.

Mick

**Dave Weiss** · May-22-2012, 7:54am

I opted for the walnut because my previous walnut Big Muddy was the least affected by changes in humidity. Walnut and maple are very similar in sound characteristics. I think the big difference with this one will be the cedar top. Mike said that this is one of the nicest mando's he's ever made and hated to see it leave the shop. It was a fun project for both of us, it started out as a MW-0 with a cedar top and morphed into what you see in the pics. A little over budget, but worth every penny.

**Jim Garber** · May-22-2012, 8:30am

That combination of woods is very appealing to me. There is something so understated and functional about the Big Muddy design that is also appealing. Walnut and cedar also prob smells nice during the building

I definitely would love to hear more about the sound.

**aphillips** · May-22-2012, 10:50am

That is sweet! It would look great with my claro walnut 12 fret..... hmm......

**Loretta Callahan** · May-22-2012, 2:21pm

Congratulations, Dave! Don't you just love working with Mike? I have the M4/Rosewood and can't stop playing it since Mike put on the radiused fretboard and new tailpiece.

Now, I'm tempted to get one made from walnut, if the wood is less affected by temperature changes. Here in the NW, forecasting the temps and moisture is a daily crap shoot and I spend a fair amount of time with my tuner.

Grover tuners and James tailpiece add a lot.

**Jake Wildwood** · May-23-2012, 6:30pm

These are great mandolins. A buddy has one that he's played so hard it's nearly worn through the top to the treble side of the soundhole. It sounds kick-butt, though, so I understand why!

**cayuga red** · May-26-2012, 6:56pm

Originally Posted by Dave Weiss

This is my new Big Muddy M-3.
Claro walnut back and sides, cedar top, Grover Golden Age tuners and engraved James tailpiece. I should have it by the end of the week.

A good looking, quality mandolin from a largely underrated builder. Enjoy!

**Dave Weiss** · May-31-2012, 1:07am

I've had the mandolin for a week now. WOW! It gets better everyday. This is one fantastic mando...

**fatt-dad** · May-31-2012, 7:11am

I'm just completly taken by my new walnut mandolin. It has a redwood top though. I just love the sound!

I'm sure that's a fine instrument for sure!

f-d

**rgray** · May-31-2012, 8:53am

That is a beautiful mandolin and after seeing this one and fatt-dad's, I really, really want walnut.

**Kevin Turinsky** · Jun-16-2012, 11:33am

Wow, Dave! I'm a little late on this, but congrats. I just looked at the photos, and that thing looks great! I'm eager to hear how it sounds. I won't be getting up to the Granite Creek Festival this weekend, but hope to be able to hear it some other time soon. I'm still having a great time w/ my Muddy. This week I took it w/ me to two workshops w/ Jack Dwyer & Tim Connell here in town. It was the only flattop there. It certainly held its own. Not sure if I can say the same about myself though. ;-)

**bmac** · Jun-16-2012, 5:00pm

A mandolin can't get much simpler in appearance than a Big Muddy. And its simplicity is part of its understated elegance. The brand name hot stamped on the side of the headstock is a good example of this understating. i think for a person starting out the Big Muddy is an excellent choice which will retain much of its value should the owner decide that mandolin is not for him.

**Fstpicker** · Jun-16-2012, 10:30pm

What a beauty, Dave!! Congratulations! I know how fond you are of Mid-Missouri/Big Muddy mandolins. Love the new tailpiece look. Wow, what a book-matched back walnut set!

Jeff

**Rosemary Philips** · Jun-20-2012, 8:15am

Wow, that is awesome! How does the cedar top sound compared with spruce? I'm a big fan of cedar-topped guitars. I'm extremely jealous!

**Jim Garber** · Jun-20-2012, 9:50am

Did anyone snare this bearclaw/koa one on eBay? That one also looks like a beauty.

**Dave Weiss** · Jun-20-2012, 10:34am

Kevin, you've got one of the nicest Big Muddies that I've played.
Jeff, I really do like the Big Muddies. They're very forgiving, great sounding mandolins.
The cedar top has a LOT more sustain than the spruce, it almost sounds echoey, but not in a bad way...
I've owned a couple of Kentuckies (162, 172, 505), a Weber Hyalite, a The Loar 400 and an Eastman 605(D) and none of them IMO sounded or played as easily or as good as the Big Muddy.
I've settled in with my mahogany/spruce and walnut/cedar Big Muddies, goodbye MAS!