Stan Miller Mandolins

**terzinator** · Jun-12-2012, 2:11pm

Curious to learn more. I know Jody Stecher plays one (saw him in 2010 with the PRBB and he sounded great), and Reischman had one... Prices seem comparable to Ellis. (As I contemplate my holy-grail A-style!)

I know a few forum members have owned them (from posts that are several years old!)... any current commentary or pics? (Especially of A-styles!)

**Mike Bunting** · Jun-12-2012, 2:15pm

Add Butch Waller to the list of Miller owners.

**barney 59** · Jun-12-2012, 3:08pm

I think Tom Rozum has a Miller. Some of these guys also have Loars.

**mandopete** · Jun-13-2012, 9:27am

Ethan Lawton of Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers plays a Stan Miller F style. I believe John Reischman had one earlier in his career. Barry Brower may still have his F for sale (it's listed in the classifieds here, no financial interest on my part).

**Paul Kotapish** · Jun-13-2012, 1:06pm

I had one of Stan's late '70s rosewood F-5s--made just before the one John Reischman used to play. It was a fine mandolin, but I sold it to Tom Moran up in Seattle so I could buy an F-4 from John Averill. Tom passed it along at some point, too, and I have no idea where it is now. The one Tom Rozum had was also rosewood from that same period, although I don't know if it was the one John used to have or not.

There were some finish issues with some of the '70s instruments, and Tom Rozum refinished the one he had. That was one of those rare instances where I felt like the refinishing actually improved the tone and focused the sound a little more.

Those early mandolins were real good, but not a terrific as the ones Stan has built in recent years, which are altogether top knotch. Clyde Curley has a wonderful Miller A model--quite like Jody's--that is joy to play and hear.

**Glassweb** · Jul-05-2012, 5:09pm

I was lucky enough to play not one but TWO new creations by Stan Miller a couple of weeks ago... two new mandolas as it turns out. Exquisitely crafted, beautiful sounding and SUPER-easy playing, one is crafted from red spruce and red maple and the other is Tyrolean spruce with Brazilian rosewood sides, back and neck. What can I say... musical instruments of the highest order! Impeccable workmanship and an overall sound and playability that is as good as any builder in the marketplace. I believe the maple 'dola is still available. Snatch it while ya can!

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**SternART** · Jul-05-2012, 5:25pm

Beautiful inlay work!

**Glassweb** · Jul-05-2012, 11:29pm

Stan has a very simple aesthetic when it comes to headstock inlays... simple but lovely. I heard that he plans to inlay his name on an F5 headstock for the first time ever. Amazing!

**Glassweb** · Jul-06-2012, 11:08am

oops! my mistake... the rosewood on Stan's mandola shown above is Honduran and not Brazilian.

**mandomars** · Jan-03-2013, 3:28pm

Hello guis and almost Paul.....I'm the one who's owning the Graal....It's a Stan Miller model ,dated Feb ,6 ,1976,Nevada City Dulcimer.....doe's it speak.....I found it fromTom Moran,very fine guy,as I remember, in the eighties,while he spents good time with family....in France...the instrument is still in with me,in Marseille where I leave.....hope to hear from you,Bernard

Originally Posted by Paul Kotapish

I had one of Stan's late '70s rosewood F-5s--made just before the one John Reischman used to play. It was a fine mandolin, but I sold it to Tom Moran up in Seattle so I could buy an F-4 from John Averill. Tom passed it along at some point, too, and I have no idea where it is now. The one Tom Rozum had was also rosewood from that same period, although I don't know if it was the one John used to have or not.

There were some finish issues with some of the '70s instruments, and Tom Rozum refinished the one he had. That was one of those rare instances where I felt like the refinishing actually improved the tone and focused the sound a little more.

Those early mandolins were real good, but not a terrific as the ones Stan has built in recent years, which are altogether top knotch. Clyde Curley has a wonderful Miller A model--quite like Jody's--that is joy to play and hear.

**mandopete** · Jan-03-2013, 4:07pm

Originally Posted by mandomars

Hello guis and almost Paul.....I'm the one who's owning the Graal....It's a Stan Miller model ,dated Feb ,6 ,1976,Nevada City Dulcimer.....doe's it speak.....I found it from Tom Moran,very fine guy,as I remember, in the eighties,while he spents good time with family....in France...the instrument is still in with me,in Marseille where I leave.....hope to hear from you,Bernard

Cool Tom Moran is a good friend and excellent musician here in the Puget Sound area. He is now playing a Michael Heiden mandolin with a band called the Downtown Mountain Boys.

**Paul Kotapish** · Jan-03-2013, 4:33pm

Hey Bernard,

Great to hear that the mandolin landed in good hands. Does it still have that beautiful handmade case?

I'd love to see some pictures, if you have any.

Best,
PK

**mandomars** · Jan-03-2013, 5:11pm

Originally Posted by Paul Kotapish

Hey Bernard,

Great to hear that the mandolin landed in good hands. Does it still have that beautiful handmade case?

I'd love to see some pictures, if you have any.

Best,
PK

ccccool,you must be the first owner on this mando,I played it for more than 20 years,not professionely,but with love aniway.... I bought it without case ....let me time for pictures,and thank's to mandopeter for Tom Moran infos...
Bernard

**Paul Hostetter** · Jan-04-2013, 12:55am

Originally Posted by terzinator

Curious to learn more. I know Jody Stecher plays one (saw him in 2010 with the PRBB and he sounded great), and Reischman had one...I know a few forum members have owned them (from posts that are several years old!)... any current commentary or pics? (Especially of A-styles!)

I routinely work on Jody's Miller, and last year I refretted the rosewood one, an F, once owned by John Reischman and now owned by a second owner in the area. I also know a twin to Jody's, owned from Day One by a Bay Area friend, that looks and sounds identical to Jody's. It's hard to imagine better sounding f-hole A models.

Originally Posted by PK

I had one of Stan's late '70s rosewood F-5s--made just before the one John Reischman used to play. It was a fine mandolin, but I sold it to Tom Moran up in Seattle so I could buy an F-4 from John Averill. Tom passed it along at some point, too, and I have no idea where it is now. The one Tom Rozum had was also rosewood from that same period, although I don't know if it was the one John used to have or not.

Maybe we should ask Tom; I thought the Reischman rosewood F is and has been, so far, a two-owner deal. Might be wrong.

**mandomars** · Jan-05-2013, 3:50pm

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Hello guys..
Some photos of my "Stan Miller 1976",hope you'll have a good reception,can you have a contact with Tom moran...??
Bernard

Originally Posted by Paul Hostetter

I routinely work on Jody's Miller, and last year I refretted the rosewood one, an F, once owned by John Reischman and now owned by a second owner in the area. I also know a twin to Jody's, owned from Day One by a Bay Area friend, that looks and sounds identical to Jody's. It's hard to imagine better sounding f-hole A models.

Maybe we should ask Tom; I thought the Reischman rosewood F is and has been, so far, a two-owner deal. Might be wrong.