Video Review Stanley V5 #63

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 12:27am

Here's my attempt at video review. It was late so I hope it's coherent in all areas but I really like this mandolin and wanted share it with you guys, I hope you enjoy it.

**terzinator** · Jul-09-2012, 10:48am

Great sound, great playing, great fun to watch.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 11:12am

Thanks Chris I really appreciate your feedback. You'll notice that I referenced the recording equipment, string and pick just in case Olaf saw this

**terzinator** · Jul-09-2012, 11:28am

I only had a minute for a quick viewing at work.. when I get home this evening I'm going to watch and listen more closely and try to figure out some of the things you're doing! Really, truly awesome stuff.

The audio is great, like I mentioned. It would be cool to do a quick tone comparo between your different mandolins. (Including that Collings A!)

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 11:39am

I was thinking the same thing, I just got the recorder yesterday so I plan on doing the same with the Heiden and the Collings. Again thanks for the kind words, I'm still figuring the mandolin out but I think I'm making progress. This is the only place I can share this stuff so the feedback is valuable.

**Paul Edwards** · Jul-09-2012, 12:13pm

Gorgeous.

**robert.najlis** · Jul-09-2012, 12:53pm

Hello Mandolin geeks - hey, he's talking to me!

Thank you so much for posting this. what a wonderful mandolin. very nice playing as well. It would be nice to hear specific examples slowly, open strings, individual notes and chords up and down the neck, etc. But still, thank you so much for doing this, I have been wanting to get to know more about Stanleys for a while.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 12:56pm

I'll happily do that Lon. I'll have time later tonight, stay tuned. I need to justify buying the recorder anyway.

**robert.najlis** · Jul-09-2012, 1:39pm

cool, thanks! I'm looking forward to that.
I was confused at first - I'm not Lon, the maker of my mando is

Robert

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 2:25pm

Sorry Robert, my bad. Yeah so look forward to a slow demo, I'll do each string, chords, the whole bit for you.

**robert.najlis** · Jul-09-2012, 2:44pm

No worries on the name. Thanks so much for doing the demo, that's great! I'm looking forward to it.

**Raggle Taggle** · Jul-09-2012, 3:00pm

Thanks for that PJ, just a great post. To be clear, do you prefer this Stanley to your Heiden?

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 3:44pm

At this point yes. I'm holding on to the Heiden because I'm afraid I may need a change of pace and it's just so good but it's a totally different animal. The Heiden is very much a modern sound meaning a very wide sonic range not nearly as focused but insanely good. They're both two of the loudest mandolins I've ever played as well. Just apples to oranges. They're two of the best I've had my hands on.

**John Kinn** · Jul-09-2012, 4:21pm

A comparison video would be great. Excellent playing BTW!

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 4:35pm

Thanks you're too kind, I'm just a bass player that got bored a few years ago. I'd be happy to do a video with both. Like I said earlier I just got the Zoom so I'll need to justify the expense. The most interesting thing when comparing very good mandolins is that there are more similarities than differences. It's just the tone that's different not how they behave.

**Raggle Taggle** · Jul-09-2012, 5:36pm

Not that I am much of a prospect for a Heiden, but I was under the impression (especially from the Heiden website) that Heidens were modeled from a vintage Loar and thusly very "traditional" sounding.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 5:50pm

In certain regards yes. Principally being that he produces a very responsive and harmonically complex instrument. I wouldn't say that the Heiden is a bluegrass machine and neither would Michael, he said that to me himself. It can easily be used for it in my experience something with intense midrange focus works better. The use of the word traditional is a little misleading for some we think BG so it gets pretty confusing.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 5:52pm

It would be nice to have Shaun Garrity chime in here. He's a long time Heiden owner but has been historically searching for his bluegrass ideal as a compliment so he could shed some light on my confusing statements and feeling.

**Steve-o** · Jul-09-2012, 6:24pm

Originally Posted by John Kinn

A comparison video would be great. Excellent playing BTW!

x2...Hey, great playing and review, PJ. I had heard that Stanley makes a nice Loar-like sound and must say your video confirms it. Looking forward to the next one.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 6:27pm

Thanks Steve, I appreciate the feedback and glad you enjoyed the review. It's fun to talk about mandolins so I figured rather than write about it I'd just talk to the camera and post it for you all.

**josh a** · Jul-09-2012, 9:46pm

great idea, great playing, and a fantastic sounding Stanley. I own #61, and it is really something. I love it. Enjoy them in good health and thanks for taking the time to post PJ!

**sgarrity** · Jul-09-2012, 10:07pm

How to describe tone in words.....that's always the question isn't it? I'm going to start by telling you something you probably all know and that is you gotta play 'em! Nothing is a substitute for an in hand review. There are some lesser known brands that can be stellar and there are some very well hyped brands that can be complete duds. I have bought mandolins before just because I wanted to play one for awhile. I've also asked to play almost every mandolin I see at jams. Most mandolin players are very understanding because MAS is almost a universal affliction!

With that, I tend to breakdown mandolin tone into two categories: traditional and modern. Modern sounding mandolins to me are bassier, more complex, with a bigger, fatter, rounder tone. Traditional sounding mandolins have a stronger mid-range, more even across the strings, with great pop and cut to the tone. Of course, there can certainly be some overlap here.

My Heiden and all of the 15+ that I have played tend to be in the modern camp. My A5 is one of the best mandolins I have played. It's easily in the top 5. It has amazing volume, is incredibly responsive, and you can coax such a wide tonal pallet out of it. It can be bassy, soft and sweet. And then move back toward the bridge a bit and it can play Monroe with the best of them. I've owned this A5 for 4 years now and it's not going anywhere. It is an exceptional mandolin in every way.

So, why do I want a traditional sounding mandolin as well? Just because I do. Because I enjoy variety. Sometimes I want a bold Cabernet. Sometimes I like a light and fun Pinot. Some nights it's a fine single malt. Others it's a nice Kentucky bourbon. And sometimes it's just fun to have another tone in your quiver. Not to mention, every instrument I've owned has taught me something that has made me a better player. Learning how to coax the tone out of them. From a purely practical standpoint it can be argued that a more traditional mandolin cuts better in a jam. When a jam gets that loud I pack up and go home.

The Stanley is firmly in the traditional camp. It'll be interesting to hear PJ's video of the Heiden and Stanley. Here in a month or two I'll do one with some fine examples of both camps!

**sgarrity** · Jul-09-2012, 10:42pm

I should also add that it's very possible for a traditional sounding mandolin to still have depth without being too bassy. That Stanley does it well.

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 10:48pm

Thanks for the post Shaun. Sometimes we just call it MAS but there's a lot more to it than that and you helped quantify the greater complexity. I'll break out the recorder in a few and do the comparison and the slow stuff for Robert, I just a another beer to get myself right

**tburcham** · Jul-09-2012, 11:08pm

PJ, great review, great picking, and a really great sounding mandolin. I love Chris Stanley's mandolins. I was a "day late and a dollar short" on the one the went through the Mandolin Store a few months ago...number 54 I think. Congrats on the new Stanley...and again, really great picking.