Video Review Stanley V5 #63

[Jim Roberts]

That's a fine sounding Heien mandolin for sure. Guess I kinda came across like it wasn't and I apologize for that. Great pickin', too, PJ.

Isn't Michael cream of the crop great to work with? He's so passionate about the mandolin and an amazing builder. He built a a lovely Heritage model for me a few years ago and I later traded it back to him (I think Ry Cooder owns it now) for a new F5 using the same woods that are on Shaun Garrity's Heiden A5. Shaun's Heiden A5 is one of the best A5's on our planet that I've heard or played and the F5 is smokin' good, too.

A few years ago there use to be Heiden reunions/get togethers on the west coast. Don't know if they still happen or not but sounds like fun!

Thanks again for sharing, P.J., and hopefully that Heiden will give you years of mirth & merriment! Next time I'm through Bernallio County New Mexico on my way to Las Cruces I'll swing by and we can sample mandolins (and IPA's!). Would love to test ride the new Ducati Muiltistrada 1200 S Touring, too!

Cheers.

[pjlama]

Of course Jim, I hope I didn't sound like I was defending it too much but it seems to be good. I'd love for you to stop in, we have a demo Multi and you're more than welcome to it. We need to have a Heiden fest here. I'll supply the location and beer plus motorcycles for those that ride, maybe just a Cafe get together. It could be big fun, I'm just afraid we'd all get MAS'd out.

[dcoventry]

Of course Jim, I hope I didn't sound like I was defending it too much but it seems to be good. I'd love for you to stop in, we have a demo Multi and you're more than welcome to it. We need to have a Heiden fest here. I'll supply the location and beer plus motorcycles for those that ride, maybe just a Cafe get together. It could be big fun, I'm just afraid we'd all get MAS'd out.

Yeah, OK, sure. Like THAT'D ever happen to us. HA!

[John Kinn]

"He built a a lovely Heritage model for me a few years ago and I later traded it back to him (I think Ry Cooder owns it now)"

If they're good enough for Ry, I guess they're good enough for all of us.

[Elkhorn1]

Can I just stop by for a cold beer or three; I don't have a Heiden but I promise I'll bring something good for you to check out

[pjlama]

Dude, you're always welcome the only problem is every time I see you I buy a mandolin. I can't wait to try your newest stuff. Every Elkhorn gets better then the last. Let me know when you're coming and we'll hang, the beer is alway cold and flowing.

Can I just stop by for a cold beer or three; I don't have a Heiden but I promise I'll bring something good for you to check out

[Rob Fowler]

We have a couple of very good brewerys here in the ABQ area. My favorite is Marble www.marbleBrewery.com, right now I'm running a 5 gallon keg of India White Ale. It's an American wheat that's hopped like an ipa with citrus, it's 7% abv. I usually go for their IPA but when I went for fresh keg last weekend they didn't have straight IPA ready so I went with the seasonal. It sounds crazy but having a kegerator makes a lot of sense, for amazingly good beer it runs me $50 for five gallons. If I just buy beer I spend quite a bit more plus I'm being enviro friendly since there's no waste with the exception of mine. Plus I'm always ready for friends to come over. It was a tough sell with the war department but we entertain nearly every weekend so it makes sense and I need to keep the lines clear during the week so it's a win win!

You have just became my most favorite person in the world. Oh...and just so you know, I'm also leaving Northwestern Cali in 20 minutes. I'll be at your house in 24 hours with a frosted mug in hand. Don't be alarmed.

[pjlama]

Ok so you should be here in the next hour or so? Seriously I'm thinking of hosting a NM/SoCol mando tasting, anybody interested?

[Mike Bunting]

I wish.

[hank]

Woohoo! Road trip, let me get my hat. You guys are making New Mexico sound pretty good.

[Elkhorn1]

Hey PJ, I could be in on that if the timing is right; could be a really good time!

[pjlama]

I guess we just need to pick a Sunday, that works for most people. We could do a Saturday but I work til 5 every Saturday. I think getting Grieser commited and Bussman, Dr. Bob and the usual NM suspects would be a good idea. Tell you what, email me potential free Sundays and I'll try to see who else is available then we'll set a date and let the rest of the Cafe know so if anybody wants attend they can have the option. I'm pretty free, I'll just want to line up something for my kids to do so they're out of the house.

[Don Grieser]

I think getting Grieser commited

Hey, that's a little harsh. Sounds like fun in the big city.

[SternART]

A few years ago there use to be Heiden reunions/get togethers on the west coast.

Heidenfest was at my studio in the Bay Area. Interesting lineup of folks there, looking back.

[djweiss]

Art, whatever happened to the mando gatherings at either your place or in Inverness...seems long overdue!

[SternART]

Inverness might have missed a year, or possibly I was busy that date & missed the last one.....I can't recall......but Dave Crummy & Jim French have had it going annually for many years. I tend to have gatherings when an out of town visitor of note is visiting the Bay Area......like Heidenfest was when Michael & his wife were in the Bay Area.

I last gathered the tribes on July 3rd a year ago, when both jazz great Will Patton from VT & Prof John Bird from NC, were in the Bay Area. Will & his band, featuring his daughter, had some house concerts, and John was out here doing research for his Mark Twain book, at the UC Berkeley Twain archives. We had a BG jam going in one gallery and a Swing-Choro jam in the other. Lots of great players, came from as far as Santa Cruz.......Matt Eakle from the DGQ, Artie & Harriet Rose, etc.

Sometimes it is for luthiers visiting the Bay Area.....like when Lawrence Smart was here from ID, another was when Peter Coombe was visiting from Australia, another when Doug Woodley visited from Canada, etc. One memorable year it was for Fret's photographer Jon Sievert's retirement party, that was a good one, he knows many of the Bay Area pickers & they turned out in force to honor him. For a few years I was having pre-Symposium jams here for out of towners, the night before the Symposium. It is too much work for me to have these on a regular basis.......but my studio is a perfect space for this kind of event.

[pjlama]

Hey, that's a little harsh. Sounds like fun in the big city.

Ok, let's see when Robb is available since he's the furthest drive at this point and I'll email you some options but your presence is required

Now that I think about you may be just as far? Maybe?

[pjlama]

Heidenfest was at my studio in the Bay Area. Interesting lineup of folks there, looking back.

I always liked looking at that thread, lots of good mandolins in one place, I'm sure it was fun.

[Don Grieser]

So far, August 19 is out for me for the 4 Corners MandoFest.

[pjlama]

Ok, I'll see what dates Robb is good for and email you.

[pjlama]

I intended to add pictures of the mandolin but hadn't gotten around to it so here's some ok iPhone shots. I just love this thing, it's everything I wanted or need in a mandolin. Thanks for indulging me on this thread guys, this is the most excited I've ever been because I feel like I finally got the right one for me.

[Steve-o]

...this is the most excited I've ever been because I feel like I finally got the right one for me.

That says it all PJ. Happy to help, but it's reciprocal, 'cuz we get to share in your enthusiasm vicariously. Enjoy that Stanley and keep it coming.

[Mike Bunting]

I intended to add pictures of the mandolin but hadn't gotten around to it so here's some ok iPhone shots. I just love this thing, it's everything I wanted or need in a mandolin. Thanks for indulging me on this thread guys, this is the most excited I've ever been because I feel like I finally got the right one for me.

I'm glad that you dig that mandolin so much. Mine, #20, is six years old now and has really opened up and I have to say that I too am totally satisfied with the sound of this mandolin. I played it shoulder to shoulder with a couple of Wiens, a Red Diamond, a Kimble, a Heiden and a great Mowry. As great as those mandolins are, none are making me itch for them. Anyhow, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, play it pretty!

[pjlama]

Thanks guys for supporting me and #63. I think we all have an ideal sound in our heads and what we want to feel when we play so the search begins. Its like looking for your mate and when you find your mate you just know it. The truly exciting part is that while this mandolin does exactly what I want it will only improve over time and become a further extension of my musical journey.

[blueron]

I'm a bit late, I know, but I wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed your video review. All too often when a video clip is put up and the thread is filled with praise, many is the time I have wondered if everyone else saw a different video from the one I saw. Not so in this case - I loved your playing, and especially enjoyed the seamless way you crossed genres.

A good friend of mine has owned two Stanleys, and he swears by them. No wonder. My favourite musical genre is blues, and despite the V5 being a textbook bluegrass instrument, it sounded on your clip to me as if it would be well-suited to playing blues; full-bodied, loud, resonant, tubby in sound, with powerful bass. Lovely. Thanks for this.

ron