David Smith
Mar-23-2014, 12:31pm
I just returned from a week's stay near Asheville and spent a good bit of time on a mando quest. I amazes me that Asheville is ground zero for so many great acoustic musicians and bands but does not have a retail site with a substantial selection of instruments....particularly mandolins. However, that does not mean they are not there; you just have to know where to look.
My first stop was to Fiddle and Fret just south of Asheville in Fairview, N.C. and Danny Bishop is the man. At one time, Danny owned Bluegrass Experience which was Asheville's principal outlet for quality acoustic instruments, but a few years of endless hours and sleepless nights prompted Danny to sell the business (now defunct) and open Fiddle and Fret in his shop at home. Danny was kind enough to host me for two hours one afternoon and let me play some fantastic mandolins he has on hand: Faltbush F5, V5 and V4, Collings MT and MF, Pava, Randy Wood F5, Fletcher Brock F5, and his personal Ellis F5. I had never had so many great instruments at my disposal, and Danny was the perfect host. We played and talked the afternoon away which kept him from his work bench and what appeared to be a truckload of repair and set up work. Yet he never rushed me or made me feel like I was being a pest. My personal favorites were the Flatbush F5, Collings MF (she was a blonde!) and the Pava...in particular the MF. I left my Northfield F5S with Danny for a fret dress and some adjusting which was done to perfection.
The next day I traveled to visit Walter Johnson, maker of June mandolins and guitars, at his shop in Campobello, S.C. about an hour south of Asheville. This visit too lasted a couple hours and Walter could not have been more gracious. I was very interested in his building philosophy, materials, and goals. Walter was able to articulate everything with great clarity and obvious passion for the work. He had two mandolins on hand, June #1 and June #45 (currently listed in the Cafe classifieds). After spending so much time the previous day with some fantastic instruments, I was not sure a June mandolin could match up. My uncertainty was immediately abated! June #45 was a gem to play and hear. The highs rang like and bell, the mids were resonant, and the lows rich. There was something about June #45 that was comfortable and warm. While Walter and I talked I found myself enjoying just holding the instrument, playing was a bonus. If anyone is interested in a fantastic instrument at a fair price June #45 would be a good buy (nfi).
So, the next time you are in the Asheville area, I would suggest making a stop at Fiddle and Fret and taking a trip to Walter Johnson's June mandolin shop in Campobello, S.C. You might find yourself satisfying a long standing case of MAS.
My first stop was to Fiddle and Fret just south of Asheville in Fairview, N.C. and Danny Bishop is the man. At one time, Danny owned Bluegrass Experience which was Asheville's principal outlet for quality acoustic instruments, but a few years of endless hours and sleepless nights prompted Danny to sell the business (now defunct) and open Fiddle and Fret in his shop at home. Danny was kind enough to host me for two hours one afternoon and let me play some fantastic mandolins he has on hand: Faltbush F5, V5 and V4, Collings MT and MF, Pava, Randy Wood F5, Fletcher Brock F5, and his personal Ellis F5. I had never had so many great instruments at my disposal, and Danny was the perfect host. We played and talked the afternoon away which kept him from his work bench and what appeared to be a truckload of repair and set up work. Yet he never rushed me or made me feel like I was being a pest. My personal favorites were the Flatbush F5, Collings MF (she was a blonde!) and the Pava...in particular the MF. I left my Northfield F5S with Danny for a fret dress and some adjusting which was done to perfection.
The next day I traveled to visit Walter Johnson, maker of June mandolins and guitars, at his shop in Campobello, S.C. about an hour south of Asheville. This visit too lasted a couple hours and Walter could not have been more gracious. I was very interested in his building philosophy, materials, and goals. Walter was able to articulate everything with great clarity and obvious passion for the work. He had two mandolins on hand, June #1 and June #45 (currently listed in the Cafe classifieds). After spending so much time the previous day with some fantastic instruments, I was not sure a June mandolin could match up. My uncertainty was immediately abated! June #45 was a gem to play and hear. The highs rang like and bell, the mids were resonant, and the lows rich. There was something about June #45 that was comfortable and warm. While Walter and I talked I found myself enjoying just holding the instrument, playing was a bonus. If anyone is interested in a fantastic instrument at a fair price June #45 would be a good buy (nfi).
So, the next time you are in the Asheville area, I would suggest making a stop at Fiddle and Fret and taking a trip to Walter Johnson's June mandolin shop in Campobello, S.C. You might find yourself satisfying a long standing case of MAS.