David L Dart Mando

[Chip Booth]

A friend loaned me a David L. Dart #6-154 F style. Might have a varnish finish, hard for me to tell for sure. Nice flame maple and a subtle brown-yellow burst finish. It's a nice mando, a 2002, well made and sounds good, very midrangy, reminds me a lot of my Weber Yellowstone though it is perhaps a bit more open. Just wondering if anyone knows anything about Dart or his mandos.

I'll try to get picks up some time soon.

Chip

[b.pat]

Chip,

#I'm sorry, but "Dart" is a new one to me. It looks like he does some very interesting stuff.

#Here is a link to his site. # Dart (http://www.luthier.com/index.htm)

# # # # # # B.Pat

[mikeyes]

I own a 1999 Dave Dart Octave Mandolin which I bought from him 18 months ago. Dave told me it was his personal instrument which he was willing to sell at the time. I had a little bonus from work that was burning a hole in my pocket (you all know what that means, MAS) and was shopping around for an instrument to play Irish music. When I talked to him it was clear he knew his stuff and I bought it sight unseen although he did play it for me over the phone. I have never regretted it, for several reasons besides the fact that it is a superb instrument.

For one thing, Dave gave me a terrific warrantee, basically a lifetime guarantee similar to Gibson's, and his service has been impeccable, not that I have needed anything. In addition I discussed that possibility of putting a Red Henry type bridge on and he made me 5 of them which he included in the price. He also told me which strings would work best (he suggested an .048 instead of the .044 on the GHS OM set, and he was right) and how to tweak it with the new bridge.

The design is the same as a K-4 Mandocello with a shorter heavier mahogany neck. It has a deep complex tone with a fair amount of sustain. It is quite loud and can cut through in a session if I really push it. As most of the OM players know you usually have either a melody instrument (short scale like mine 22") or a chord instrument (longer scale with a narrower neck) but this one can do both. The chords sound more mellow and guitar like than a flat topped Zouk/OM but it does have a large carved top not unlike a guitar.

His work is very good, my instrument has a varnished finish (how long did that take?) and a great scroll. It has drawn a lot of praise from those OM players who have seen it (I was just at the Mississippi river Celtic Festival in St. Louis) for both looks and sound and is very appealling overall. I would buy a mandolin or mandola from him but I'd need to get another bonus which is not likely for a while <G> (and my wife would have to develop total amnesia, my MAS is in remission for now.)

[Chip Booth]

Pics as promised:

http://www.publicradioband.net/images/mando/DartMando01-tailpiece.jpg

http://www.publicradioband.net/images/mando/DartMando02-front.jpg

http://www.publicradioband.net/images/mando/DartMando03-headstock.jpg

[Chip Booth]

http://www.publicradioband.net/images/mando/DartMando04-back.jpg

http://www.publicradioband.net/images/mando/DartMando05-back.jpg

[mikeyes]

Yeah, that is the way mine looks, only bigger. My main objection is that tailpiece which is a b****** to use with the heavy strings. Otherwise I love it.