View Full Version : Silverangel MAX distressed with painting and carving
This one's a killer. It plays easy and has all the ingredients, bass, mids and trebles. It ain't for the faint. They don't call me "the master of disaster" for nuthin.
GKWilson
Aug-05-2015, 3:41pm
Wow! That's tasty Ken. It would look great sitting next to my
Max distressed A. I'm glad I don't live close. I would have to
play that one.
Gary
mandobassman
Aug-05-2015, 5:14pm
Beautiful work as always Ken. Would love to hear it played.
darylcrisp
Aug-05-2015, 5:27pm
awesome looking!
especially like the painting and carving!
whats the nut width on this one Ken?
d
awesome looking!
especially like the painting and carving!
whats the nut width on this one Ken?
d
The nut width is 1 1/8th.
Barry Smith
Aug-06-2015, 12:06am
Beautiful!
Skip Kelley
Aug-06-2015, 5:31am
Ken, nicely done! I always enjoy seeing your work! I am amazed at how old you can make a mandolin look! I love the painting and the carving! That's a lot of talent!
wildpikr
Aug-06-2015, 8:06am
Wow...that looks so cool, I'd love to hear a sound clip... I'm sure some lucky picker can't wait to get their hands on that! Nice work Mr. Ratcliff!
Scott Rucker
Aug-06-2015, 3:20pm
Beautiful. Is this the same one I saw at Morehead?
Beautiful. Is this the same one I saw at Morehead?
yes it is Scott. Since then I've done the painting on the back. Looks like it's going to Pittsburg.
Jstring
Aug-07-2015, 7:03am
Yep- I'm the lucky buyer, couldn't be more excited.
I'm already a Silverangel owner- Ken was nice enough to take my current A model in trade towards this new F style. My Silverangel A also has the 1850s Redwood top... So I'm expecting that the F will sound pretty similar. And, it's just a work of art as you can see.
Obviously, I'm a little biased, but I think Silverangels hold their own against any mandolin at any price- they are that good. They have a deep rich bottom end without losing the trebles... The sound that we all look for. If you haven't seen his website, google Silverangel mandolins and listen to some of the videos.
I'm off to the post office to send Ken my A model... If anyone is interested in a Silverangel A, it's just an outstanding mandolin- give him a call.
I'd love to come across one -one day. Surprised I have not. I can almost here what that sounds like just from the looks.
wildpikr
Aug-07-2015, 10:49am
JString,
Fantastic - I'm sure that you'll enjoy it! I own two Silverangel F models and really enjoy both of them. The first is a 2007 distressed model and the second is a 2012 varnish finish with a painting and carving. They each have their own voice; there are subtle tone differences between them which I enjoy hearing...I'd recommend a Silverangel to anyone!
Scott Rucker
Aug-07-2015, 10:54am
I think you'll be very happy, Jstring. I have an F model from 2001 and love it more every time I play it and every time I pick up another mandolin for comparison. I have the itch for a second one right now.
Randi Gormley
Aug-07-2015, 12:52pm
I have no idea how you do it, but you take a bunch of things I personally don't care for individually and put them together to create an instrument that has me salivating. incredible work, beautiful mandolin.
eastKYmando
Aug-07-2015, 3:20pm
Yep- I'm the lucky buyer, couldn't be more excited.
I'm already a Silverangel owner- Ken was nice enough to take my current A model in trade towards this new F style. My Silverangel A also has the 1850s Redwood top... So I'm expecting that the F will sound pretty similar. And, it's just a work of art as you can see.
Obviously, I'm a little biased, but I think Silverangels hold their own against any mandolin at any price- they are that good. They have a deep rich bottom end without losing the trebles... The sound that we all look for. If you haven't seen his website, google Silverangel mandolins and listen to some of the videos.
I'm off to the post office to send Ken my A model... If anyone is interested in a Silverangel A, it's just an outstanding mandolin- give him a call.
I had the pleasure of playing this mandolin today. Wow! I would call this an apex mandolin for sure. I've owned several of Ken's and this one is definitely special. So, if you've got one now and hold it in high regard, you won't be disappointed. Robust tone, massive volume, great response, wonderful playability and note clarity was outstanding. If you like the tone of Ken's mandolins, this one is the perfect blend of what Ken is known for....and even top to bottom. Hated to walk away from it.
Jstring
Aug-07-2015, 5:52pm
Thanks Donnie, just sent you a PM... I've never met Donnie, but I've heard him play and he's awesome. So, just when I thought I couldn't get any more excited....
One last post... I emailed Ken this morning and asked him to add a pickguard, whatever he thought would look best. By this afternoon ( talk about quick work! ) this is what he sent me. I think it looks great!
137078
137079
eastKYmando
Aug-07-2015, 6:35pm
Thanks Donnie, just sent you a PM... I've never met Donnie, but I've heard him play and he's awesome. So, just when I thought I couldn't get any more excited....
One last post... I emailed Ken this morning and asked him to add a pickguard, whatever he thought would look best. By this afternoon ( talk about quick work! ) this is what he sent me. I think it looks great!
137078
137079
LOL. ..Ken don't let moss grow under his feet.
Just saw this one on ebay (NFI),http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Angel-F-style-Mandolin-hand-made-by-Ken-Ratcliff-Angel-from-Kentucky-/171882483702?hash=item2804fe8ff6
Hey look! I killed 2 threads with the same link! That's pretty good right?
D C Blood
Aug-25-2015, 9:19pm
If there's anyone in the Nashville or Middle Tennessee area wanting to sample what a Silverangel F model or the Ken Ratcliff A-model (distressed with angel painting and carving) sounds like...please contact me --- email mixtcompany@comcast.net or facebook David C. Blood...They are the best...
Mark Walker
Sep-11-2015, 9:12pm
Hi Everyone. Been a long time since I was on here or posted anything, but had to chime in. I sent my 2005 Silver Angel to Ken for a fret job (been in two bands and it's got a LOT of miles on her over the last 10 years) and he did a super job on going over it, dressing the frets, and setting everything back up. I was actually playing a loaner A-style for a couple gigs and my entire band commented on how 'quiet' it was compared to my Angel. I got it back today and it plays and sounds great. Ken mentioned mine had been played by a great picker while he had it and he said it's got a great tone. I hear the new ones have even better bass tones than mine, so he's only getting better. The 19th of September will be the 10-year birthday for mine and I'm tickled to have it back. (As is the band!) Thanks for everything Ken!
Emmett Marshall
Sep-11-2015, 9:23pm
Simply gorgeous Ken! What a beauty.
Wow, looks like you dragged it behind your truck ;)
Love it though!
Lord of the Badgers
Sep-12-2015, 4:46am
immense.
WANT!
Jerchap2
Jul-06-2021, 11:19pm
@kyken or any Silverangel owners who can answer this question: Hey Ken, a question for you: How do you decide which mandolins to paint angels on? Are they special in any other way? And I understand you name the angels when you paint them and you write their names on the inside of the back? That is so cool. Just wonder what inspires you to paint them on some of your mandolins and not others. I think the paintings make them really special.