View Full Version : AfterMAS of the Mandolin Brothers Trip
After mulling it over the weekend, I went ahead and bought one of the Phoenix Bluegrass mandolins we played at Mandolin Brothers last week(but don't worry, Jeremy, *not* the one you were in love with!)It's winging its way (or more likely rolling its way) to me as we speak.
It's rare that I act impulsively like this, but this was my first real contact with Phoenix, and they are truly something unique and special. I really couldn't get it out of my mind all weekend.
I took inpiration from my new mandobuddies Mark, who observes that money invested in a quality instrument returns itself hundredsfold, and Jeremy, who noted that having an instrument that truly speaks to you is worth a big price tag.
Full report when it arrives!
I met Rolf at Mandolin Camp North as we were one of the first few there. He's a very nice gentleman. All his other mandos (not bluegrass) used lighter strings sounded real sweet. He did have a bluegrass which also played like a dream. I wish I could have justfied buying yet another mando.
Eric F.
May-09-2005, 5:04pm
Congratulations! Enjoy the new instrument.
Now Mark needs to stop dithering and buy the Vega. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
flairbzzt
May-09-2005, 5:04pm
Rich-What am I-chopped liver?
Um... and Rick, who said "So, are we having lunch or what?"
That inspired me to skip a few lunches and buy a new mandolin. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
J. Mark Lane
May-09-2005, 5:07pm
Rich-What am I-chopped liver?
Would you prefer minced barbeque?
...Does the word "Collings" ring in your ear? <Collings Collings Collings Collings Collings....>
Hey, Rich, that's great! Now I'm really jealous.
Eric, I think you should buy the Vega. Just call Stan and give him your credit card number, and I'll go pick it up for you. (I'm keeping my eye on one or two others....<g>).
Mark
flairbzzt
May-09-2005, 5:12pm
Thank you. Was that Phoenix the one that was loudest that Stan said was the best? Good move. Now Mark, if you buy the Vega, I may have to make another visit for the Collings...but Greg and Chad (Boyd and Fadely) will have me killed or locked away if I sacrifice my Prucha for it.
flairbzzt
May-09-2005, 5:14pm
Barbecue would be ok as long as the sauce was good and smoked. Do ya think Jeremey will go for it?
grandmainger
May-09-2005, 5:20pm
My playing buddy has a Pheonix. It's a very very nice instrument! I'm jealous!
J. Mark Lane
May-09-2005, 5:23pm
You don't smoke the sauce, you dingbat. You smoke the pig.
Stupid yankees. It's no wonder they lost the war.
Eric F.
May-09-2005, 5:27pm
Mark, how about we give Stan YOUR credit card number and I pick it up? Anyhow, you know on a state university salary I have to live vicariously through your exploits.
This is it.... nice, huh?
http://members.aol.com/mouser9999/phoenix.jpg
Eric F.
May-09-2005, 5:33pm
Very, very nice.
Avi Ziv
May-09-2005, 5:34pm
Beautiful!
I want a Neoclassical and an Old Wave. Is it too much to ask for ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Congratulations. You will love it for sure.
Avi
meskalito
May-09-2005, 6:19pm
Congratulations! I feel mildly proud that my playing of "Bluegrass Stomp" (over and over again) was in some way responsible for your hearing something good out of that instrument and inspiring you to get it.
You got the one with the pickguard already installed, right? I switched the one that Stan liked for that one at the end of our time there, and Rick said, "Yeah, that's the one to get!" That instrument sounded wonderful. I hope you find it as musical as the Apitius. It is certainly more beautiful IMHO.
Rick, when are you going to record that song your dad wrote and post it online as an mp3 for us? I want to learn it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
jasona
May-09-2005, 6:22pm
Congrats. Every Phoenix I've heard or played (3 so far) was great.
meskalito
May-09-2005, 6:24pm
Oh, and Rich, I remember you said something about trading in all your fancy instruments for plain ones. #Well, I fully support (and will be following in your path as soon as possible) your purchase of an ornate, highly-flamed, Adironack Spruce top, ****ing gorgeous mandolin. # :cool:
meskalito
May-09-2005, 6:27pm
"Barbecue would be ok as long as the sauce was good and smoked. #Do ya think Jeremey will go for it? "
Sorry to be spamming your thread but Huh?
Oh, and Rich, I remember you said something about trading in all your fancy instruments for plain ones. #Well, I fully support (and will be following in your path as soon as possible) your purchase of an ornate, highly-flamed, Adironack Spruce top, ****ing gorgeous mandolin. # :cool:
Well, I like to think I would love it even it it were pug ugly (and I have a couple of pug ugly instruments that I love, to prove it). But, hey, I like a fine-looking musical instrument as well as the next guy. The tone has to come first, but if great tone happens to come wrapped in some well-figured tonewood and a sexy shape, well, who am I to argue?
ummm... we're still talking about mandolins, right?
I'm curious if you guys have any comments about the different Phoenix models. Were you able to compare the Bluegrass to a Neo-Bluegrass, Ultra, Deluxe, Neo-Classical...??
I played a blue two point Phoenix and it was sweet as sugar, light and played that way too..
meskalito
May-10-2005, 6:26pm
I couldn't tell that much of a difference between the Bluegrass and the Neo Bluegrass, but the room was noisy at the time and full of mandolins! The Neo is supposed to be quieter. The Neo Classical has flatwound strings on it, so it's a completely different beast. The Deluxes looked lovely, but I didn't play one.
evanreilly
May-12-2005, 2:38pm
Okay...
Enough of this....
If you want to hear (and see!!!) a prime example of a Phoenix Bluegrass mandolin, albiet a Custom one, go click on over to #301 (http://www.world.std.com/~ereilly/lindalou.avi) being banged on by, ummmmm..... errrr....... guess who?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
meskalito
May-12-2005, 3:32pm
I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the Bluegrass vs. the Neo Bluegrass. Stan was sure the Bluegrass is louder, but I wasn't convinced. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
I don't have a Neo to compare it to, but having received my Bluegrass, I can tell you this:
It's freakin' LOUD.
J. Mark Lane
May-12-2005, 6:40pm
Tell us more. Post pictures. ....I was wondering what the cases look like.
evanreilly
May-13-2005, 7:53am
I believe Rolfe's current cases are custom GWW rectangular cases. A solid, heavy case. My Phoenix mandolins fit in some shaped F-5 cases. They will not fit in a tight shaped F-5 case; very close, tho.
Update: Here's a suprise: the Phoenix Bluegrass is heading back to Mandolin Brothers tomorrow.
Nobody could be more surprised than me. Is it a bad mandolin? Heck, no! It's terrific! There's just only room for one mando at this price point in my collection, and I've concluded that this one isn't it.
As advertised, this is a great bluegrass mandolin. It has one of the most aggressive voices of any mandolin I've ever heard, and volume to burn. You'll stand out in a jam with one of these, believe me. Ultimately, that incredibly aggessive voice was my undoing with this mandolin; as only a sometime-bluegrass player, I found it difficult to adjust that voice to non-bluegrass material.
If I were a better player, this probably wouldn't be an issue. But I'm not, so what are ya gonna do? (I know, practice.) Perhaps there's a Neo in my future. I still have a bunch of good mandolins to play, so I'm not heartbroken. And this Phoenix will be a great find for someone who wants an intense bluegrass machine.
Part of the problem may have been an issue I brought up while we were at Mando Brothers. Their mando room is quite small and is hung with mandolins from floor to ceiling. It creates the most incredibly resonant sound chamber, all those mandos vibrating at the same time-- that $10 ebay mando would probably sound good in there. However, it can prevent you from getting the true tone of the mandolin you're playing.
Despite #my decision to return this one, I continue to be extremely impressed. This is a very fine instrument, and will surely bring a great deal of happiness to the right person.
meskalito
May-15-2005, 8:27pm
Just so you know, I talked to Rolfe directly, and he said that the Bluegrass and the NeoBluegrass are constructed the same. Stan had said that the Neo is constructed like the NeoClassical, but this is incorrect. The differences in the Bluegrass and the NeoBluegrass are purely cosmetic. So, for you Rich, I might recommend the Deluxe (http://www.phoenixmandolins.com/deluxe.htm). It's priced the same as the Bluegrass, has the clean lines of the NeoBluegrass, and is voiced for all kinds of music. Plus, you get the vine inlay from his days of building Unicorn mandolins. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Oh, and now that I've put a payment down on my Phoenix, I will readily admit that they are the coolest **** in the galaxy. Get one before Rolfe retires.
Jeremy http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
flairbzzt
May-15-2005, 8:49pm
Jeremy-Did Stan have a Deluxe? I don't remember-I played the neoclassical and the others but I can't remember if there was a deluxe (don't laugh-you'll get like this in another 20 years or so...)
So, for you Rich, I might recommend the Deluxe (http://www.phoenixmandolins.com/deluxe.htm). #It's priced the same as the Bluegrass, has the clean lines of the NeoBluegrass, and is voiced for all kinds of music. #Plus, you get the vine inlay from his days of building Unicorn mandolins. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
You're absolutely right, that's the one. The description sounds like it was written for me!
meskalito
May-16-2005, 12:30am
Yeah, they had a Deluxe, but it was in the room up the stairs. Not the one with the Apitius and the Sam Bush. The one before that with Stan's desk. They had the Deluxe there with the Europa NeoClassical. I didn't play them. I had already been smitten at that point.