Where can I try a variety of mandos in the upper midwest?

[wooq]

Hello Cafe,

I am looking to upgrade my mandolin but am out in the middle of nowhere, at least in terms of access to instruments. I've been doing well with a Loar I bought off the classifieds here, but I'm looking to take the next step as bluegrass festival season is fast approaching and I've been hard-bitten by the bug. I'm not looking to blind-buy a several-thousand dollar instrument without picking on it a bit. However the only stuff within a couple hours drive is low-end stuff. If I were to take a weekend, drive somewhere to try a bunch of instruments, where would I go? Any of you know of a local store with a wide selection in the mid-midwest? Are there any good stores in Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, etc. that carries mid-to-high-range brands and/or well-known indy luthiers?

Thanks!

[MikeEdgerton]

Elderly Instruments is in Lansing, Michigan (www.elderly.com). Going south Janet Davis Music is in Bentonville, Arkansas www.jdmc.com). Both have a web presence. Beyond that some folks might be able to give you somebody more local to your home.

[Miltown]

Chicago, as I've found out (with help from this site), is not the best place for mandolin shopping. That said, Guitar Works in Evanston (near-north suburb) has a decent selection, with some nice old Gibsons and, the last time I was there, a couple of really nice Collings's. In the city proper, The Old Town School of Folk Music is pretty much the only option.

I'm not sure about shops in Minneapolis or St. Louis, but I think your best bet from Iowa might be Spruce Tree Music in Madison; it's an excellent store, with a great selection of all sorts of Webers, Eastmans, and usually some really nice vintage mandos, too.

[wooq]

@MikeEdgerton, I'd considered a day trip to Lansing for a visit to Elderly. Thing is it's only an hour further to Nashville...!

[Mike Snyder]

Mass Street Music in Lawrence, Ks is a bit far, I suppose. Morgan Music in Lebanon, Mo, too.

[Eric F.]

I haven't lived anywhere near Chicago in a dozen years, but when I did, you could make a day out of playing the mandolins at the Old Town School in the city and then heading to Evanston to visit Guitar Works and Hogeye. You'd need to check with them by phone about inventory to make sure the trip would be worth it. As mentioned above, Spruce Tree in Madison, Wis., often has a nice selection. You should also check with Music Folk in St. Louis. They are or have been dealers for Weber, Lebeda and others. They usually have some interesting used mandolins, too.

[Jim Garber]

I'm looking to take the next step as bluegrass festival season is fast approaching and I've been hard-bitten by the bug. I'm not looking to blind-buy a several-thousand dollar instrument without picking on it a bit.

Unless you are hot to trot on a new upgrade before festival season, often there are some nice instruments for sale at festivals. Just see if you can get a list of vendors.

[colorado_al]

Elderly is the place to go.
Here in ST Louis, Music Folk is good, but has a much smaller collection.
Used, they mostly have Gibson A models.
http://www.musicfolk.com/docs/Instruments/UsedInstruments/mastergallery.php?gallery=Mandolins

New, they have 4 or 5 Weber as their high end, a bunch of Eastman as mid, and sell the Kentucky KM-150 on the low end.
They also have 1 or 2 Big Muddy, 1 Ratliff A, and 1 or 2 Michael Kelly F.

It is a great store, but I wouldn't travel 4 hours to check it out when Elderly is only 2 hours farther.

[wooq]

Unless you are hot to trot on a new upgrade before festival season, often there are some nice instruments for sale at festivals. Just see if you can get a list of vendors.

Most of the festivals around here don't have a lot of vendors either, unfortunately. I should have ponied up for a trip to SPBGMA in retrospect. What big festivals in the midwest have you guys been to where there's a sizable row of dealers?

Thanks for the suggestions so far...!

[MikeEdgerton]

@MikeEdgerton, I'd considered a day trip to Lansing for a visit to Elderly. Thing is it's only an hour further to Nashville...!

You might not find much more in Nashville these days. It's a shame First Quality isn't what it used to be.

[MikeEdgerton]

If you're really looking for a road trip head west to where it's warm and see Dennis at The Mandolin Store. :cool:

[pops1]

Dave's Guitar in LaCrosse didn't use to have mandolins and while looking there a few years ago he wanted me to buy them all as he said he was a guitar store. But now he has Collings, Sumitt, Weber, old Gibson F2, and few other that are escaping my old memory. Coralville is about 3 1/2-4 hours from LaCrosse, I was there not long ago and while there are not a wall full like in the guitars, you can sit and play several nice mandolins and if you are nice maybe they will let you play the Loar that is for sale there. Didn't think I would ever get to play one, it was a treat. By Loar of course I mean Gibson 20's F5, not "the Loar" :mandosmiley:

[wooq]

A drive to Arizona might be a bit far. I'd rather spend all that gas money to get the model with the fancier inlay.

Seems like the best option would be to make a weekend of it and make the trip to Lansing, though maybe I'll pop up to Wisconsin and/or Chicago first.

[Timbofood]

The trip to Elderly will prove educational, many entertaining toys to sample, knowledgeable folks to talk with. It will be fun, have a wonderful trip!

[jetsedgwick]

Chicago sucks for mando shopping, almost zero selection.

[Marvino]

Cross Minneapolis off your list.
I dont know of any music store in Mpls that has a decent selection of quality mandolins.

[Mark Miller]

Forget Chicago. Old Town School only gets you the 300- and 500-series Eastmans. Guitar Works has a Weber or two and maybe a used Gibson A. Elderly is the place to go. Swing through Chicago and pick me up!

[Mark Hawkins]

If you visit Elderly bookmark their site and note the makes/models you're interested in trying. They keep the inventory current on their site but their complete inventory is not on display at all times. So if you don't see what you're interested in just ask, they'll pull it out of storage for you. If you're not in a hurry you might want to wait until the 3rd weekend in May & catch Sam Bush performing in St.Joseph, Michigan on your way home. Saint Joe is about the half way point back to Chicago.

[wooq]

Forget Chicago. Old Town School only gets you the 300- and 500-series Eastmans. Guitar Works has a Weber or two and maybe a used Gibson A. Elderly is the place to go. Swing through Chicago and pick me up!

Yeah, but I can try none of those locally. West Music has one Fender plywood f and one breedlove crossover. There's a place an hour south that has one Rogue and one Morgan Monroe. I think I saw a Martin backpacker up in Cedar Rapids somewhere. If I can drive four hours and try some Webers and Eastmans and vintage Gibsons out, that's not a bad day trip.

Of course every single place has an entire wall of ukeleles for some reason. What's with the ukeleles?

[Paul South]

In Madison, WI there is Spruce Tree Music which has some nice used mandolins plus new Webers and Eastmans. Their used stock is listed on their website and you would have to call for new inventory.

http://www.sprucetreemusic.com/used-vintage-instruments/mandolins/

Also in Madison there is Madison Music Co. They had a Collings MF, some new Eastmans and a few used mandolins not listed on their website.
http://madisonmusic.com/instruments/mandolins-banjos-resonators

[Paul South]

I have never been to this music store but looks to have a good inventory.

http://www.downhomeguitars.com/products/Mandolins

[mtm]

Spruce Tree is ok ... kind of small, not a great selection, and most all of the mandos are behind glass, which is mildly off-putting to some ... but, nice folks there.

[GalenB]

KC is probably a little far, but here's their inventory http://bfstrings.com/#/inventory

Do you know Steve Hinde? He's usually set up at the BMAI festivals, and Backbone.

[EdHanrahan]

... head west to where it's warm and see Dennis at The Mandolin Store.

And on the way, more or less, is the Denver Folklore Center and the Olde Town Pickin' Parlor, in Arveda just outside of Denver. Both well worth the stop.

(Hey, I got to play Ian Tyson's D-45 at OTPP several few weeks ago. Only my all-time favorite singer!)

[fentonjames]

music folk in st. louis. i've been dealing with andy and don for 30 years. great guys, great selection.

[terzinator]

Cross Minneapolis off your list.
I dont know of any music store in Mpls that has a decent selection of quality mandolins.
Was going to say the same thing until I scrolled down and saw that it was already said.

The Podium in Minneapolis sometimes carries a few upper-level units, but totally hit or miss. They have a pricey Brentrup there now, but it's been there a while. Occasional Collings and Northfields.
http://www.thepodium.com/mandolins.html

The Homestead Pickin Parlor in Richfield MIGHT have a lower-end Weber (Hyalite or similar), but mostly just Pac-Rim instruments. Not that they're bad at all, but nothing you can't find at many other places.

Willie's American Guitars in St. Paul will occasionally have a used Collings or vintage Gibson, but no more than one or two.

[wooq]

KC is probably a little far, but here's their inventory http://bfstrings.com/#/inventory

Do you know Steve Hinde? He's usually set up at the BMAI festivals, and Backbone.

That's an interesting place, and 4.5 hours isn't a long drive at all.

Of course I know Steve, I spend a few minutes orbiting his table at all the festivals. Great guy, fun to jam with.

[Eric F.]

And once you've gone that far, you're only 40ish miles from Mass Street Music (http://massstreetmusic.com/collections/mandolins).

[MandoJakeKC]

I visited Bradford & Franzke Fretshop for the first time last week & was amazed at their selection. Was able to play a lot of old Gibsons, Triggs, Capek, Eastman Dawg, and others. I think they had over 30 quality mandolins to check out. Would be worth a visit if Kansas City isn't too far south for you.

http://bfstrings.com/

(Their online inventory isn't up to date, but gives you an idea of the items they carry)

[avaldes]

Anyone know anything about Morgan Music in Missouri?
http://www.morganmusic.com

[Capt. E]

In Madison, WI there is Spruce Tree Music which has some nice used mandolins plus new Webers and Eastmans. Their used stock is listed on their website and you would have to call for new inventory.

http://www.sprucetreemusic.com/used-vintage-instruments/mandolins/

Also in Madison there is Madison Music Co. They had a Collings MF, some new Eastmans and a few used mandolins not listed on their website.
http://madisonmusic.com/instruments/mandolins-banjos-resonators

You are just west of the Quad Cities, right? Madison, WI isn't too far, just go up through Dubuque etc. and Kansas City is probably not too far. Of course, being in Texas, 200 miles is not a terribly long drive.

[JeffD]

@MikeEdgerton, I'd considered a day trip to Lansing for a visit to Elderly. Thing is it's only an hour further to Nashville...!

Be that as it may, Elderly is worth the trip.

(I have no doubt folks from Nashville buy from Elderly at times.)

[colorado_al]

Anyone know anything about Morgan Music in Missouri?
http://www.morganmusic.com

Morgan Music is great! I would contact them and make sure their online listing matches their actual inventory.
Lots of mandolins to play!
I stop in there every year on my way back from fishing near Springfield, MO.
If you pass through Rolla on your way home, make sure you stop into A Slice of Pie http://asliceofpie.info/

[fatt-dad]

are you staying with the A-model or looking to go to an F5-type mandolin? I know the advice you are getting is correct, but I'd never go on a 4 hour road trip for mandolin shopping. I'd rather just go get an MT and return to practice. Do you have any budget ideas? Do you really only want a Gibson F5g? Are you playing bluegrass?

Then again, some folks like road trips. . .

f-d

[wooq]

fatt-dad: I am a bluegrass player, performing regularly in a band and planning on hitting all kinds of festivals and jams this summer, looking for a mandolin that sounds pretty and plays pretty. A-style, F-style, I'm not too worried if I find one that has the sound and feel I want. Budget isn't limitless, but I am not looking for a beginner instrument. I am aware of all of the brands with national distribution, but I'm looking to actually try some of them.

I've never played a Collings MT. Like I said earlier, there are literally 3 or 4 mandolins available within a 2 hour drive. The only non-plywood mandolins I've been able to try were those brought to festivals/jams/workshops by other musicians. If I lived in Richmond, I also wouldn't want to drive 4 hours to check out a mandolin, because I wouldn't have to. But road trips are fun anyway!

[pops1]

woog, what are you playing now? If I get down your way to see my kids I could bring a couple of mine for you to play and get a little idea.

[ajh]

I was down at Dave's in Lacrosse a couple weekends ago. They had maybe 15 mando's. I tried them all and while I normally do not care for the voice of the Weber's, the one they have there is pretty nice sounding. The only one I liked better was the Summit (take a look at their website). As a couple added bonus' they will let you play their 23 Loar. Pretty tight sounding but that just may be me not wanting to pound on it. AND you can go upstairs to see Dave's personal collection. Mind boggling what he has up there and you are free to look, but not touch. Worth the drive in any case.

[pops1]

ajh, while the Weber at Dave's was loud, I liked the Collings better, not as loud, but nicer tone to me. But at $7+++ I didn't take it home. The Loar is tight ok, when I played it last year it had too much neck relief, and I know it hasn't been played much in a long time. Should ask Dave to take it home and warm it up for him.:mandosmiley:

[Jim Garber]

Did either of you folks try this '24 Gibson F2 (http://davesguitar.com/products/gibson/f2-mandolin-1924/) at Dave's? That looks like it might be a sweet one.

[pops1]

Jim, I did try the F2 and it was right at the top for a favorite. I am teetering on that oval sound again and that one was nice. I just finished rebuilding a teens F4 that sound real sweet, not extremely deep, but really clean and nice. I am going back up to Dave's soon I think and sit and play them again. Last time I ran into some friends and we had a little jam instead of playing all the mando's so will have to go back. It's nice that he finally has mandolins.

[khetzel]

+1 for down home guitar in Frankfort il. Alot of high end acoustics.

[colorado_al]

Though Collings MT is a good bet, I'd still suggest playing them before you buy.
I was in Olde Town Pickin Parlor (http://www.picknparlor.com) today and played the 2 Collings MT they had and one was markedly better than the other.
http://www.picknparlor.com/mandolins/collings-mt
This one was far better sounding

[ajh]

Jim,
I tried all of their mando's. To be honest, I don't remember it being anything special compared to other old Gibson 2's and 4's. I may well have been prejudiced by how much I liked that Summit....I kept going back to that. I do remember that Collings being pretty strong also. That F2 was great eye candy though.
Tony

[Markus]

Spruce Tree is ok ... kind of small

If coming through Madison, it might be worth checking Madison Music, though they have focused more on acoustic guitars recently ... Do not see any Collings man dis listed there anymore.

[Paul South]

Besides Spruce Tree and Madison Music, there is also www.wardbrodt.com, they have a brand new Kentucky KM-675: was $999 - NOW $834.

Not sure about their set ups but that's a pretty good deal....good luck.