Mandolin Stores: Berlin, Prague, Nuremberg, Munich

[Pick&Grin]

Hey all,

I'm about to take some of my students over to Europe for a few weeks, and would love to check out mandolins while over there. The last post I saw for Prague was from 2008, so maybe it's time for an update.

Do any of you have any suggestions on where to go and Czech out [see what I did there?! :))] some mandolins in Berlin, Prague, Nuremberg, or Munich? Any advice would be much appreciated. It's going to be along time to be away from my mando, and who knows... maybe I'll bring home a new friend!

[Billy Packard]

....
???
(is there nobody home??)

Are there no mandolin sources in Eastern Europe?

I'm sensing a business opportunity here, people. Mr. Pick&Grin, take along a bakers dozen entry level Kentucky/Eastman mandolins, sell them, plant the seeds, follow up, START AN EMPIRE!!

The world needs more mandolins everywhere, they just don't know it yet.


PLANT SEEDS!!


Billy

billypackardmandolins.com

[Hendrik Ahrend]

Pick&Grin, the only mandolin place in München (Munich) would be the "Folkladen" http://www.folkladen.de/index.php?cat=c8_5-STRING-5-STRING.html
They sure used to have mandolins, don't know, if they still have. Might be worth calling the owner, Rüdiger Helbig.

Not all too far from Nürnberg (Nuremberg) is Thomann, one of the very few places in Germany, where you can actually compare different mandolins, even several Gibsons: https://www.thomann.de/de/gibson_mandolinen.html
Their address is: Hans-Thomann-Straße 1 96138 Burgebrach

In Berlin I remember the "American Guitar Shop": https://www.guitar-shop.de/

If you happen to be in North Western Germany, we'll set something up. I've got a few mandos right here; PM me

[musicology]

Hey,
seems like a nice plan :-)
In Nuremberg be sure to go to BTM-Guitars - a small but very fine shop with beautiful mandolins - they're the dealer for Eastman mandolins, too. Address: Fuerther Str. 236, 90429 Nuremberg
Have fun!

[Dan Adams]

Just returned from Prague a couple weeks ago. Found one musical instrument store downtown, just off the main pedestrian mall. Guitar Park. Not a large selection. One handmade F-style from a Czech luthier I had not heard do before visiting the store. Asked the owner about other stores and mentioned the popular Czech builders which he recognized, but the language barrier was too great to overcome. Had the impression he didn't know if the higher end models were available in town. We were limited to travelling by foot an using the local light rail so we didn't travel far from old town.

[Mattslouch]

Perhaps you could visit Mr Čapek in his workshop? www.capekinstruments.com

[brunello97]

Perhaps you could visit Mr Čapek in his workshop? www.capekinstruments.com

The Capek instruments look like fun. Certainly worth a visit. Must be some German mandolin makers to keep all those classical mandolinists busy.....

Not that it was the OPs original question, but some responses have me wondering why someone would travel from Iowa to Central Europe to look at the same Eastmans, Kentuckys (or Gibsons) that you would find in a typical shop in the US? :confused:

Mick

[crisscross]

If you look for "Mandolinenbauer" at the Mandoisland website, you'll find a list of German builders;

http://www.mandoisland.de/ then search on the left side for "Mandolinenbauer"
Most are classical mandolins, but there also are builders of BG-style mandolins.

https://www.n-mandolins.de/
http://www.woll-mandolinen.de/
http://www.knorr-mandolinen.de/
http://www.bruni-jacob.de/
http://www.gitarre-laute.de/

Just to mention a few...

[Pick&Grin]

Thanks so much, Henry Eagle, this is VERY helpful!
Sure wish I could visit and do some picking, together. On this trip over the pond I'm leading students on a 3-week course, so my route is laid out for me. Next time I'm in that neck of the woods, though!

[Pick&Grin]

Perhaps you could visit Mr Čapek in his workshop? www.capekinstruments.com

Great idea, Mattslouch. Thanks!

[Pick&Grin]

Just returned from Prague a couple weeks ago. Found one musical instrument store downtown, just off the main pedestrian mall. Guitar Park.

Thanks, Dan! I'll check it out. Great city, isn't it?!

[Pick&Grin]

Hey,
seems like a nice plan :-)
In Nuremberg be sure to go to BTM-Guitars - a small but very fine shop with beautiful mandolins - they're the dealer for Eastman mandolins, too. Address: Fuerther Str. 236, 90429 Nuremberg
Have fun!

Thanks musicology! That's right close to where I'll be one of the days I'm there. Will definitely check it out!