New Vessel February 18 1924 replica

[testore]

A few shots of the most recent product to come off of the bench. It is complete with Virzi, period fret wire and bridge.

[Marty Jacobson]

Epic!

[sunburst]

If you've seen real 2-18-24 F5s, and you've really looked at them, then you have an idea just how accurate this is. For those who haven't, perhaps these pictures will be help you understand.
Real 2-18-14 to the left, Gary's replica to the right.
159767
159768

[Spruce]

....could we have a shot of the peghead? (not...) ;)

[DataNick]

Gary,

As I've told you in person, you are a true artist Sir!

[grassrootphilosopher]

Very nice, Gary!

Since you´re a picker too, could you post a video/soundbyte of the mando in question. You could do the Dawg thing to the peghead.

Also I don´t want to nitpick, but: Is the mando really that "glitzy" (shiny finish, that is) or is it just the photo? Let me elaborate. I have a 1937 D-28 recreation by some world class luthiers. The finish on that guitar is not shiny in th way I have seen the finish on other vintage guitar recreations.

[William Smith]

GNARLY Gary! Simply Vicious! I wouldn't mind firing off a tune or two with that baby! + a verzi? Way Kool:cool:

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Brilliant stuff GV!
I'd very much like a go at that beastie.

Still more than happy with my own 2006 Vessel F5. :)

[William Smith]

Gary is a true craftsmen, His work is spectacular to say the least, I'd be proud to own that feb 18th clone even with the virzi I've always wanted a virzi,they do sound different and if they're done right they have a sound that I like! So many great mandolins but so little $! I think Gary's work is just as good as those expensive Distressed Gibson's! I'm really impressed and have been for quite sometime with his work ever since I seen that Monroe distressed copy he did years ago!-Way KOOL man-Wicked

[Skip Kelley]

Gary, that is nothing short of amazing! I'd love to put a pick to that!

[Spruce]

I think Gary's work is just as good as those expensive Distressed Gibson's!


...that's pretty funny... ;)

Looking forward to seeing this mandolin in the next few days...
Will try not to scratch it...

[William Smith]

...that's pretty funny... ;)

Looking forward to seeing this mandolin in the next few days...
Will try not to scratch it...

Really? I think his work is pretty darn good, maybe not exact Gibson but for something distressed I'm impressed. I'm sure Gary is quite a bit cheaper also, I see nothing wrong with his clone! I'd be proud to own it anyway!

[Spruce]

Really? I think his work is pretty darn good, maybe not exact Gibson....

More "exact Gibson" than Gibson, actually...

[pheffernan]

Its as if you read my mind. Please don't read my bank account.

[sunburst]

...I think Gary's work is just as good as those expensive Distressed Gibson's!...

Quite a bit better actually. Gary's "artificial aging" (mostly a collection of violin "antiquing" techniques, meticulously learned) are in another league compared to the work I've seen on distressed master models.

[William Smith]

I guess I misunderstood Spruce. No Biggy, I just thought Gary's work is spectacular!

[amowry]

Sweet!

[DataNick]

....could we have a shot of the peghead? (not...) ;)

Spruce,

Go to the Vessel Mandolins Facebook page...it's tastefully done as to be above controversy...

[testore]

Thanks for the kind words. The finish is not as shiny as it appears in the photos. I'll try to get a sound clip at some point. Here is a shot of the headstock

[RichieK]

This. Is. Just. Awesome.!

[Spruce]

Thanks for the kind words. The finish is not as shiny as it appears in the photos. I'll try to get a sound clip at some point. Here is a shot of the headstock

Hi Mr. Beavers.... ;)

[craigw]

Right down to the dovetailed point protectors! Awesome!

[grassrootphilosopher]

Thanks for the kind words. The finish is not as shiny as it appears in the photos. I'll try to get a sound clip at some point. Here is a shot of the headstock

That´s the way aha, aha, I like it...

Concerning the finish. Some like it glossy. The vintage look - to my mind - is not glossy. So evidently you´ve done good. I´m looking forward to a sound clip.

[DataNick]

Not that what Gibson produces in the Distressed MM line is suspect; on the contrary they make some really good mandolins that are pretty good Loar F5 replicas; but if Gibson wanted to make the best, authentic, imperceptible Loar era replica mandolin possible, they'd subcontract out to Gary, negotiate a price per model that he'd find acceptable and list them at $40K...they'd sell a boatload, and customers would be quite satisfied with a genuine Loar replica sold by Gibson!

[William Smith]

I love it Some of the best work I've seen:cool:

[Spruce]

Not that what Gibson produces in the Distressed MM line is suspect; on the contrary they make some really good mandolins that are pretty good Loar F5 replicas; but if Gibson wanted to make the best, authentic, imperceptible Loar era replica mandolin possible, they'd subcontract out to Gary, negotiate a price per model that he'd find acceptable and list them at $40K...they'd sell a boatload, and customers would be quite satisfied with a genuine Loar replica sold by Gibson!

Well, Gibson kinda did that with the first few (1.2.3...?) DMMs, when they shipped them off to a violin maker who knew what he was doing when it came to antiquing, no?
They also interestingly didn't mention that they had done so...

Those first few DMMs killed the ones that came later...
I saw one at Wintergrass that I sure wish I had taken pictures of--weird bubbly anomalies in the finish that you would never see in nature, and wear patterns that looked like they had passed it around the office with a dull knife and said "go for it"...

It just ain't that easy to do...

[DataNick]

...It just ain't that easy to do...

Hence the need to have Gary do it...nuff said, yes?

[Don Grieser]

Nailed it, Gary!

[testore]

Few more

[Spruce]

Hence the need to have Gary do it...nuff said, yes?

Uhhh, he is... ;)

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Bluegrasser78 - "...Monroe distressed copy ....". I agree !. That was a sensational piece of craftsmanship - it really made my eyes light up. This new one's simply collosal !!!,
Ivan:disbelief:

[William Smith]

From Bluegrasser78 - "...Monroe distressed copy ....". I agree !. That was a sensational piece of craftsmanship - it really made my eyes light up. This new one's simply collosal !!!,
Ivan:disbelief:

I hear ya this one with the virzi gives me serious wood "to dream about";)

[Spruce]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin... ;)

[Jeff Mando]

Great work!

[William Smith]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin... ;)

Boy I sure hope not, removing the virzi would be a bummer:(

[Steve Sorensen]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin... ;)

Bruce wins the internet today!

(Best tone comes when Virzi is removed at 2:00 in the morning with a screw driver and old coat hanger wire.)

Steve

[mtucker]

don't stop!

[Spruce]

Since you´re a picker too, could you post a video/soundbyte of the mando in question.

OK, I had a chance to visit with Gary today, and play Gary's Loar copy...what a fun day...
I recorded a little interview with him, where we had a chance to discuss the process of copying an iconic mandolin...
There's a sound clip of the mandolin, but the laptop mics show their limitations...you still can get the idea.
A killer sounding mandolin...woof.

...and I think you might get a kick out of our version of Mike Marshall and Todd Phillip's "The Virzexorcism" tape...enjoy...

Here 'tis (http://www.radiofreeolga.com/an-interview-with-luthier.html)...

[sgarrity]

Y'all are having way too much fun. I love it!!! :))

[RichieK]

Hysterical...Reminded me of Firesign Theatre.

[Spruce]

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/36372750276_0f939f1c92_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xq8Rs5)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/36417771805_1ee18d4e28_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xu7AMk)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4408/36249597662_1180642928_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XefEt9)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4408/36021271920_22a4360f9d_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WT5rbq)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4405/36417767575_bae1d9547b_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xu7zwp)

[Mark Seale]

A few shots of the most recent product to come off of the bench. It is complete with Virzi, period fret wire and bridge.

Incredible work!

- - - Updated - - -


Well, Gibson kinda did that with the first few (1.2.3...?) DMMs, when they shipped them off to a violin maker who knew what he was doing when it came to antiquing, no?
They also interestingly didn't mention that they had done so...

Those first few DMMs killed the ones that came later...
I saw one at Wintergrass that I sure wish I had taken pictures of--weird bubbly anomalies in the finish that you would never see in nature, and wear patterns that looked like they had passed it around the office with a dull knife and said "go for it"...

It just ain't that easy to do...

I've got a fiddle by that guy. It's a monster, as is most anything he touches.

[grassrootphilosopher]

OK, I had a chance to visit with Gary today, and play Gary's Loar copy...what a fun day...
I recorded a little interview with him, where we had a chance to discuss the process of copying an iconic mandolin...
There's a sound clip of the mandolin, but the laptop mics show their limitations...you still can get the idea.
A killer sounding mandolin...woof.

...and I think you might get a kick out of our version of Mike Marshall and Todd Phillip's "The Virzexorcism" tape...enjoy...

Here 'tis (http://www.radiofreeolga.com/an-interview-with-luthier.html)...

It was fun listening to the "interview"!

[William Smith]

Wow I would've left the virzi in after already the work putting it in:disbelief: I can't afford it anyway but still :cool:

[Spruce]

Wow I would've left the virzi in after already the work putting it in:disbelief: I can't afford it anyway but still :cool:

...but did you hear the way the mandolin sounded after the Virzectomy? ;)

[William Smith]

...but did you hear the way the mandolin sounded after the Virzectomy? ;)

Well to be honest with the virzi, I think it sounded great after the removal of the virzi what I heard was just chinese and terrible, is there a recording I'm not seeing/hearing? thats also posted? I think it was a mistake taking it out:disbelief:

[Spruce]

Well to be honest with the virzi, I think it sounded great after the removal of the virzi what I heard was just chinese and terrible, is there a recording I'm not seeing/hearing? thats also posted? I think it was a mistake taking it out:disbelief:

It just needs to open up a bit...

[William Smith]

Yeh once she's played in I'm sure it'll be louder, but I think out of the gate with the virzi it was already there. In my opinion anyway,as we all know we all have different perceptions of what we like in sound and voice in a mandolin well any instrument for that matter.

[William Smith]

Personally I think you guys were joking and left the virzi in! LOL The chinese sounds were impressive-ha

[sgarrity]

Gary, are you bringing that down to Summergrass?

[testore]

Shaun, I won't be able to make it down there. I have too many conflicts here to get away.

[Spruce]

Hysterical...Reminded me of Firesign Theatre.

High praise... ;)

[V70416]

Who's the violin maker you referred to?

[mandobassman]

This. Is. Just. Awesome.!

I remember yours Richie. I was a beauty!!

[Mark Seale]

Who's the violin maker you referred to?

Jon Cooper in Portland, ME