PDA

View Full Version : Ugh. It happened.


Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 8:23am
I've turned into a mando slut.

After years happily playing guitar, I bought a fifty-dollar Fender mandolin on impulse three or four years ago. Sold that, got two more - a Mid-Missouri and a Red Line - and still can't let a day go by without browsing the classifieds here.

Can't say you didn't warn me. Thought I'd be content with one, but you all knew better. An old Gibson oval? A reso? What else do I need? Better check the classifieds again . . . .

Is there a cure? I hope not! If I'd know how much fun the dern things could be, I'd've fallen into the deep end years ago!
MontanaMatt
Apr-14-2018, 9:18am
No mando slut shame from this crowd! Your secrets are safe with us :mandosmiley:
Marty Jacobson
Apr-14-2018, 9:21am
A "major purchase" for a mandolin person is a "minor tune-up" for a boat person... carry on.
Timbofood
Apr-14-2018, 9:23am
Someone once told me the two best days in a boat owners life..

“The day he buys it and, the day he sells it!” And she was a serious boat person!
Jack Roberts
Apr-14-2018, 9:27am
I avoid alcohol, I eschew tobacco, I spurn porn, I don't even own a television. But I can't stay away from the mandolin Cafe Classifieds! (Even though I don't buy anything.)

Be sure to support the Cafe!
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 9:30am
A "major purchase" for a mandolin person is a "minor tune-up" for a boat person... carry on.
I'll try that one on my wife. She's getting too used to "At least it's not motorcycles."
Dave Sheets
Apr-14-2018, 9:33am
I'll try that one on my wife. She's getting too used to "At least it's not motorcycles."

Well, at least she's never gonna get that phone call..."Ma'am, your husband has been in a serious mandolin accident...."
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 9:33am
. . . Be sure to support the Cafe!
Fer sher!
lflngpicker
Apr-14-2018, 9:35am
Great thread, Charlie and made me laugh. Well, I always try to justify my MAS by explaining to my wife that if I could still drive I would be buying old collectable cars to fix up and that would cost so much more! :mandosmiley:
DataNick
Apr-14-2018, 9:48am
Your cure, or at least treatment that will terminate the compelling need to acquire another one, is to step up and get a really good instrument.
Jack Roberts
Apr-14-2018, 9:54am
I stopped buying after I bought a beautiful F4 years back. But that doesn't mean I don't lust after every quilted maple backside I see...
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 9:55am
Your cure, or at least treatment that will terminate the compelling need to acquire another one, is to step up and get a really good instrument.
That's exactly what I thought.

Live and learn!

PS - Love your Vince Lombardi quote!
MikeZito
Apr-14-2018, 10:00am
As someone who has owned both top-of-the line mandolins, and junkers, I am not sure that MAS is easy to be cured of - especially for those of us who know that we have addictive personalities.

Got a nice F-5, then how about an oval hole for variety? Got a good mandolin to gig with, how about one that you can take to picnics, camping or vacations without worry of damage? Got a nice acoustic, how about picking up an electric to experiment with? etc.

As has been said many times before; as long as you can put a roof over your head, food on the table, and keep clothes on the family - why not responsibly indulge once in a while?
Willie Poole
Apr-14-2018, 10:46am
I have owned more than one mandolin, boat and motorcycle and each time I got rid of anyone of them I had tears in my eyes, mostly when the boat was leaving my driveway... never bought another boat or motor cycle but do still look for bargains on mandolins...

Willie
allenhopkins
Apr-14-2018, 10:49am
...I eschew tobacco,...

That "eschewing" 'backy will give ya mouth cancer, I've heard. Jus' a health tip...
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 11:07am
That "eschewing" 'backy will give ya mouth cancer, I've heard. Jus' a health tip...
If he eschews one more time I'm giving him my hanky.
MikeZito
Apr-14-2018, 11:21am
I have owned more than one mandolin, boat and motorcycle and each time I got rid of anyone of them I had tears in my eyes

In most cases I feel the same way about the literally dozens of instruments that I have sold in my life - but with the exception of just a few, I felt much better once I had the cash in my hand.
Br1ck
Apr-14-2018, 11:50am
I have pretty much reached saturation with guitars, but every time I think I could sell a few, I play them. End of story.

Now as to your situation, I think you just have to have an old Gibson. I'm a sucker for a white top A3 with just the right amount of finish worn off from arm rub.

Mandolin spending is cheaper for me than the almost daily Amazon deliveries. I mean, four or five days a week. I don't know what there is left for the wife to buy.
Roger Moss
Apr-14-2018, 12:07pm
That "eschewing" 'backy will give ya mouth cancer, I've heard. Jus' a health tip...

I think it's an "eschaw" of backy down here...
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 12:11pm
I think it's an "eschaw" of backy down here...
Well THAT explains it. I tot eschaw a puddy tat!
Roger Moss
Apr-14-2018, 12:25pm
Now as to your situation, I think you just have to have an old Gibson. I'm a sucker for a white top A3 with just the right amount of finish worn off from arm rub.

I would greatly enjoy having a '20s Gibson A style with some wear but not trashed, but only because I like really old stuff. Monetary value or build quality are strictly secondary. At any rate, it's only academic, since I don't foresee having that kind of money (beg beg whimper grovel).
indexless
Apr-14-2018, 12:40pm
That's how I cured it, long time guitar player, dabbled in Mando, got serious 4 years ago, went through a pile of them, stepped up and bought a great one....MAS gone


That's exactly what I thought.

Live and learn!

PS - Love your Vince Lombardi quote!
tiltman
Apr-14-2018, 2:43pm
I have a buddy that got an airplane a few years ago (not a rich guy, btw..).
Fuel, maintenance, hanger fees...
So I always tell my wife - "at least it's not an airplane "!

Kirk
colorado_al
Apr-14-2018, 2:59pm
There is no cure for MAS. Only periodic treatments that put it into remission for a time.
I've put myself on a one in, one out regimen that has helped to prevent associated build-up, but it does nothing to actually halt MAS.
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 4:16pm
That's how I cured it, long time guitar player, dabbled in Mando, got serious 4 years ago, went through a pile of them, stepped up and bought a great one....MAS gone
My two are as great as I need great to be. But - no reso? no vintage? no oval? no electric? 'Scuse me while I go down to the duck pond and wait for my ship to come in! . . .
Kevin Stueve
Apr-14-2018, 4:36pm
I've a great one, but if my ship comes in I"m calling Mike Black to build me a GBOM
Chris Daniels
Apr-14-2018, 4:41pm
I have a buddy that got an airplane a few years ago (not a rich guy, btw..).
Fuel, maintenance, hanger fees...
So I always tell my wife - "at least it's not an airplane "!

Kirk

As a past and future airplane owner, ain't it the truth! :mandosmiley:

I'm just glad my current mando collection has sated my MAS for the time being, although browsing the Cafe classifieds is a daily occurrence...

C.
Willem
Apr-14-2018, 4:43pm
I guess being a boat and mandolin guy, I am fully screwed...
Dave Greenspoon
Apr-14-2018, 4:46pm
And after the acoustic quiver is replete...come the electrics...and then effects. Welcome to the "spark-side". Bwwaaaahahahahahaha.
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 5:33pm
And after the acoustic quiver is replete...come the electrics...and then effects. Welcome to the "spark-side". Bwwaaaahahahahahaha.
Oh yeah. You'll notice that electric is on the list of mandos I don't have. Yet. But there's a cute little Alvarez looking lost and lonely at Reverb dot com . . . .
pheffernan
Apr-14-2018, 6:39pm
My two are as great as I need great to be. But - no reso? no vintage? no oval? no electric?

I started with a MidMo and a Redline and have gone on to try a reso (National RM-1), vintage (Gibson snakehead), and oval (Black A2-z). No electric though . . . yet. ;)


I've a great one, but if my ship comes in I"m calling Mike Black to build me a GBOM

Oh yeah, I've got one of those too. :))
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-14-2018, 6:56pm
I started with a MidMo and a Redline and have gone on to try a reso (National RM-1), vintage (Gibson snakehead), and oval (Black A2-z). No electric though . . . yet. ;)

Sounds like we're barking up the same tree! I'd kill for a walnut RM-1, but I'd have to sell my house to pay for it.
pheffernan
Apr-14-2018, 7:38pm
Sounds like we're barking up the same tree! I'd kill for a walnut RM-1, but I'd have to sell my house to pay for it.

If you find one used, it's just one mortgage payment. :))

166771166772
Mike Snyder
Apr-14-2018, 7:40pm
A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into. So I sold the boat to buy a camper to do festivals and play music. Nearing retirement, I’m missing the boat. Not enough to sell a mandolin but, damn, that was a great fishing rig.
indexless
Apr-14-2018, 8:24pm
My two are as great as I need great to be. But - no reso? no vintage? no oval? no electric? 'Scuse me while I go down to the duck pond and wait for my ship to come in! . . .

Charlie, Guitars and amps are a whole different ball game
Mandoplumb
Apr-14-2018, 8:25pm
There is no cure for MAS. Only periodic treatments that put it into remission for a time.
I've put myself on a one in, one out regimen that has helped to prevent associated build-up, but it does nothing to actually halt MAS.

Don't understand the one in one out concept. Do you mean that you SELL one or get rid of it in some way. How do you do that?
I do fine on the in but I can't bring myself to out. I sold an Aria years ago and still morn it although I have much better mandolins now.
KGreene
Apr-14-2018, 10:08pm
Your cure, or at least treatment that will terminate the compelling need to acquire another one, is to step up and get a really good instrument.

Yup...at least for a while .... I had the opportunity to play a 2010 Sam Bush model recently ... I find myself wanting those block inlays, not to mention the sound was incredible.
Bertram Henze
Apr-15-2018, 2:40am
I have a buddy that got an airplane a few years ago (not a rich guy, btw..).
Fuel, maintenance, hanger fees...
So I always tell my wife - "at least it's not an airplane "!

Kirk

Until you have your mandos flown in with a helicopter (https://youtu.be/uoaBjHYsDAg) each for an hour of practise...
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-15-2018, 10:41am
Charlie, Guitars and amps are a whole different ball game
=O.

Than . . . ?
Charlie Bernstein
Apr-15-2018, 10:46am
If you find one used, it's just one mortgage payment. :))

This is Augusta, Maine. It'd take at least three mortgage payments.
lflngpicker
Apr-15-2018, 2:26pm
Charlie, Guitars and amps are a whole different ball game

Indexless, I too have been down the guitars and amps road, literally all my life since my first electric in 1965, and you are right. Especially when you factor in the tube amp and all of its versions. Mandolins are such a great thing because all of your passion for playing can be contained in one small instrument that you can hold sitting in a fairly small space.