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bradeinhorn
Feb-16-2007, 10:58am
Any John Sullivan mandos out there???

Russ Jordan
Feb-26-2007, 7:23am
Here's a John Sullivan I used to own. Big leaf quilted back and sides, mahogany neck, German spruce top. Its a dandy.

Russ Jordan
Feb-26-2007, 7:24am
and the back:

Russ Jordan
Feb-26-2007, 7:26am
John Sullivan does not number, but names his mandolins. This one is The Angel. I miss it! Here is the headstock:

bradeinhorn
Feb-26-2007, 10:42am
very nice...wonder what mine's name is...

Russ Jordan
Feb-26-2007, 11:31am
I think the name was written on a small label--it may have been on the underside of the top.

How do you like your Sullivan?

bradeinhorn
Feb-26-2007, 2:23pm
ouch- sounds hard to get to without some dental mirror or something - which part of the top? the mando is totally flooring me. sweet and powerful simutaneously. very pleased with it.

Russ Jordan
Feb-26-2007, 2:52pm
I think I put a mirror in the bass f hole to see the name under the top.

Enjoy your mando!

bootinz
Feb-26-2007, 6:31pm
I have an A that John made last year. I couldn't be happier with it. I think John's mandolins are the greatest value on the mando market right now. Anyone considering a new (or if you can find one used) should look at John's instruments. They are top quality.

bradeinhorn
Feb-26-2007, 6:57pm
post some picks bootinz. would love to see yours, too.

david blair
Feb-28-2007, 2:52am
A few years ago I had to decide, and it was between a Sullivan or Michael Lewis. I'm really happy with my Lewis! Anyway, a great player I know of with a Sullivan has a band called "Taarka". He- David Tiller is an incredible player of progressive music. It's a black top F style, and he's proud of it.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.c....5949051 (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=105949051)

bradeinhorn
Feb-28-2007, 12:02pm
David's was the first sullivan i played. that is a nice one. very similar in tone to mine as i recall.

bootinz
Feb-28-2007, 3:19pm
here's an '06

bootinz
Feb-28-2007, 3:20pm
and the back

bootinz
Feb-28-2007, 3:34pm
peghead

bradeinhorn
Feb-28-2007, 10:00pm
cool, much like mine but no black top. and you have gold hardware. did you put that tailpiece on or did it come with it?

bootinz
Feb-28-2007, 10:07pm
It came with it but John doesn't like them.

bradeinhorn
Feb-28-2007, 10:45pm
ah.

JamesBryan
Mar-01-2007, 2:17am
I posted this in December:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....esbryan (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=39729;hl=jamesbryan)

A couple months later, she's developing a mellow voice. Flat wound Thmastiks have helped, thanks Ted.

Colonel Kevin (Bootinz) let me know when you're around and we'll swap a few tunes! JBo

bootinz
Mar-01-2007, 3:28am
JBo
I'll be back from Afghanistan in the Fall. 4th tour since 2003.
KJ http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

amowry
Mar-01-2007, 11:06am
There's a bluegrass band here in Oregon called Jackstraw-- both the mando player and guitarist play Sullivan instruments, and they sound great.

bradeinhorn
Mar-01-2007, 11:44am
yeah - john is from protland as well. ever come in contact with him for repair work or anything? i have been trying to reach him about building me a tailpiece but cant seem t oget through.

Christopher Standridge
Mar-01-2007, 11:48am
Andrew, if you don't mind I would like to clarify your post. Nice talking with you and Bill saturday night, by the way.
John Sullivan is my favorite luthier and has been a constant source of inspiration to me. The guitarist in Jackstraw also plays in a gypsy/swing/django band called the KungPao Chickens. When he had John build him a guitar, he wanted an archtop for the jazz band. The guitar turned out amazing and so powerful that he uses it not only with the Chickens but also with the bluegrass band, Jackstraw.
Now that's a luthier's luthier!
Does anybody happen to have pics of Neufeld's guitar?

KenR
Mar-01-2007, 12:00pm
Not sure this qualifies for the thread but John recarved my KM1500 last year and turned it into an incredible sounding mandolin. An excellent representation of it's sound can be heard on YouTube if you do a search for Back Eddy Bluegrass and click on the Harlan or Chimpanzanita videos. He recarved the top and back, refinished in varnish and also scooped the fingerboard extension. All at a very reasonable cost.

James P
Mar-01-2007, 12:10pm
David Tiller has a Sullivan archtop, too. I took some lessons from him last winter. He had it tuned in fifths when he showed it to me. May've been the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen.

bradeinhorn
Mar-01-2007, 12:16pm
there you are

mandolooter
Mar-01-2007, 12:44pm
Isn't that Jackstraws geeter and mando?

bradeinhorn
Mar-01-2007, 12:49pm
you are correct. it's a sullivan two-fer! good eye.