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swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:31am
I've had my new Holst for a week now, and am loving it from looks to most importantly tone. This mando is by far the prettiest I've owned and by far the best sounding mandolin I have ever played. Mental Floss almost bought this, but sent it back and lucky me got a shot at it. So you may have seen pics of it with an Ebony pickguard and tailpiece in a past thread. Steve asked if I would prefer the Cocobolo pickguard and tailpiece and I had him change it. Steve does some amazing work.

It has a Red Spruce top, Red Maple back sides and neck. Tortoise body binding and Curly binding around the fretboard. I have no finacial interest, but would highly recommend talking to him if you are looking for a top grade instrument. I was so impressed by this one I'm talking to him about building me a second.

I have a recording of it a couple of days old on my Soundclick page in my signature. Look for Loneliness (Holst).

Here are some pics: (sorry for the low quality)


http://a444.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/56/m_fd8d76d7c22398ae01b48c807b25eb4b.jpg

http://a476.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/21/l_fc21af3a7bc94971ac2ae6d36d6bdbfb.jpg

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:32am
http://a476.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/21/m_fc21af3a7bc94971ac2ae6d36d6bdbfb.jpg

http://a701.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/32/m_eb7c09cf03192e3938bfceeb53fe22cc.jpg

http://a608.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/43/l_6460ff37f1856873e4035edba6f13737.jpg

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:33am
http://a952.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/24/m_9acb50a8c73d94db77586856fb82e9f7.jpg

http://a177.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/23/l_330297651beb82561e1b502165d27f18.jpg

mboucher
Mar-22-2007, 9:35am
You know I got hooked into that 'if it does have a scroll' then it ain't a mandolin garbage but your mandolin is another testimony that is so far from the truth. What a beautiful instrument.

Mark

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:35am
http://a521.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/16/l_432088e97f401caecf5b3d46f85c05c8.jpg

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:36am
I'm not missing the scroll at all http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

LeonEvans
Mar-22-2007, 9:44am
Congratulations Terry,

Welcome to the small but growing family of Holst owners. I hope you enjoy that beauty for many years to come.

Leon
--
Holst C5

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:49am
Thanks Leon! Your post and comments are what got me interested in Holst.

SternART
Mar-22-2007, 9:51am
How is that tailpiece attached?

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 9:54am
The tailpiece is attached by a plate similar to a regular tail piece then the wood is screwed on to that plate. Steve makes them himself.

SternART
Mar-22-2007, 10:11am
Kind of a hybrid tailpiece then......an ebony one, but attached more like a traditional tailpiece, rather
than the floating ebony tailpieces suspended by wire like John Monteleone and Neil Dean are using.
Thanks Terry......nice lookin 2 point......I like the no strap button approach too......

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 10:14am
Yes a Hybrid. This one is actually Cocobolo with just a strip of Ebony. I think they are similar to the tailpieces he uses on his archtop guitars. Steve's Website Holst Mandolins (http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/mandolins.htm)

JEStanek
Mar-22-2007, 10:19am
Yummy. Enjoy it!

Jamie

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 10:21am
Definately enjoying it. I've been playing 6 hours a day and still walk away wishing I could play more http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I finally found one I'm going to grow older with. This one is a keeper!!

kyblue
Mar-22-2007, 10:28am
You had me from
2 point, Blonde w/tortoise.

Paula

Brad Weiss
Mar-22-2007, 10:33am
Beautfiul mandolin- and great playing as ever on the soundclick file. It sounds like it has a very pronounced range- woofy bass and strong trebles. More musical than the Weber, to my ear...

Skip Kelley
Mar-22-2007, 12:44pm
Very nice mandolin! Everything about it is classy!

swinginmandolins
Mar-22-2007, 2:03pm
Thanks for the comments. Steve's work is amazing.

[QUOTE]Beautfiul mandolin- and great playing as ever on the soundclick file. It sounds like it has a very pronounced range- woofy bass and strong trebles. More musical than the Weber, to my ear...

Thanks Brad, and you are correct the range is awesome. It has the bass I felt the Weber was lacking and a very crisp mid and high range. Not to berate Weber, or their Cedar tops, which was the best Weber I have played to date but the Holst is a much better mando for my music. The response is great from a finger pluck to a full chord, something else I was wanting in a mando. Like I said in a previous post this one is a keeper.

Jim MacDaniel
Mar-22-2007, 6:41pm
Nice, and great choice on finish and binding -- I've always loved the way tortoise and honey works together.

Jason Kessler
Mar-23-2007, 7:52am
Stunning.

mandolooter
Mar-23-2007, 10:49am
nice picking Terry...glad your new custom box is just what ya wanted...do'er proud!

swinginmandolins
Mar-25-2007, 12:12pm
Thanks again for all the complements. It's all Steve. This instrument has me convinced that independent builders put something special into their instruments that make them better. I always felt I was missing something in the production instruments I had, now I know that is true. At least with Steve's work, I'm sure it's the same with others as well. I highly recommend finding an independent builder you like the sound of and getting one build by them, you won't be disappointed.

mandolooter
Mar-25-2007, 1:38pm
could it be a little more "love" added in to each one?

Jim Nollman
Mar-26-2007, 12:12pm
Hewy terry, To be honest, the pics of your mandolin look like most of the other pics you see here, with a nothing-special charm to it. A good-looking handmade with a nice touch on the bridge. Then I listened to the mp3 of you playing it. Whoa!! That is one special bell-like sustaining instrument you have there my friend. Did you add reverb to the recording and not mention that? Just kidding. I have been on the cafe since the start of 2007. I give this mandolin the award as the best sounding mp3.

i also like the tune i heard. Put me on your mailing list, in case you are ever playing in the Pacific Northwest. Solo progressive mandolin! Now that's a tantalizing concept.

swinginmandolins
Mar-26-2007, 4:54pm
Jim, Thanks for the complement and to be honest I did add a hint of reverb http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Only to enhance what was already there. I used a SM57 and a cheap large diaphram mic, so the mics didn't do it justice nor did I.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, Olympia area, and do an occasional performance. Last one was at the Mandolin Cafe in Tacoma.

Jim Nollman
Mar-26-2007, 5:49pm
I could tell there was some reverb on it. But that's not what i was commenting on. The bell-like tone is what I also seek in a mandolin, so you have me thinking I, too, may someday be content with ONLY one instrument. Is there really a mandolin cafe in Tacoma? You ought to be the houseband all by yourself.

swinginmandolins
Mar-26-2007, 5:59pm
Yes, there really is an actual Mandolin Cafe Mandolin Cafe, Tacoma WA (http://www.themandolincafe.com/)
Very cool place. Mandolin art and old mandolins on the wall. Great food and coffee. I went up there to see the The Emerald City Mandolin Quartet (http://www.ecmq.net/) a few weeks after I had played there. Highly recommended visit if you are in the area or in town.

As far as the crispness of the Holst, I took it to a lesson with me and when my student first played it the first words out of his mouth were "Wow, that is crisp" I smiled because that is exactly what made me want to keep it.

Jim Nollman
Mar-27-2007, 10:36am
Terry can you tell me, briefly, how you included a link to the words — mandolin cafe — into your message? I notice all the little buttons above this writing box, but I'm not sure how to use http://, @, or code buttons. I bet lots of people here would appreciate a quick lesson.

swinginmandolins
Mar-27-2007, 10:40am
To include a link in your post click the http:// button and a text box will appear, type or paste the URL of the website and click ok. The next textbox will appear that is where you type in the name of the website or what the link is pointing to.