Red diamond f5

[Hallmark498]

Just wanting some feelback. They look great on the website, wondering if anyone here has played one and what did ya think?

I think Im starting to feel a little MAS.

[Bill Snyder]

They are supposed to be top shelf mandolins.
Threads here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=35977;hl=diamond) and here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=13154;hl=diamond) about them. They are also mentioned in several other threads where people ask about some of the better/best mandolins available.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Don builds them perfectly, I rate them in the same arena as any top builder, in fact if I ever sold the farm it would be for a Red Diamond!

[Hallmark498]

Thanks, I've spent some time doing the search, but no luck!

[Chris Biorkman]

I heard he has a few crusher replicas that aren't spoken for. I think they are $12,500.

[sunburst]

Top shelf sound, for sure.
If you're the type who examines and looks for any detail that isn't perfect, you can find cleaner work elsewhere, but I give 'em an A in the fit and finish department too. "A good, workmanlike job", I'd say.

[MandoBen]

I have played two, an A and an F that were a few years old, I felt the price reflected the fit and finish a little more than the tone, but that is just my opinion. They were both beautiful, practically flawless, but I thought better tone and volume could be had for less money.

[billhay4]

I got to hear Grismans' crusher last summer and even plucked a few chords on it. It's a powerful, crisp instrument. Very impressive. I didn't even look at it very closely; the sound was so powerful.
Bill

[sgarrity]

What sunburst said. I've owned two. Selling the first one and not keeping the second one rank as two of my more foolish mistakes.....

[G. Fisher]

Crushers are $20,000.

[Chris Biorkman]

Crushers are $20,000.
Holy cow. I stand corrected.

[Spruce]

If you're looking for a Loar-like tone in a modern mandolin, Don's are a good place to start your search...

[sgarrity]

I can confirm that as well....

[Jonathan Peck]

I have Don's pricelist from 3 months ago and they were 12,500- at that time. That's quite a jump.

[Chris Biorkman]

The CPI only rose 0.4% in January. I'm confused.

[sgarrity]

Supply and demand I reckon.....his A5's went up as well....they are amazing sounding instruments!

[Chris Biorkman]

Isn't Dawg still using the Giacomel as his main instrument? I know Josh Pinkham plays a Red Diamond. That kid can play.

[Crowder]

It's interesting to me that the same mandolins from the same builder were selling for much less 18=24 months ago. What changed? The Grisman endorsement doesn't hurt, I suppose. It seems very rare that a buiilder would get to instrument #150 or so and then have such a big jump in prices.

Note: Observations only, not criticism.

[Jonathan Peck]

I have the price list in my hand and it says -

Standard Model "F" Style -10,500

"Vintage" Pro Model "F" - 12,500

There is no mention of the Crusher model. when I spoke to Don he said the the Vintage model was an average of different Loars and that The Crusher had the same geaduations as Dawg's Loar. The price he quoted to me at that time was 12,500-. Can anyone verify that he has raised his prices to 20k?

[Denny Gies]

For the money you are talking about you should also look at a Randy Wood F5.

[Crowder]

For the money you are talking about you should also look at a Randy Wood F5.
Word. I played a gently-used one the other day that was an excellent instrument. It seemed very true to Loar specs.

[Paul Kotapish]

I have played several and they have all been superb. Go for it. I double-dog dare you.

[f5loar]

For way less then $20,000 you can get a DMM from Gibson and it's kinda Loar like http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
One comando went there last week and was offered a Roberts signed DMM for $15,000. I've seen several at the $18,000 mark.

[Mando Gil]

I think Johnny Stats plays a one of Don's mandolins. He doesn't get a whole of attention on this board but he is unbelievable. When I talked with him after a show he said that it is the best he had ever played. I don't know if that is speaking to set up, tone or both. If I thought it help me to sound like him I would sell my car and get one.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Some serious sourse's have told me that The Crusher sounds better on stage then Dawgs Loar.

[jaco]

I've played Josh's Red Diamond and another one recently that used to belong to Lou Reid (#118). Amazing instruments. Josh is extremely picky about his instruments and has played
some of the world's best. His endorsement alone is cause for consideration. Play one if you get the chance and decide for yourself.

[Don Grieser]

How often do you see used a Red Diamond for sale? I think I've seen 4 or 5 on the classifieds in the years I've been on the cafe (and that's counting Shaun's twice). That should tell you a lot.

[pjlama]

I got geeked and mailed back and forth with Don recently and have the price list and got the pricing for the replicas. I'd love a Crusher but 20k kinda scared me. The price for the Vintage seems like the going rate for top shelf stuff right now. I sure would like to try one.

[woodwizard]

Tone Monster: Some serious sourse's have told me that The Crusher sounds better on stage then Dawgs Loar.
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No offence but I doubt that to be true http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Rick Schmidlin]

Tone Monster: Some serious sourse's have told me that The Crusher sounds better on stage then Dawgs Loar.
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No offence but I doubt that to be true #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
It came from a really true sourse. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Yellowmandolin]

Fantastic instruments... As I've said before on the board, I think they are some of the finest Loar styled mandos around. If you get the chance, play one!

[fredfrank]

Tone Monster: Some serious sources have told me that The Crusher sounds better on stage then Dawg's Loar.
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No offense, but I doubt that to be true #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
It came from a really true source. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Buy one and then you'll know.

[Chris Biorkman]

Lol. No offense, but you're a liar. I believe you FWIW.

[Bill Van Liere]

No, Fred used to own a Collings, then he owned a Fern and now he owns a Red Diamond.

Plus he knows how to play it.

[Chris Biorkman]

I wasn't talking about Fred's comment. Read the posts before his.

[fredfrank]

Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane, Bill.

Besides, I just wanted to do a little spelling correction.

[pjlama]

Just to clarify he didn't raise his prices. The replica models are 20k the rest are the same as they were.

[goose 2]

I too agree the Red Diamonds are top notch. I bought one of Don's vintage A models that is voiced just the same as the Crusher models. Simply put, I could not be happier. The mandolin plays so nicely and the tone is fantastic. It perfectly captures the look and feel of a vintage instrument and is a very fine handmade instrument. It is very very responsive with great clarity, not too much sustain with great balance across the strings. I bought and sold many mandolins before coming across this one (yes Fred, the birdseye MT2-V is gone) and I am done looking for a great A style mandolin. , I have the nicest DMM one could ever hope for, other wise I would be hunting down one of the vintage Fs with the Crusher voicing. I am lucky to have two fabulous instruments to play!!! Thanks Don.

[fredfrank]

James, you don't know how close I came to buying that birdseye back from you.

Congrats on your entry into the RD club. I saw your name on the owners list, and then I knew what was up.

[mandopete]

Yeah, and I wanted to buy it from Fred, but I already had a MF-5.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Regarding the 'better than Dawg's Loar' comment. FWIW, I have played two Loars. One was not that impressive and one was a really nice sounding mandolin. I've heard modern mandolin that were better than both. Granted, I have not gotten to play Reischman's, Ron Thomason's, or Dawg's (or other famous Loars). But there are huge differences in tone among just those three. If Don's Crusher sounds close enough to compare to the better Loars... well, one should consider obtaining one if they can swing it.

[Billfiddl3r]

Don Mac builds instruments that are extremely close to loar specs and tone. I picked one up
at a renfro valley jam that was a vintage and it shocked me the way it played and sounded!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif