View Full Version : Pomeroy a-style
Uncle Choppy
Jul-26-2008, 8:38am
Don Paine just sent through a few pictures of the latest progress on my new mandolin that I though some folks here might like to see.
I was looking for a Gibson-esque oval-soundhole for the classic old-time/celtic sound and after some research (a lot on the Cafe) decided to go with a Pomeroy.
I went for a Pumpkin top with red/brown back and sides with Don's satin finish.
I was going for a fairly plain look (to match my fairly plain budget!) so I opted to lose the back binding and went for a less-figured back and sides. This freed up some cash toards a couple of extras; the single-strand rosette and a James tailpiece.
I'm very pleased with the look. I would have been happy with no flame/figure on the back sides but Don used some great, "natural" looking timber (I don't like the extreme B-B-Q flamed backs anyway).
Don recommended the Englemann/Englemenn (I see both spellings!) spruce top and I've gone for a 1 3/16" nut width.
There are still a couple of finish coats to go on and then it'll need to cure for a while before the final hardware installation/stringing up.
Don has been fantastic to deal with - very patient and accomodating. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to playing it!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2703831844_ef9f7b6c2b_o.jpg
A few more pictures here:
Top (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2703831878_c76a64a7c5_o.jpg)
Front (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2703831918_a6edc1807d_o.jpg)
Back (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2703009585_66e5fcd20d_o.jpg)
mandolooter
Jul-26-2008, 9:20am
looks very nice!
LKN2MYIS
Jul-26-2008, 9:31am
I have #64, one of Don's F4 models.
He makes great sounding, looking, and playing instruments. You won't be disappointed.
Fliss
Jul-26-2008, 12:36pm
That looks great!
Fliss
Siminole
Jul-26-2008, 3:43pm
That looks really nice. Don is one really fantastic craftsman. He built an F5 for me with an old wood Englemenn top and I could not be more pleased. Sounds like Bells ringing, beautiful sound. Good luck I know you are really looking forward to having it in your hands.
Al
Uncle Choppy
Jul-26-2008, 6:05pm
He built an F5 for me with an old wood Englemenn top and I could not be more pleased. #Sounds like Bells ringing, beautiful sound.
I'm really happy to hear that!
When we were agreeing the spec. Don recommended that I go for some 70-year-old, air-dried Englemenn that he's got (sounds like the same stuff?).
Don described it as one of the greatest discoveries that he's made over the last few years. He said it as "strong" and "open" sounding straight from the shop, as opposed to the Adirondack, which he felt took a few years to reach it's full potential. He also thought that the Englemenn complemented the sweet, round oval-hole tone very well.
pjlama
Jul-26-2008, 7:51pm
His ovals sound great, I've been threatening to order one but I've been too impatient to actually order any mandolin. You're going to be very happy, congrats.
Congrats! It looks mighty fine. I'm sure you'll be pleased.
If you want to listen to my Pom follow this link. We just recorded a new song:
Pomeroy F5 (http://www.myspace.com/sandyhillstringband)
Uncle Choppy
Jul-28-2008, 8:23am
If you want to listen to my Pom follow this link. We just recorded a new song:
Pomeroy F5 (http://www.myspace.com/sandyhillstringband)
Oggy - that sounds great!
The song, mandolin and playing are all excellent.
Loved your break. Tonally, the Pom sounds very bell-like but with a nice, woody attack.
Don mentioned a recent customer from Sweden during our discussions. Maybe that was you?
How long have you owned your Pomeroy?
John Hill
Jul-28-2008, 8:24am
That's a sweet looking oval. Love the colors.
Thanks for your kind words Uncle Choppy. I have owned the Pom for exactly two years now, and it's getting better and better.
Uncle Choppy
Aug-09-2008, 3:30pm
Don sent through a few photos of the finished mandolin today. He seems pleased with the sound (even field tested it at a small gig!) and, needless to say, I can't wait to get my hands on my "Pumpkin Pom":
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2747810286_669af03f0d_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2746978655_ba86d1378c_o.jpg
Uncle Choppy
Aug-09-2008, 3:34pm
A couple more:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2747810588_0a83315fe5.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2747810482_50ee0ed18c.jpg
Larry S Sherman
Aug-09-2008, 3:47pm
Great color...another awesome Pomeroy!
cooper4205
Aug-09-2008, 3:57pm
Good looking mandolin, it's got a vintage vibe to it. That's an interesting spot for the strap button -- was it you're idea or is that where Don normally puts them?
JEStanek
Aug-09-2008, 5:39pm
Don makes great looking mandolins. Love the color and finish.
Jamie
Siminole
Aug-09-2008, 7:01pm
That is a great looking Pomeroy, really love the coloring. Sooo........now the wait begins. Let us know when you receive it. Al
Uncle Choppy
Aug-09-2008, 7:07pm
Thanks for the comments.
I love the pumpkin finish (I suppose I'm a bit fed up of sunbursts!).
I tend to like the one-colour finishes such as blacktop, whiteface, blonde and I'm quite partial to the Eastman violin brown. On old Gibsons, I love the contrast between the bit of the mandolin where the neck joins the body being the same colour as the back/sides and the top colour (if that makes sense) hence my specific request for that on my mandolin.
I asked for the strap button on the heel but left the exact placement to Don. It's where I want it to be though - I've never liked messing about with bits of string/bootlace. I find it gets in the way when tied behind the nut (at least with an A5 you can tie under the fingerboard extension).
Kevin Briggs
Aug-23-2008, 10:48pm
I can verify that it is where the strap buttons usually are on Pomeroys.
Steve-o
Aug-24-2008, 8:56am
Uncle Choppy,
Very nice vintage style Pom. I agree with you on the pumkin top. Did you take delivery yet? Let us know about the tone, playability, etc.
Uncle Choppy
Aug-25-2008, 4:31pm
Very nice vintage style Pom. #I agree with you on the pumkin top. #Did you take delivery yet? #Let us know about the tone, playability, etc.
I've had it for a few days but haven't yet had too much time to play it.
First impressions are very positive. I'm no expert but it seems to do the A-style, oval soundhole thing perfectly. It has a rounded, "nutty" sound with plenty of ring to it and a nice even string-to-string balance. It looks better in the flesh too - the pumpkin is slightly less orange and the low-gloss finish feels very tactile.
I'm very pleased and will try and put some soundclips up at some point. My limited playing won't really do it justice though (listen to LarueLucky's Pomeroy A2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-oNohW_yC4) to hear how these should sound!).
mario515
Aug-26-2008, 12:10am
well aint this a cowinky dinky, I just took possesion of the Pomeroy that was in the classys just today. Unfortunatly I had only 2 hours with it and had to leave for work and wont be back till Thurs.. It looks very similar to yours Mr Choppy. Well its nice to know that there are two people basking in the big sound of their newly acquired Pomeroy ovals,, Cheers http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Uncle Choppy
Sep-03-2008, 3:42pm
Well its nice to know that there are two people basking in the big sound of their newly acquired Pomeroy ovals,, Cheers # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
How are you getting on with the new Pom, Mario?
I think that things are still "Cowinky Dinky" here http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I'm still very happy with mine and although it feels very different to my other mandolin, I'm starting to get used to it a bit. I thought that maybe wearing my "Tom Joad" cap would help with the authentic old-timey chops but it hasn't quite worked out yet:
http://www.brendanashbrook.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/me-and-my-pomeroy.jpg
I was trying to record a simple tune with mine today - John Brown's March from the Norman Blake DVD. Not great results due to my inability to play but at least you get some idea of the rounded yet sparkly tone that I think it has:
John Brown's March - Pomeroy A2 (http://www.brendanashbrook.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pomeroy-jb-march.mp3)
Steve Cantrell
Sep-03-2008, 5:29pm
I really dig that mandolin, and your picking is great. No inability there.
luckylarue
Sep-03-2008, 10:39pm
U.C. - Great playing on a great tune & the recording quality is excellent. Enjoy the new mando!
Siminole
Sep-04-2008, 12:08pm
You played well........and your new mando sounds "Fantastic". Bet you are really enjoying playing it, such a bright sound.
A;
JEStanek
Sep-04-2008, 12:27pm
Very nice playing, Choppy. Pick on!
Jamie
Uncle Choppy
Sep-04-2008, 1:22pm
Thanks to everyone for the nice comments but I still have real trouble listening to it. The timing is all over the place and it's full of fumbles and fluffed notes!
I'm not sure if using a click track is the answer or if that is going to make tunes like that one sound too sterile. Norman and Nancy seem to get by without click tracks but then again, they're good players.
I also seem to record things "backwards" i.e. I record the tune and only then worry about working out the guitar chords. Maybe I should record the guitar first and then put the mandolin melody on top? (It sounds quite obvious when I write it down!)
Another problem is the panic when I hit the record button. I often think I've got a tune nailed but once I start recording it falls to pieces! I suppose this just means that I don't know the tune well enough.
I remember reading something quite profound about practicing that I need to keep in mind. I'm not sure of the exact words but the general idea was:
"you don't practice until you can play something right, you practice until you can't play it wrong".
Wow, I think that sounds great, both the mando and the playing. Sometimes, we can be our own worst critics.
Fliss
Pete Counter
Sep-04-2008, 2:20pm
I usally record the guitar first and then the mando, but that dont mean it has to be that way. Just works better for me. As for your playing, I dont think its as bad as you think it is. I thought it sounded fine. Its funny, everytime I think I garbage can a solo or something on stage, someone always comes and tells me how they love my playing. Dont lose your quest for perfection, but dont beat yourself to badly either.
mario515
Sep-04-2008, 8:09pm
Hey Chops thanks for asking. I just got to spend some quality time with ole Pommy. Its been very versatile for me and a huge upgrade over the Michael Kelly I've been beating on for the last 3 years. Overall I'm a happy camper. I'd love to heap kudos on your playing but I'm having a hard time with the link.
KEEP ON KEEPIN ON http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif