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sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 3:04pm
Got this amazing instrument last week. It is everything I expected and more.

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 3:05pm
Another back shot

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 3:07pm
Front shot

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 3:09pm
Headstock with Waverly tuners

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 3:11pm
It has an Engleman top and I believe a sugar maple back. It's got that deep, woody, hollow resonant tone coupled with all the volume you'd ever need from a mandolin. I posted a YouTube clip of it and will be doing more soon.

Don Grieser
Aug-13-2008, 4:33pm
Beautiful!!!! Congratulations!

woodwizard
Aug-13-2008, 4:39pm
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeettttttt!!!!!!!!

Hans
Aug-13-2008, 5:27pm
If that's Andrew Collins' Heiden, can't blame you...it's a monster.

Rick Schmidlin
Aug-13-2008, 7:21pm
Wish I had one.

jasona
Aug-13-2008, 8:52pm
If that's Andrew Collins' Heiden, can't blame you...it's a monster.
I really really wanted to buy it from Andrew when he was forced to sell it. Enjoy it in good health!

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 9:28pm
Well folks, this one is NOT Andrew's old A5. An acquaintance that I've had the pleasure of pickin' with actually owns that mandolin. And it's that mandolin that spurred the purchase of this one. The owner is a board member and can chime in if he wishes.
This is #38 and was built in Dec 2006. It sounds remarkably similar to Andrew's old mandolin. It's a bit tighter and brighter right now but it doesn't have near the playing time on it either. I've already started working on that!!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

pjlama
Aug-13-2008, 9:55pm
Congrats! Sounds very nice. How the heck do you guys make the videos? Sorry for the OT question but I gotta know.

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 9:58pm
I made mine on my trusty Mac using iMovie. Not bad for the built-in camera and mic. Thanks for the kind words!

Chris Biorkman
Aug-13-2008, 10:08pm
This is #38 and was built in Dec 2006. #It sounds remarkably similar to Andrew's old mandolin. #It's a bit tighter and brighter right now but it doesn't have near the playing time on it either. #I've already started working on that!! #
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I thought he had built a lot more than that. He's obviously got a gift for doing what he does. It sounds and looks great.

sgarrity
Aug-13-2008, 10:11pm
I'm pretty sure that he numbers his As and Fs seperately. So I think that this is his 38th A-style. Maybe someone with a little more Heiden knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong....

Ken Olmstead
Aug-14-2008, 12:21pm
I have played 2 of his F styles and both were the finest mandolins I have ever played. If money were not an issue I would gladly order one but alas, it is not to be any time soon. There are less than 5 builders that could unseat my Fern and Heiden is at the top of the list! Congradulations Shaun! It sounds great and it will be fun to see how it matures in your capable hands!

Jim Roberts
Aug-14-2008, 2:12pm
I was the original owner of this incredible mandolin I and sold it to Shaun as the neck profile was just a bit too small for my hands. #It was very difficult to let this mandolin go. #It actually has lots of playing time on it. #I am just not a hard driving player so no wear is indicated and I am sure it will continue to mature into an even greater mandolin. #I will note that it came out of the box really sweet and strong. #Michael is building me another with a custom neck. #I think Michael is building some of the best mandolins on the planet and definitely is one of the nicest guys roaming Mother Earth, too.

I am glad Shaun is thrilled to have it and I predict his MAS is cured for a LONG, LONG time...if not for good! This is the second mandolin I have sold Shaun (first was a Brentrup) and Shaun is a first class guy to do business with. Just hope he can make it to Wind-shield (Winfield) one of these years to pick and sip single malt.

Cheers.

craigmurray
Aug-14-2008, 3:13pm
I'm pretty sure that he numbers his As and Fs seperately. #So I think that this is his 38th A-style. #Maybe someone with a little more Heiden knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong....
I think that is correct. #My Heiden F style is dated May 2005, and is number F-81.

sgarrity
Aug-14-2008, 3:37pm
Come on now Jim. #You know MAS can't be cured. #LOL #But this Heiden should do a good job of keeping it in remission. #Until I go on the hunt for an oval hole... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Jim is also a great guy to do business with. #His descriptions are always 100% correct and his instruments are kept in pristine condition. #If he's selling something you wanna buy, don't hesitate to grab it! #(NFI and all that good stuff)
Just a very satisfied mando picker and scotch drinker!

pathfinder
Aug-14-2008, 9:01pm
The numbering system differs between 'A's and 'F's. #I own A-36 (November 2005). #And like Jim Roberts said, mine also sounded sweet and strong right out of the box. #You won't regret your purchase on this one! #Congrats.

Dave Reiner
Aug-16-2008, 7:01pm
A-34, a blonde, is from June 2004. I love playing it!

sgarrity
Aug-27-2008, 9:22pm
A5 Heaven!

sgarrity
Aug-27-2008, 9:24pm
Backs

sgarrity
Aug-27-2008, 9:25pm
Fronts Again

sgarrity
Aug-27-2008, 9:27pm
It's kinda like trying to decide if you want to drive a Maserati or a Corvette. They're both fun!

pjlama
Aug-27-2008, 9:34pm
So does this mean you're scroll free? So I'm guessing the RD has the Loar voicing?

Chris Biorkman
Aug-27-2008, 9:54pm
Is the Red Diamond a new acquisition? You need to learn to be content with one mandolin, like me and PJ are. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

pjlama
Aug-27-2008, 10:00pm
I stopped listing my mandolins as it changes too often http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I do think I've got a shaky handle on my MAS, I've been getting into bicycling http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

pickinNgrinnin
Aug-27-2008, 10:57pm
Shaun-

Very nice looking A5's! They should chase M.A.S. away for awhile http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

sgarrity
Aug-28-2008, 7:22am
Yes, I am proud to be scroll free! It's a great feeling to get that monkey off your back. ;-)
The Red Diamond is actually not one of the more recent Loar-voiced instruments. This one is #159 and is from around 2003. The coincidence with this A5 is that I used to own F5 #158. I took the A5 in on trade recently.

Comparing the two, the Heiden has such a refined, focused, throaty tone. While the Red Diamond has a loud, open, hollow tone. Back to the car analogy, the Heiden is a sleek, fast exotic while the Red Diamond is a red blooded American muscle car!

I had really planned on taking it in on trade and then turning around and selling it to help replenish the bank account after buying the Heiden. But it's such a good sounding mandolin and so much fun to play, I doubt that's gonna happen. At least for now! (This is why I no longer list my instruments in my signature line as well PJ!)

pjlama
Aug-28-2008, 8:35am
Very interesting, I'm hoping to be scroll free pretty soon too. I'll have the hoof of the Giacomel but no F5's I have a couple to sell but am trying to get down to the J5 and a new Ellis A5. I kinda guessed that, your description of the Heiden and RD, modern vs. traditional. Crongrats on being scroll free you've at least broken one piece of the MAS puzzle.

Mark Walker
Aug-28-2008, 2:29pm
Very interesting, I'm hoping to be scroll free pretty soon too. I'll have the hoof of the Giacomel but no F5's I have a couple to sell but am trying to get down to the J5 and a new Ellis A5. I kinda guessed that, your description #of the Heiden and RD, modern vs. traditional. Crongrats on being scroll free you've at least broken one piece of the MAS puzzle.
Do two-pointers count as being 'scroll free?' I surely do like the looks of those! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif And MAS is going to kick in for one someday!

Doug Hoople
Aug-28-2008, 3:11pm
Do two-pointers count as being 'scroll free?'
Yes!

pjlama
Aug-28-2008, 6:18pm
The thing that's nice about A's and two points is that MAS flares ups are 50% less costly.

sgarrity
Aug-28-2008, 6:29pm
Ain't that the truth!! I'd have close to $25k invested if these were both F5s. Not saying I'll never own another F-style instrument, but I sure don't "need" one.

As for two points...have you seen Bryce Milano's Heiden two point? Or the two points that Mowry makes? That's what MAS is made of!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

pjlama
Aug-28-2008, 6:51pm
I haven't seen the Heiden but the Clark and the Kimble two points kill me.