View Full Version : BRW #42
Izaac Walton
Sep-30-2004, 9:39am
Here are pics of the latest BRW, #42. Mandolin should arrive tomorrow, Friday, Oct.1. I'll post more pics and comments then. Pretty excited! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Izaac Walton
Sep-30-2004, 9:40am
another...
Jonathan James
Sep-30-2004, 9:41am
Beautiful. I like the abbreviated fingerboard design and tailpiece. Great finish!
Izaac Walton
Sep-30-2004, 9:41am
another...
Izaac Walton
Sep-30-2004, 9:43am
last one.
John Zimm
Sep-30-2004, 9:52am
Wow, that is beautiful. Congrats. That must be a great feeling, getting a new toy. I hope she treats you well.
-John.
mandoJeremy
Sep-30-2004, 10:05am
That is one great looking mando. Maybe I am starting to think about a BRW.
AlanN
Sep-30-2004, 10:21am
SHAZAMM!
Tom C
Sep-30-2004, 10:36am
Nice!, I like the dark sunburst. Scotti need to update his list.
mandoryan
Sep-30-2004, 10:47am
Man, his work is getting good! Perfect scroll, perfect finish, perfect headstock and headstock scroll...and all for under the price of a new f5G....hmmmm.....and with binding too....hmmm.....
Chris Cantergiani
Sep-30-2004, 11:58am
Congratulations Izaac!
That is one magnificent looking mandolin!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the sound.
Chris
(Still lovin' BRW #33)
ethanopia
Sep-30-2004, 12:00pm
Hey Jim were you at the Appalachain Uprising in Scottown OH this past June it's just over the border from Hunington, I played mine there, twas a bit on the rainy side but fun none the less.
It's hard to imagine that mine was number #30 and signed on Dec 30 2003 and here is number #42 at the end of September, he is cranking them out and the quality only seems to be going up...good work Ben!
Scotti Adams
Sep-30-2004, 12:40pm
Congrats Izaac..great lookin axe man...Mine will be close to that color...Some of ya are startin to realize what Ive have said from the get-go...the best mando under $5000 *PERIOD*...but you can bet your sweet hiney they wont be for long. That Scroll is perfect Jeremy....in fact..the whole dang thing is perfect. Jim W. we can get together anytime you want,,,remember Ive still got #6...while it may not be as cosmetically as perfect as these recent ones I will put it up against any mando out there....its just a fine sounding axe. My mouth is gettin dry thinkin about my varnish model...cant wait....Hey Izaac....let us know what she sounds like and what your thoughts are. Welcome to the fold..
If Ben plays it safe and holds prices very reasonable like he is he could grab alot of the Gibson market http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Beautiful specimen, Izaac! #Ben's work is clean and crisp. #I like the nickel hardware too.
(#24 is doing just fine.)
Scotti Adams
Sep-30-2004, 3:40pm
..Now Mav...dont start http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Scotti Adams
Sep-30-2004, 5:23pm
I will update the list on the Yahoo site...Hey Izaak..what kind of top wood did you get? and is that a left handed Bobelock case?....the mando is in there backwards.
Izaac Walton
Oct-01-2004, 7:26am
Top wood is red spruce, back and neck are red maple. Bobelock case. Scotti, not sure if it is a lefty or righty. I'll just call it right side up. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
mandopete
Oct-01-2004, 7:30am
........and the scroll is perfect!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Yeah, that case looks backwards to me.
Scotti Adams
Oct-02-2004, 5:37am
..I remember seeing an add on here from Fine Cases where they inadvertently got some "backwards" cases in....prolly one of those..nuttin wrong with that.. For those who are keeping score...mine should be on the varnish bench today. Hey Izaak..did you get her yesterday?
Backwards case?
If you mean when you have the case open in front of you with the handle closest to you, the headstock is on the right, now I get it...
Scotti Adams
Oct-02-2004, 5:49am
Bingo http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif Hey ALan...finally got around to lisening to both Staats CDs...good stuff....who was the second guitar player there on the second Cd?...he had some good stuff....also..the third Cd was blank..was that supposed to have the Grisman stuff on it? thanks anywho
Scotti Adams
Oct-03-2004, 7:46am
..woo hoo..Izaak....waz up?
Izaac Walton
Oct-04-2004, 7:57am
Busy weekend! Sorry it has taken me a while to post. #42 arrived on Friday as planned! After opening the boxes and finally lifting open the case top, my breath was taken away. Stunningly beautiful! How much closer to perfection can a finish be? Everything I could have dreamed for. Tremendous sustain and richness of tone. Brilliant clarity at all volume levels. The fretboard, with a 12" radius is quite comfortable. And I have noticed a greater ease of moving around on the fretboard due to the larger frets. Glad I went with them. The set up was just right. Great action all over the fretboard, even at the 1st fret. I love opening the case and each time I do, I feel so fortunate to have a BRW. I don't see how these instruments couldn't rank with instruments twice their price or even more! I'll try to post some more pictures very soon. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Scotti Adams
Oct-04-2004, 11:18am
..Thats great news......Im glad you went with the bigger frets..to me thats the only way to go....Im down to counting the days till I have mine in my hands...and yea...these mandos could easily fetch $7-8000....
Scotti Adams
Oct-25-2004, 6:58pm
..Ok Izzac...where have you been?....give us a follow up...
Izaac Walton
Oct-26-2004, 10:48am
Where do you think I've been? Playing #42 of course! After 3 weeks or so of having #42 I can still say I'm very happy with it. I'm even more used to playing on the radiused fretboard now and like it a lot. Really the only thing that is different now are the very minor surface scratches that unavoidably appear from handling and playing. I'm starting to relax more about that even though I admit I have polished her up several times so that she shines nicely. I've gotten several very positive comments from other players regarding looks and tone. In fact, the leader of our mandolin ensemble here in Indianapolis called "Mandol-Indy" is joining me in going over to visit with Ben Wilcox, the builder, this weekend. He is very interested in getting on the list for J-16 model. I can say this about the tone of my new BRW; it sounds like many of the better instruments I hear the top mandolin recording artists playing. Now, when I listen to their CDs, it sounds like they are playing my mandolin. I know that may sound a bit over the top, but to my ears it has a wonderful clear quality of tone, presence and bell-like sustain. Surely it must have subtle tonal differences with other mandolins in it's price range, and even among other BRWs. But I am certainly one very satisfied BRW owner. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Scotti Adams
Oct-26-2004, 11:36am
..Im planning to be at Bens this saturday...hopefully to pick up my new one and to check out another one he has built. A friend of mine is hot for it so he me come home with it.
Izaac Walton
Oct-26-2004, 12:08pm
We'll be there on Saturday around noon. Might see you there!
Scotti Adams
Oct-26-2004, 5:57pm
...yea..that would be great....Im lookin more around the 2:00 mark before I can get there...
levin4now
Oct-26-2004, 8:01pm
Extremely beautiful. Abbrev.fingerboard, nickel hardware, figure in back. Sweet.
KevinM
Nov-10-2004, 5:13pm
Is that "Heirloom finish" (i.e., distressed) model in the classifieds not a sweet looking mandolin?
Izaac Walton
Nov-11-2004, 9:31am
Sweet, indeed! Got to see it in person recently too. Ooh la la!