A Day with Dennis and Brian at The Mandolin Store

[Gerry Cassidy]

Now that I am back out West (finally!) I just had to make a trip up to see Brian and Dennis at the Mando Store:

Hard working fellas':

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/DSCF0791.jpg

Taking time out to try my new Rozawood OM I brought up to show them:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010031.jpg

I would call myself a "Kid in a Candy Store". My wife would say something more like a "Bull in a China Shop"! :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010029.jpg

"F - Styled Bliss! "

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010032.jpg

[Gerry Cassidy]

...and, of course, I couldn't leave without a new toy!

A Weber Vintage F hanging on the wall and I couldn't put it down... *Sigh* ;)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010003.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010005.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010006.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/Mandolin%20Store%20July%202010/MandoStoreandPinonWayJuly2010002.jpg

Thanks for a great day guys!

[Chris Biorkman]

Cool. Dennis is a pleasure to deal with. Very helpful guy.

[DougC]

That is one nice looking Weber. Thanks for the pictures.

[JEStanek]

Nice. Thanks for the visit photos.

Jamie

[Onesound]

Man, Gerry, you are one lucky guy! What a beautiful instrument!

Having just recently sealed a sale with them, it was great to see the pics. I'm hoping to get out to their store during a planned visit to Az in a couple of months. Bet my wife puts a block on my CC before I leave. :-)

[MandoNicity]

Thanks for the photos!

JR

[Jill McAuley]

I gotta make it out there one of these days - thanks for the photos! Congrats on that lovely Vintage F as well!

Cheers,
Jill

[Gerry Cassidy]

Dennis and his boys are great attributes in promoting our little mandolin community.

Wish I had taken more pics, but I was selfishly having too much fun playing in the mando wonderland. :mandosmiley: :)

And, of course, Dennis made it too easy for me to take home the new Vintage F. It feels and sounds as though it's gonna be a good one.

[jdchapman]

Just bought a mando from them, and was pleased by every part of the experience. Glad to see the store proper.

How's that Vintage F sound? I've been drooling over pics of those for a long time.

[sgarrity]

Wonderful pics Gerry. I need to make it over there for a visit one day. That new Weber looks fantastic!

[Gerry Cassidy]

JD: From what I can tell so far it has a few characteristics of the old F4 style instruments: the attack is subtle and the tone is very pure. Nice, clear highs and very sweet chording. Playing it is a bit easier than the other Weber's I've owned. It's not a cannon, but then again, the nicest F4's I've played in the past weren't either.

Thanks Shaun. Yes, you should visit the guys up in Wickenburg. Plan on spending quite a bit of time there during your visit. Dennis can talk shop with the best of them in my experience.

[Ken Waltham]

This is probably a pretty good time for me to chime in on my own Mandolin Store experience. I have, for years and years, avoided retail stores like the plague. I just have found it convienient and expediate to do most transactions privately, with the exception of buying strings, of course. And, I was mostly playing vintage Gibsons, and private deals are my fave, not having to do the commision thing, and talking directly to owners, etc.
Anyway, a while back I was looking for a Gibson Fern F5 to use in an acoustic Duo setting. I put out a few inquiries, and, on a lark, ended up phoning Dennis and Brian.
Long story short, I got the very best Fern that I have ever played with customer service and satisfaction that were second to none. Talk about going the extra mile to make me happy! And, the pricing shut everyone els out of the game entirely.
So, my wholehearted recomendation is, if you are looking to buy a new or used mandolin, don't overlook giving those guys a call.
Really worth the effort... no financial interest, etc...
Ken
Oh, and on a completely differnt topic, my faith in modern Gibsons is restored completely.

[jdchapman]

Thanks Gerry. That's what I was afraid of. Now I want one even more.

[Ron McMillan]

I don't think I have ever been in a store with more than a half-dozen mandolins. I really have to fix that one day, though a treasure trove like the Mandolin Store might need a few days....

r

[Knucklehead]

I live about 40 miles from Wickenberg, and have been out to the Mandolin Store a couple times. The staff there is very helpful, and they do have a lot of mandolins at the store, probably would have a lot more if Gibson wasn't affected by the flood. It's a desolate drive to Wickenberg thru the Desert, make sure you've got plenty of water and your vehicle is running right, once you get to the town, it's like any other small Us town, lots of Antique Shops. I'll probably drive out more often once the weather cools off, it's been around 114F this past week.

[Randy Smith]

Gerry, good news about your Weber--that's a great looking oval hole.

[Gerry Cassidy]

Thanks Randy. It's a gem!

[Miked]

My folks live in New Mexico and I would like to take a little extra time to go out and visit Wickenburg. I've done a couple deals with Dennis and he's treated me very well.

I always wonder about a store full of expensive mandolins and guitars in the desert. What if they lost their air conditioning or humidifier or had a power outage. They must have some type of backup system or an emergency generator, wouldn't you think? Sorry, I digress...

[Gerry Cassidy]

... I always wonder about a store full of expensive mandolins and guitars in the desert. What if they lost their air conditioning or humidifier or had a power outage. They must have some type of backup system or an emergency generator, wouldn't you think? Sorry, I digress...

Dennis does have an automated industrial humidifier unit than is actually over-capacity for the store, so the environment in the shop is quite comfortable and seems to keep the instruments happy.

Fortunately enough, and I am SERIOUSLY knockin' on wood when I say this; We don't have the natural elements out here i.e. tornadoes/hurricanes, icing, flooding, etc. that can take out power for days on end like some areas of the Country. In the 20 years I've lived out here I've never experienced a power outage longer than 8 hours. The Valley of the Sun usually has 3-4 power outages per year worth speaking of and they are usually caused by a motor vehicle of some sort gettin' into a fight with a power pole. With that they are usually less than 1 hour in length.