"Smoked Hickory" BRW #45

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

Ben's first matte finish. He has dubbed it "Smoked Hickory"
Red Spruce and Maple. Bad pics to follow. I am not a photographer. (But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night)

Front

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

Back

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

And for you scroll fanatics!!!

[mandoJeremy]

Now that looks nice! I love the color but I do think he should have matched the size of the burst on the back to the one on the front.

[Brian Ray]

Ahhh the brethren... Looks great Kevin! So this is the "other" mando Ben was working on at the same time as mine. The matte finish is very interesting...

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

That was my call. Orginally, I wanted to lose the "snot" yellow color the traditional burst shows under flourescent lighting. I also wanted the darker overall look. The matte finish was to cut the "glare" on stage.

BTW, I love this thing so far. Plays great up the neck but has some breakin' in to do in the bottom end. Nice chop tho and rings like a bell. I will probably raise the action a little cause it is right on the deck.

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

dass,

Yours is the bare neked truth tho'

[levin4now]

Ok, check this out. Look at the scroll in the third picture (the scroll closeup).

Is that Marty Stuart's reflection there or what?

Don't mean to hijack. Awesome mandolin. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandoJeremy]

No, it looks just a little more eerie than Marty can do. It is a nice face though.

[Scotti Adams]

Now that looks nice! #I love the color but I do think he should have matched the size of the burst on the back to the one on the front.
..and cover up that nice wood....NOT....looks real nice Kevin..welcome to the fold..

[mandoJeremy]

Next thing you know that mando will disappear into the television set!

[Lane Pryce]

Ain't nuthin in tha worle wrong wit dat one. How she sound? Lp

[eightstrings]

Tired of BRW? Heck no!

Brett

[Jonathan James]

Love the looks of Ben's work but the thing that really impresses me is his productivity. #45? Guys who have been building for a couple years longer are still in their teens or low 20's in regard to output. He has got it down!

[Tom C]

Great looking mando.
I got #27 in Nov '03, so that's about 20 a year. Seems like a great, self rewarding, paying job.

[ethanopia]

Output! Can you say CHURN!

I took delivery of #30 on December 31st of 2003. Less than a year and 15 mandos, of extremly high quality. Incredible.

Gilchrist said on CGOW that he tries to do 12 a year....

[Crowder]

I think it helps that Ben is focusing only on mandolins and not doing any guitars or repairs. Still, impressive.

I am seriously thinking of ordering something different from him, and A, 2-point or J-16.

[Nalapombu]

Thats a pretty mandolin. BRW seems to get a lot of talk and I would like to see more. Is there a web site for BRW? What do the BRW F style mandolins cost anyway?

Nala

[Crowder]

All info available at www.brw-instruments.com

No financial interest, just a satsified owner here. I think they are about $3800 well equipped, with options available that could push the price higher. Mine is comparable to anything I've played running less than $7500 street price.

[mandomick]

I'm really gald to see dasspunk's orange and this one finished, both fine examples of Ben's work. Why? Cause my F is next!!! Hopefully Ben will take a well deserved break through the holidays and get a fresh start in '05.

Also, I think I'll suggest that Ben might designate #50 as the "Scotti Adams Commemorative Model". Seein' as how it was his very enthusiastic posts extolling the virtues of these bad boys that pushed me and probably quite a few others to write that deposit check. I got my J16 #32(the wine red one on the BRW site) last February and while I thought it sounded great then, it keeps growing, like all the parts are meshing, sounding better and better.

Kevin, didn't mean to hijack your thread. It's an awesome mando and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

No problem. I have not put it down since it arrived. As far as a well deserved break.....Ben shipped mine on 12/8 on the way to vaction thru the 23rd. I must say it was worth the extra wait and time....why? Cause he had more time to refine an already excellent product. I do want to note here that Ben had no fear when I requested the special coloring and matte finish.

And Spruce if'n your out there, thanks for the excellent advice on the wood http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Ben picked some awesome stuff.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Scotti Adams]

..Thanks Mick....