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JAK
Feb-22-2004, 8:06pm
Any owners or folks who have played them, how do you rate them? Any experiences/responses are appreciated. I heard Rhonda Vincent playing hers last weekend, sounded great over the sound system. But, what do YOU think?

Jim Roberts
Feb-22-2004, 9:56pm
I had a chance to noodle on one today at the Kansas Prairie Picker's monthly jam in Auburn, KS. #In my humble opinion, it was a real sweetie...plenty of woof, bass, volume and felt really nice in my hands, too. #In fact, there are two players at this monthly jam who play Smith Creeks and they are both nice instruments.

Crowder
Feb-22-2004, 10:00pm
Haven't owned one, haven't played one. So why post? Well, when I first started checking this board out a little over a year ago, they were all the rage. Over the last few months there have been several come up for sale. This may be meaningless. I know someone posted some pics recently of a blacktop, 5-way bound A-hole model that Smith had in progress that was Earth-shakingly gorgeous.

Bradley
Feb-22-2004, 10:56pm
I had one and recently sold it on the classifieds...

The ONLY reason is that I am expecting a Master Model and felt it was silly having such a nice piece sitting around.

The Smith Creeks will hold their own in any Jam session against any mandolin out there today regardless of the price level. The things of interest on them are that the neck angle is a little different in that there is a sharper angle between it and the body of the mandolin,therefore requiring a little more height on the bridge.David has came a very long way in the recent 3-4 years.Someone mentioned Rhonda Vincents mando...I played that and found it to be one of the worst Smith's that I have played.It was from a early batch and was just far behind the ones that are more recent.

For the money that they sell for ,you will not find a better instrument.If you want the shiny lacquer/glossy look this one is not for you.However if you want something that looks like it is handmade with a few beauty marks that will knock your socks off...then order a SmithCreek.

Heres a blurry picture for you.

Happy Pickin

Scotti Adams
Feb-23-2004, 8:23pm
.......Before I got my mando I was on the Smith Creek list...while I find they are very good sounding mandos I had and issue with the neck angle and the depth of the neckset causing the bridge to be jacked real high...I wondered to myself if the this was going to be a structual issue to be dealt with down the road?....which I have since found out that it has for some. I have since read and heard that this issue has been corrected...thats a good thing becasue they are great mandos...

Bradley
Feb-23-2004, 9:31pm
Scotti,

Could you elaborate on the "issue" I havent heard of any problems with them...but would like to hear your take.

I did not see the very latest batch,but I heard they were
different than all the ones before (the angle deal)

Thanks

Scotti Adams
Feb-23-2004, 10:13pm
..hey Bradley I PM'd you...I dont think I want to get into the issues I have talked about...its better left up to the owners to address these problems...and I know of at least one who is a member of our forum because we have talked on the phone about some of these problems and other mando brands... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif..like I said earlier..I really liked the SC mando...some things just bothered me...but I am a sorta paranoid guy http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

pickinpox
Feb-24-2004, 3:19pm
Crowder, you mentioned in your post that a year ago SC mandolins were all the rage. #Now with Rhonda playing one, I guess they are still the Rage.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Nik-chick
Feb-24-2004, 3:40pm
*groan* Rage on, pickinpox. Too bad Hee-Haw's off the air. You could write for them with puns like that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Scotti Adams
Feb-24-2004, 4:06pm
ya mean Hee Haw is gone?...when?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif