View Full Version : Newson Back at F5s
Jonathan James
Jan-14-2005, 10:07pm
For those of you Newson fans out there, I spoke with Paul yesterday and he is back building F5 mandolins. He took a break to concentrate on his fiddles but is back at it. Paul builds a really fine mandolin for those of you on the hunt. You can find his contact info. through the Builder database. No financial interest, etc.
Here is shot of my 2002 Newson F5:
mandodan22
Jan-15-2005, 6:35pm
NICE!
Got any more pic's ?
Jonathan James
Jan-15-2005, 10:31pm
Few more...
Jonathan James
Jan-15-2005, 10:32pm
Last, of the headstock (PRE-flowerpot ban)...
mandodan22
Jan-16-2005, 6:38pm
CLASSY.
Jim M.
Jan-16-2005, 6:47pm
Well, I won't pass up a chance to post a picture of my Newson:
Jim M.
Jan-16-2005, 6:49pm
No flower pot for me, just flowers: http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Jim M.
Jan-16-2005, 6:51pm
I highly recommend Paul, too. Great luthier to work with, and impeccable craftsmanship. Great sounding mandos, too. I played several before I bought mine and they were all great. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Here's the back. The color was inspired by an 1907 Gibson 3-pointer:
jasona
Jan-16-2005, 7:35pm
nice stuff!
Jonathan James
Jan-16-2005, 8:04pm
beautiful, Jim!
jmkatcher
Jan-16-2005, 9:15pm
What a gorgeous instrument! Perfect scroll, beautiful color, and totally tasteful peghead.
Finding a suitable replacement for a worn 1984 Newson A put me on MAS quest. Maybe it's the effect of twenty years, but nothing recent makes the notes float out into the air like that old Newson.
mandodan22
Jan-17-2005, 10:03am
Beautiful work.
I really like the headstock design.
How did I miss these?
Does he have a web site?
those look first class.
Jonathan James
Jan-17-2005, 10:24am
Paul does not have a web site, that I'm aware of. He is a really talented, but rather modest fellow. Not into aggressively marketing his instruments. Best bet is to email or call him and he can probably send you some information/pics. Also, if you check out www.mandozine.com at this link, there are some great shots of Newson F5s:
http://www.mandozine.com/index.php/gallery/category/C1/
Charlie Ayers
Mar-01-2005, 2:59pm
I've got one for sale, that I'll put in the classifieds today.
Charlie
Charlie Ayers
Mar-08-2005, 7:04pm
Well, I decided that I couldn't part with it. Here are some pics: http://community.webshots.com/album/286017131WNgdlX
It's not actually fire-engine red - more of a red/brown.
Charlie
Charlie, separation anxiety got the best of you, eh? It seems to be going around these days.
Charlie Ayers
Mar-09-2005, 9:40pm
That was it, Lee; I've always regretted selling a Heiden I once owned, and decided I might be making the same mistake selling this one.....
Charlie
250sc
Mar-10-2005, 12:42pm
Lee957,
I was suprised to see you were looking for "a suitable replacement for a worn 1984 Newson A."
I tend to like that worn look and feel as long as the sound is there.
Truth is I bought it from Elderly way back in the early '90's; knowing nothing then of mandolins. #Not long after I noticed the top had sunk to the point that it's actually concave where the bridge sits. My luthier says its not broken, no loose braces, just sunk. #Whether Elderly sold it to me that way, I'll never know, they didn't mention it. Terrified, I've only strung it with silk & steels to keep the tension low, until just recently when I figured what-the-heck. #It's gotten no worse. #Nevertheless, it sounds absolutely terrific which is impressive for a #18.
The frets are unevenly worn, possibly pulling up here and there. #There's no truss rod, to me the neck appears pretty straight, but I'm not sure how extensive a re-fret job would be. The nut is loose so it wobbles back and forth when it's being tuned, and I've always hated the un-scalloped stupid looking totally useless and bothersome (IMHO) fingerboard extension.
So, I have been MASing around for the last few years searching for a suitable replacement rather than spending an unknown amount of money to modify/correct the overall situation.
I had no idea how far and wide I'd have to search to better it. #Shoulda just bit the bullet years ago, sent it back to Paul and asked him to reproduce it, which I haven't ruled out.
However, living as I do in a severely mandolin deficient greater metropolitan region I've been fortunate to have owned more than a couple very fine mandolins during this time.
Jim M.
Mar-10-2005, 2:02pm
Lee, even if you didn't want to buy a new one, Paul would be the guy to repair the top and re-fret it. He'd probably make it better than new. Besides, you have enough mandolins, you'd have plenty of things to play while it was fixed. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
David M.
Mar-10-2005, 2:54pm
Real nice! 3 questions:
- How are his fiddles? Tone, craftsmanship? Any pics?
- what $ range for these F mandolins?
- What $ range for his fiddles?
Probably shouldn't even be considering such questions, but I just have to http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif