Masters of the Mandolin: 130 of the Greatest Bluegrass and Newgrass Solos

[mandobassman]

I'm the "author" of this book, though all I did was double-check David Peters' work and add some tunes by important mandolin players he left out (like Jesse McReynolds and Roland White). The publisher (Hal Leonard)who asked me to do this book also gave the composers and copyright holders of the tunes credit that was due, as David bootlegged the book and nobody got their due compensation.

I did not know that someone was still selling it, and had no intention of ripping anyone off. If they are selling it, it's also a bootleg, as none of the composers or copyright holders are compensated.

I insisted on starting the book with an intro giving Peters credit, here's how it starts:

In the 1990s, an award-winning mandolin player, David Peters, published a book called
Masters of the Mandolin, which contained transcriptions of his favorite mandolin solos
by the premiere mandolinists of his time (and a few who were before his time). Most of
the great bluegrass players were represented, as well as a few jazz and several newgrass artists. His transcriptions came from album recordings, both popular and obscure, but also from his own tapes of live performances.

Then the intro explains the changes and improvements that were made. I wanted to dedicate the book to Peters, but the publisher nixed that. I hope that the book will be more widespread and be of use to more mandolin players, now that it's legal and is being handled by a major publisher. I was afraid somebody would be offended and think Peters or whoever is continuing to publish his book is getting ripped off, but that was far from my intention.

Thank you. Knowing the whole story makes me feel better. I appreciate you coming on here and giving us this info.

[mandobassman]

Thank you for your kind words, KEB. I agree that if "the artists are getting paid, the original creator is being recognized, I'm less concerned". I am just glad that many years ago I was able to do what I could to keep this project from extinction and carry it for as long as I did. I did the best I could with the resources that I had. The last 20 months have been difficult as I lost both my parents within 27 days of each other, and this book was not as much my priority as it should have been. I did recently submit a print order that I have now been able to cancel. Thank you, again. Sincerely, sunnie

Hi Sunnie, it’s been many years since I last saw you in Houston. Sorry to hear about your parents. Hope you are doing well now. I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you’ve done to keeps Dave’s legacy alive. He was a amazing musician who I was fortunate to know and play with. Thank you for your hard work.

[miss sunnie]

Thank you. Knowing the whole story makes me feel better. I appreciate you coming on here and giving us this info.

I wholeheartedly agree.

[miss sunnie]

Hi Sunnie, it’s been many years since I last saw you in Houston. Sorry to hear about your parents. Hope you are doing well now. I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you’ve done to keeps Dave’s legacy alive. He was a amazing musician who I was fortunate to know and play with. Thank you for your hard work.

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts. I appreciate both.

[Enivrer]

So bummed it's tablature only =/

Agreed...

[GuyIncognito]

Was it supposed to be out on the 16th? Amazons saying it's not sure when my preorder is going to ship

[Mandolin Cafe]

Was it supposed to be out on the 16th? Amazons saying it's not sure when my preorder is going to ship

It would be nice if those estimated dates were correct but we all know that's often not the case. The day after this was published our contact at Elderly said 2-3 weeks was what they thought but now I see they've listed January 31 as the likely date. Of course that could change as well as Elderly has no control over it. It'll be available when the publisher delivers it to the outlets. If we think of it may try to drop by and check up on it at next week's NAMM Show in Anaheim as suspect it'll be there on display.

[AlanN]

Spoke with Elderly today; tomorrow (31-Jan) is still target arrival/ship date. There are 27 pre-orders, likely many are site denizens right here.

[Mandolin Cafe]

Estimated arrival date is now Feb. 15 but could be even later. This is an issue relating to delivery from Hal Leonard, not Elderly.

[Mandolin Cafe]

The book is now in stock at Elderly we've just been informed a few minutes ago. Get it here.

[MontanaMatt]

So bummed it's tablature only =/

I agree
If anyone labors through translating tab to notation let us know please!
Perhaps note readers can crowdsource funding for a standard notation version?
Was the old version notation?
As a fiddle player first I never bothered learning tab.

[David Lewis]

I’m ordering one. Interesting that David Grisman is not on the cover?

[Mandolin Cafe]

I’m ordering one. Interesting that David Grisman is not on the cover?

Should be clear why from the comments made in the discussion right here. The Dawg is a sharp businessman. Has his own arrangements.

[James Miller]

So this is something every mandolinist should own?

[almeriastrings]

So this is something every mandolinist should own?

It would rather depend if the material/styles covered are of interest....

FWIW I have had the 'original' Dave Peters edition for some time, and if you are into Bluegrass/Newgrass/Jazz type material it is a very good resource. If you are in to Celtic or other styles, probably not so.

[David Lewis]

Should be clear why from the comments made in the discussion right here. The Dawg is a sharp businessman. Has his own arrangements.

No doubt. He’s in the book though. Very sharp.

[domradave]

I just want to say that I took lessons with Fred in Los Angeles. He is a great teacher and a great person. Everyone I have ever met who knows him thinks highly of him, too. His instruction books are great!!!

[Mandobreath]

[QUOTE=Mandolin Cafe;1622865]Fred, thanks for weighing in. The quote "I'll let the author tell that story if they wish" I made is in reference to a different book, not this one. Has to do with a story from another era even, a book that was a draft was shared with another musician (both still active and performing) and years later authored under the borrower's name. Oops. Both those folks have posted on this forum in the past but don't think that story will get told.

<snip, snip, snip>

I suspect that the story from another era refers to one of the first Roanoke bluegrass festivals, 1965 or 1966, I don’t remember which. A young David Grisman was carrying around the draft of a mandolin instruction book that he had been writing, and, as I recall, he showed it to lots of people. That book was never published in his name, but reportedly an instruction book by a different author that came out some years later was based on his draft. At that festival there was a lot of excitement about Grisman’s mandolin playing, incidentally, with some of the greats suggesting that he would be the next big name in the mandolin world.