What part of the state are you from? I live in Woodstock, which is halfway between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, just off I-59/20.
well I don't live in Alabama any more, but I used to live in Madison (right outside of Huntsville) and I live about 15 miles from the Bama/Georgia state line, so if ya'll will accept me as a honorary member...
I live in Pelham, just south of Hoover.
That's close enough, Trey.
I'm here in Old Oxford, by way of Gadsden, by way of Scottsboro, by way of Gadsden!
In that case, I'm in Woodstock, by way of Brent, by way of Birmingham, by way of Brent, by way of Sheffield, by way of Brent, by way of Auburn, by way of Jasper, by way of Lexington....whew!
Hello, I live in Dothan. I grew up playing the guitar and have been learning the mandolin for the last couple of years.
You win Marty! But, I was in the Navy...so, can I count all the ports? HA!
You've got me there, Phillip. I have a brother that was in the Navy. By the way, is "Old Oxford" the Oxford near Anniston?
Yeah...I guess really, just "Plain Oxford" to be precise...
I live in Tallassee. It is about half way between Montgomery and Auburn. I have been playing mandolin about 4 years and am really enjoying the journey. I am 61 years old and still working full time, but I play every time I get a chance.
Anyone pick in any groups? I play with Valley Road out of Alexandria.. (plug www.valleyroadbluegrass.tk or www.valleyroad.weebly.com) Maybe I'll see ya'll at some festivals.
I'm in Ashville. An hour north of B'ham
Phillip, I thought your name sounded familiar, maybe that's why. I don't play in a real group, but I do play guitar at church almost every Sunday. I'm just starting to learn to play mandolin, but I'm hooked.
I play in a old time/americana/bluegrass group in Carrollton-The McGuillicutti ScotchHoppers and with my good buddy Matthew Williams...
I'm in B'ham. I don't play with a group. I'm not good enough. I join in the slow jam at my place occasionally, but I am usually too busy.
I play in a group called "Camp 1921 String Band". We play old time and traditional mostly. I have recently started going to a Thursday night jam in Lochapoka (west of Auburn on highway 14) hosted by Fred Lord. Fred is a hoot and a great musician.
I live in Fayette, Alabama and play locally with The Belk Bluegrass Band. We have a regular show each 2nd Friday night at Belk, Alabama, a small town West of Fayette. Nice to know there are others who enjoy the mandolin
i live in madison - just outside huntsville - i do play in a band but it's not bluegrass and i don't play mandolin - well actually i do play mandolin but not in that band...... www.grits.addr.com
I'm way down here in Enterprise. I play mandolin in the group "Pure and Simple". Hello Charles Ronnie
Hey Ronnie, Welcome. Ronnie's band, Pure and Simple, play all over and are good folks. Check them out if they are in your area. Ronnie, yell at me when you are in Dothan and we'll pick a little. I've learned a couple of more since last time.
Will do Charles. I'm over there just about every Tuesday night for band practice. I am usually at Perry's Music store by 6:15. We don't get kicked off with practice until about 8:00. I'll be there tomorrow night. RR
Another Madison resident. I'm taking Guitar lessons (mostly bluegrass, of course), but like to mess around on my mandolin too. I've actually been playing my octave mandolin more recently. It probably just feels more comfortable after playing my guitar.
JB, I'm a guitar payer intrigued by mando as well. I've wondered about the difference in a mando and octave mando. What's the scale length on the OM?
Marty, The scale length for OM's seems to vary. I am building a copy of a Gibson H5 mandola at this time. The scale length for it is 15 5/8 inches. An OM would be somewhat longer. Probably in the 16 1/2 to 17 1/2 inch range. I as quite a few questions about this on the cafe and got a lot of variation. I ended up building one which had a 20 inch scale which is quite long. I later put a new neck on it and reduced the scale lenght ot 17 inches. Hope this helps. James Sanford
Marty, the scale length for OM's vary from 16 inches to 17 1/2 inches the best I can tell. I asked a lot of questions about this on the cafe and got a wide range of answers. I ended up building one with a scale length of 20 inches. I had problems with the neck so I renecked it at 17 inches. I am building a copy of a Gibson H5 mandola at this time and the scale length is 15 5/8 inches Hope this helps. James Sanford
My OM (a Johnson MA-550) has a scale length of ~20", which I think is about average. I've been looking at upgrading to a higher end one, and it looks like some are over 23", which seems closer to a guitar to me. You don't get the long 8 fret stretch that you have on a mandolin, but you do get easy 4 fret coverage, and I've enjoyed the deeper tone compared to the mandolin. You can even do guitar style boom-chick accompaniment without it sounding too odd.
Howdy....I'm in LA (Lower Alabama), in Daphne, which is east of Mobile. I play in two local bands, The Wayfarers, www.wayfarersmusic.net and Lock, Stock, and Barrel. Thanks, Steve Bauer
from pinson here , play with a group of fellas mostly gospel kinda stuff but having a blast
HA HA! I read "prison" at first, not "Pinson!" Is there a difference? HAW haw haw!
It's probably a little easier to get out of Pinson.
I live in Auburn most of the time, but live around Dothan during the summer.
Hello everyone just started with the Mandolin a few months ago and i hooked on it . i live in Merdianville just north of Huntsville. Bruce
I'm in Athens.
I live in Woodville. Between Huntsville and Scottsboro. I'm new to the mandolin,,,as in, I don't own one. I was bitten by the bug over a year ago...I thought it would go away...well it's not...so I want to devote myself to this strangeness. It's great being sixty. I need all the help that I can get!!!
HEY! I used to live in Woodville. Right down from the rock quarry (and an old log cabin - now gone)! I feel like I'm back home!
Hi everybody nice to see people take some pride in what they love and where they are from. I live close to the Tennessee state line in a community called Piney Chapel just north of Athens which is the county seat.
Hello, I am in the Holtville area above Wetumpka. I have been practicing mandolin for 5 months. I was surprised how it has helped my guitar.
yep pinson, by the way the #1 request from prison is ill fly away... I play in a band called Tableland we do a lot of doyle lawson stuff and hyms that we have added a good bluegrass feel to .. flscci I have played guitar for about 33 years now but have found that I just dont have the likin for it as much as the mando .... its has been my favorite for about 3 years now
I've been bit....I already have two mandos with different sound an styles. I am shopping for an F to complete my "herd" or is that a "covey"?
