View Profile: allenhopkins - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Today, 5:32pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread bowl back identification assistance in Looking for Information About Mandolins

The alternating maple/rosewood or maple/mahogany staves in bowls are most generally found in earlier (1900 or before) bowl-backs, though not...

3 replies | 99 view(s)

Today, 12:39pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Is this a reasonable price? in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

This is an issue that may generate some strong opinions, especially from bowl-back players who resent having these instruments "dissed" as being...

17 replies | 803 view(s)

Today, 12:21pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Help identifying this mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Comma shapes for the end segments of the "f?" holes often indicate a Kay, but not exclusively. Has the earmarks of a US-made student-grade...

9 replies | 339 view(s)

Today, 12:14pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Any help making this mandolinetto playable? in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Not that dissimilar to my Bruko octave guitar, which I string guitar-style with very light steel strings: .007/.009/.012/.018w/.022w/.028w. ...

22 replies | 2566 view(s)

Yesterday, 12:27am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Flatiron Epiphone in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Yeah. Gibson owns the "Flatiron" label, since they bought the company (wasn't it first called "Sound to Earth?"). They shut down domestic...

2 replies | 250 view(s)

Yesterday, 12:18am

allenhopkins replied to a thread "New" Gibson Company: No More Mandolins? in General Mandolin Discussions

Let me get this straight -- you averaged buying 52 guitars per year for ten years??? Either Gibsons or Martins?? So, over 500 guitars. I assume...

35 replies | 4266 view(s)

Jan-20-2019, 10:38pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Found this little beauty: Electric Mandobass in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Actually, a solid-body "double octave" mandolin. Mando-basses are just different ways to build a bass fiddle -- same tuning, but with a mando-esque...

9 replies | 382 view(s)

Jan-19-2019, 1:15pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Gig bags: The Good and Bad in Equipment

Blue Heron built me a gig bag for my mando-bass -- you know, not many mando-bass bags/cases on the market, funny thing -- and it was very well-made,...

51 replies | 5298 view(s)

Jan-19-2019, 1:05pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread "New" Gibson Company: No More Mandolins? in General Mandolin Discussions

Is there something you can take for that?

35 replies | 4266 view(s)

Jan-18-2019, 6:51pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Cheap Octave-Mandolin Anybody have first person experience? in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Says it has a "3-band graphic EQ" but there's no info about a pickup, which I assume would be an internally-mounted piezo?? Or what? Concur with...

3 replies | 250 view(s)

Jan-18-2019, 6:45pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Is this a reasonable price? in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

I wouldn't do it. There are quite a few already-playable bowl-backs around in that price range, or slightly higher. I can't quite discern the neck...

17 replies | 803 view(s)

Jan-18-2019, 6:28pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Info on Inherited Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

That brown chipboard case with the faux alligator outside surface, is exactly the case I was thinking of when I mentioned the "original cupboard...

32 replies | 1690 view(s)

Jan-18-2019, 11:13am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Info on Inherited Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

I've seen several A-50's and A-40's in "original" chipboard cases. They were considered Gibson's entry-level models, so probably were marketed with...

32 replies | 1690 view(s)

Jan-18-2019, 11:04am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Gibson F9 with sunken top in Builders and Repair

Think there may be a slight divergence in emphasis here. Since I've never had to deal with Gibson on warranty issues, I defer to those who have, and...

54 replies | 3368 view(s)

Jan-17-2019, 10:12pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Gibson F9 with sunken top in Builders and Repair

Price of a new F-9 now is apparently $5.3K. Even for a "budget model factory production" instrument, that's pricey enough to warrant some quality...

54 replies | 3368 view(s)

Jan-17-2019, 9:38pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread NMD 1941 Strad-O-Lin in General Mandolin Discussions

Amazing how these instruments have gone from "decent cheapos" to being in demand. I've had a Strad-O-Lin as my "take it anywhere" mandolin for the...

7 replies | 650 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 5:02pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Opinions on the Dobro Ampliphonic Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

You can adjust the straightness or "relief" curvature of the neck with an adjustable truss rod. This will affect the string height to some extent. ...

19 replies | 1108 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 4:50pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Willie Poole in General Mandolin Discussions

In October he e-mailed me something to that effect. I'll leave it up to Scott and/or the moderators to clarify the situation, if they care to. ...

7 replies | 1486 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 12:48pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Bruno bowlback mandola in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Looks pretty much like my Washburn mandola, except for the headstock shape. Lark Street Music has or had a very similar one labeled "Ditson." I'd...

2 replies | 572 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 12:39pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Opinions on the Dobro Ampliphonic Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Original Dobro mandolins are fairly cheaply made; Dobro and Regal had an arrangement where Regal provided wooden bodies, Dobro the resonators. ...

19 replies | 1108 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 12:29pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Trying again in General Mandolin Discussions

Again, a blanket "thanks" for the "welcome back" posts. I'll try to stay out of trouble...

41 replies | 2672 view(s)

Jan-15-2019, 12:27pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Willie Poole in General Mandolin Discussions

I e-mail back and forth with Willie fairly frequently; he gets my weekly e-mail newsletter. Seems fine. Last heard from him on Jan.5, when he said...

7 replies | 1486 view(s)

Jan-13-2019, 10:38pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Trying again in General Mandolin Discussions

With all due respect to the Lamehorse people, the "really attractive, unusual instrument" that would tempt me, would more likely be an...

41 replies | 2672 view(s)

Jan-13-2019, 1:16pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Opinions on the Dobro Ampliphonic Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

"Spider" bridge/cone instruments, like the Dobro, and "biscuit" bridge/cone instruments, like the National, are similar but distinct entities. There...

19 replies | 1108 view(s)

Jan-13-2019, 1:00pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Trying again in General Mandolin Discussions

Downsizing scorecard: #1 -- 1957 Martin D-18, 1970's Guild F-212XL 12-string, 1930's (?) Gibson TG-0 tenor guitar -> Larson brothers' Stahl...

41 replies | 2672 view(s)

Jan-11-2019, 3:39pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Flatiron mandolin - what year if serial # is... in General Mandolin Discussions

I think it's Asian-made -- would welcome correction if I err.

3 replies | 675 view(s)

Jan-11-2019, 10:12am

allenhopkins replied to a thread The bible of monroe is released by tom ewing in General Mandolin Discussions

Good points. Monroe himself was fairly honest about his "messy" romantic life; Ewing (p. 354) quotes from an interview Monroe did with People in...

37 replies | 4191 view(s)

Jan-10-2019, 4:55pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread The bible of monroe is released by tom ewing in General Mandolin Discussions

Just finished. Thanx to my son Dave for the Xmas present. Definitely an "insider's" look at Monroe's later years, when Ewing was in and out of...

37 replies | 4191 view(s)

Jan-10-2019, 12:08pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread what would you do in General Mandolin Discussions

1. No playable mandolin is "junk." Even a $49.95 Rogue might be just what some kid needs, or could be an experienced picker's "campfire" instrument...

40 replies | 1535 view(s)

Jan-09-2019, 9:08pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Vintage bowlback with cracks in fretboard and top in Builders and Repair

You went to an excellent luthier and repair person. I'd recommend anyone within hailing distance of Rochester to take advantage of Bernie's skills: ...

6 replies | 641 view(s)

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