View Profile: allenhopkins - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Today, 12:07pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Vintage Gibson oval hole in Vintage Instruments

Could have been sent back to Gibson for an upgrade, when the Handels were still available -- or they could have been cannibalized from a trashed,...

59 replies | 8198 view(s)

Today, 12:05pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread yamaha mandolins in Looking for Information About Mandolins

When I worked for Eldon Stutzman selling instruments back in the '70's, the Yamaha FG-75 was the standard basic "first steel-string guitar" we sold...

26 replies | 783 view(s)

Today, 11:53am

allenhopkins replied to a thread We Lost John Prine. in General Mandolin Discussions

John's burial instructions: Mandolin content included -- who's the mandolinist?

45 replies | 2128 view(s)

Apr-07-2020, 10:10pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Blueberry mandolin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Didn't know blueberries grew in Vietnam.

16 replies | 835 view(s)

Apr-07-2020, 10:04pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread We Lost John Prine. in General Mandolin Discussions

Rochester musicians in a tribute to John, yesterday on Evan Dawson's Connections show on WXXI.

45 replies | 2128 view(s)

Apr-06-2020, 4:51pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Mandos on the wall in General Mandolin Discussions

I'm a "always in case when not being played" kinda person, but I'm sensitive to the appeal of instruments as decor, and their ready accessibility. I...

10 replies | 917 view(s)

Apr-06-2020, 1:21pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread A-type oval hole mandolin for $500? in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Eastman MD304 from the Mandolin Store for $510. About as good as you'll get for that price in a carved-top, though as many people have posted above,...

17 replies | 2931 view(s)

Apr-06-2020, 1:15pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Martin A Style vs. Eastman 315 for Folk & Bluegrass in General Mandolin Discussions

IMHO, the Eastman "300" series mandolins are good value for their prices, and well below your stated budget. They're "plain Jane" in terms of finish...

11 replies | 990 view(s)

Apr-05-2020, 3:47pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread yamaha mandolins in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Fact that OP's from Norway may be relevant; mandolins could have been sold in Europe under the "Yamaha" label, not in the US. Google search...

26 replies | 783 view(s)

Apr-04-2020, 5:31pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Octave String Pairings in Equipment

An octave higher than the standard A, or an octave lower?

11 replies | 1668 view(s)

Apr-04-2020, 5:25pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread poor quality or MAS? in General Mandolin Discussions

I don't wanta jump into a digression/dispute, and I do love the Strad-O-Lin I own, but remember, they were mostly budget mandolins originally. Good...

39 replies | 3564 view(s)

Apr-04-2020, 5:14pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Martin A Style vs. Eastman 315 for Folk & Bluegrass in General Mandolin Discussions

A carved-top, f-hole mandolin -- whether an "F-model" or "A-model" -- will sound different from your bent-flat-top, oval-hole Martin A. It will...

11 replies | 990 view(s)

Apr-03-2020, 3:32pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Torrafied is actually an ancient Jewish process in Equipment

Tori-fied vid (NMC): These days, better watch those "light sneezes"...

7 replies | 3011 view(s)

Apr-03-2020, 12:22pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Pollman mandolin banjo in Vintage Instruments

I have one of those, marked "mandoline banjo"; a flat-back mandola body with a five-string banjo neck. Similar to what Gold Tone now sells as a...

1 replies | 826 view(s)

Apr-02-2020, 1:50pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread banjo-mandolin with oak leaf in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Lotsa close-up pics of the instrument in this YouTube vid. Doesn't look like any Vega I've ever seen; I'm guessing a "trade" instrument made for a...

11 replies | 2844 view(s)

Apr-02-2020, 10:44am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Interesting bowlback on ebay in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

A display piece if I've ever seen one! Interesting that it seems to be post-WWII; seems quite ornate for that period...?

14 replies | 4037 view(s)

Apr-02-2020, 10:36am

allenhopkins replied to a thread banjo-mandolin with oak leaf in Looking for Information About Mandolins

The mention of "oak leaf inlays" in Vega banjo descriptions, seems to refer to fingerboard inlays in their more expensive models -- which our two...

11 replies | 2844 view(s)

Apr-02-2020, 10:25am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Mandolinists RIOTING over unfair String License fee in General Mandolin Discussions

And the world was spared another source of quavering, nasal whining, at something near accurate pitch -- just my opinion... Has anyone ever heard...

22 replies | 3666 view(s)

Apr-01-2020, 10:03pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread banjo-mandolin with oak leaf in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Some higher-end Vega banjos had oak leaf inlays on the fingerboard, but they were nearly uniformly ID'ed on the dowel stick, with model and serial...

11 replies | 2844 view(s)

Apr-01-2020, 12:50pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Mandolinists RIOTING over unfair String License fee in General Mandolin Discussions

I knew there was a reason I never took up hammered dulcimer -- but I do have several Autoharps -- looks like I'll owe Uncle Sam a bunch... So,...

22 replies | 3666 view(s)

Apr-01-2020, 12:41pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread You never know who plays mando.... in General Mandolin Discussions

Check this current thread.

3 replies | 769 view(s)

Apr-01-2020, 12:36pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread The virus, the economy, mandolins and you in General Mandolin Discussions

As I posted in the "Playing Live" thread, I'm down 21 (oops, now 22) performance gigs for the months of March and April, losing around $1.6K in...

47 replies | 5377 view(s)

Mar-31-2020, 1:53pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread I Miss Playing Live! in General Mandolin Discussions

"Progress" report: 21 gigs canceled to date, loss of revenue slightly over $1.4K I'm not counting on anything all through April, but I'm waiting to...

27 replies | 1245 view(s)

Mar-29-2020, 1:11pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread For members that make a living in the music business in General Mandolin Discussions

I heard about the provisions in the $2B "stimulus" bill that would make self-employed workers -- musicians too! -- eligible for unemployment...

4 replies | 734 view(s)

Mar-29-2020, 1:03pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Mando flatiron buying advice. in General Mandolin Discussions

Three months?! After talking about "herd immunity," apparently PM Boris J is getting super-serious about curve flattening. Wonder if it's related...

12 replies | 820 view(s)

Mar-29-2020, 12:55pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Does this octave mandolin... in General Mandolin Discussions

I remember, at a long-ago Fox Hollow Festival, a rather large man onstage played a rather small mandolin. One of my companions remarked that you...

13 replies | 1111 view(s)

Mar-29-2020, 12:51pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread old Flatiron, old guy, some thoughts in General Mandolin Discussions

There's a prejudice that "newer is better." Flatirons were well-made from the start, and their "original equipment" pretty much stands the test of...

18 replies | 2141 view(s)

Mar-27-2020, 3:53pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread The virus, the economy, mandolins and you in General Mandolin Discussions

Posted about this on this current thread, so not too much to add. My music calendar after March 11 was wiped clean; there are early-to-mid-April...

47 replies | 5377 view(s)

Mar-26-2020, 1:45pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread G. Bauer Bowl Back Mandolin Project in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

One of my local dealers just e-mailed me that, due to the coronavirus situation, he's closed his store for in-person business, but is conducting...

2 replies | 1350 view(s)

Mar-24-2020, 6:30pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Eric Weissberg in General Mandolin Discussions

Ever since New Dimensions In Banjo & Bluegrass came out in the '60's, Weissberg (a Julliard grad, who was formerly in the Tarriers and an early...

11 replies | 1318 view(s)

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