View Profile: allenhopkins - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Jun-26-2022, 11:37am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Heavy-duty gigbag for Bouzouki in CBOM

I have a Deering gig bag for long-neck banjo that accommodates a Stelling resonator pot; might handle the 'zouk.

8 replies | 238 view(s)

Jun-24-2022, 10:49am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Advice on purchasing my next mandolin(s) in General Mandolin Discussions

To paraphrase the Furry Freak Brothers, mandolins will get ya through times of no money, better than money will get ya through times of...

31 replies | 1187 view(s)

Jun-23-2022, 8:36pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread My banjo killer (is not a mandolin) in General Mandolin Discussions

A Stihl chain saw.

19 replies | 1055 view(s)

Jun-23-2022, 8:33pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Mandolin Rental in General Mandolin Discussions

You can get an acceptable Asian plywood student mandolin for $65. Even if you have to pay another $50 to get it properly set up (you can also do...

5 replies | 482 view(s)

Jun-23-2022, 8:24pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Advice on purchasing my next mandolin(s) in General Mandolin Discussions

You want two mandolins. Period. End of discussion. Not gonna find one that has a "bluegrass" sound, and a sound like an old A-4. You'll end...

31 replies | 1187 view(s)

Jun-21-2022, 11:35am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Regal Octofone in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

My Octofone came in a cheap cardboard guitar case; no way to tell if it was originally sold that way, or acquired it over the years. Great...

6 replies | 366 view(s)

Jun-21-2022, 11:29am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Vintage KAY Mandolin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Completely opposite ends of the mandolin spectrum -- from the sublime to the ridiculous... Interesting, the faux resonator instruments that keep...

8 replies | 407 view(s)

Jun-21-2022, 11:13am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Clip On Tuners / What Cha Got ? in General Mandolin Discussions

Using D'Addario micros now, and generally satisfied. On the back of the headstock, they're generally shaded enough so I can read 'em outdoors. ...

45 replies | 1301 view(s)

Jun-20-2022, 12:03pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Gibson Must Now Face Antitrust Litigation in Heritage Case in General Mandolin Discussions

When Takamine guitars first hit America, they were stone copies of Martins, down to the typeface of the headstock decals. After a few years they...

64 replies | 4447 view(s)

Jun-20-2022, 11:39am

allenhopkins replied to a thread One of Mr. Stillion's products on sale at Bernunzio's in Four, Five and Eight-String Electrics

Sold now.

5 replies | 677 view(s)

Jun-19-2022, 7:56pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Kent 836 in Looking for Information About Mandolins

I have a vague memory of being told that Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown played one of these. Can't find any evidence to substantiate it, though.

10 replies | 361 view(s)

Jun-19-2022, 10:03am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Trying to get info on my mandolins in Looking for Information About Mandolins

There's a similar Sigma Style A clone for sale here for $500, which I would consider optimistic. Sigmas, when Martin owned the brand, were pretty...

25 replies | 878 view(s)

Jun-19-2022, 9:50am

allenhopkins replied to a thread A likely contentious opinion on electric mandolins in General Mandolin Discussions

Hey, ya can't peddle that stuff 'round here...!

96 replies | 18825 view(s)

Jun-18-2022, 1:36pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Gibson Must Now Face Antitrust Litigation in Heritage Case in General Mandolin Discussions

So: Gibson gonna come after all the companies and individual luthiers who build F-style mandolins, next? Surely a "distinctive silhouette," and...

64 replies | 4447 view(s)

Jun-18-2022, 1:31pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread HELP! I'm Running Sound For the (sort've) First Time in General Mandolin Discussions

I've provided sound system support for many gigs over the years, though only on "ancient" equipment (that I own). Don't even own a laptop, shows you...

19 replies | 878 view(s)

Jun-18-2022, 1:10pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Fan to cool the band in Equipment

Reminds me of the late Bill Staines's anecdote about the Texas coffeehouse where he had to tune to the pervasive drone from the air conditioner. ...

14 replies | 601 view(s)

Jun-18-2022, 1:02pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread bridge recommendations for a Weymann mandolute in Builders and Repair

As I recall the mandolute I used to own had a bridge that was similar to the long, thin, low, non-adjustable bridges normally found on bowl-backs. ...

5 replies | 291 view(s)

Jun-14-2022, 4:58pm

allenhopkins started a thread One of Mr. Stillion's products on sale at Bernunzio's in Four, Five and Eight-String Electrics

Browsing through John B's latest e-newsletter, saw this one up for sale; "made by Martin Stillion w/ help by Andrew Jerman," according to the blurb. ...

5 replies | 677 view(s)

Jun-13-2022, 9:25pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Earplugs for loud session? in Equipment

I remember going to a Battlefield Band concert where the band played a number, while the piper was tuning up in a closed room behind the stage, and...

25 replies | 930 view(s)

Jun-11-2022, 3:09pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Double-sided, double-necked violin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Played one of those once; worst-sounding mandolin and ukulele I've played, as I remember, and the neck fretted on both sides was tres uncomfortable...

12 replies | 781 view(s)

Jun-11-2022, 2:44pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Replating a vintage National mandolin in Vintage Instruments

Page 52: "All styles were nickel-plated, except Triolians, Duolians, and wood body models." Expect that includes Style 1's. My 1930's Style 0...

20 replies | 728 view(s)

Jun-10-2022, 12:53pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Replating a vintage National mandolin in Vintage Instruments

The topic sent me to the late Bob Brozman's The History & Artistry of National Resonator Instruments to try to research National's construction and...

20 replies | 728 view(s)

Jun-07-2022, 12:05pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Identify a Tater Bug Mandolin in Looking for Information About Mandolins

I'm hypothesizing that some material was added under the bridge to make fuller contact with the flat top of the mandolin, since the bridge looks like...

17 replies | 654 view(s)

Jun-07-2022, 11:58am

allenhopkins replied to a thread Best source for a custom gig bag for a mandobass? in General Mandolin Discussions

I had Blue Heron make me a bag for my Larson Bros. Stahl mando-bass. Very satisfied. Cost was $544 including shipping in 2018.

3 replies | 288 view(s)

Jun-05-2022, 11:27pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Bourgeois Mandolins! in General Mandolin Discussions

Comes the Revolution, Bourgeois mandolins will be replaced by Proletarian mandolins. Only available in one style, ten-year wait for delivery, made...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-03-2022, 12:22pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread 1924 Lloyd Loar at Elderly Instruments in General Mandolin Discussions

The price of Lloyd Loar F-5's has steadfastly remained at "more than I can afford." When they were $25K, I couldn't afford that. When I got to...

34 replies | 3158 view(s)

Jun-01-2022, 1:18pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread Seeking Info on a Bowlback in Looking for Information About Mandolins

Get the top and sides reattached and perhaps cleated at the tailpiece, before trying to install a new tailpiece. And have someone look at the split...

9 replies | 584 view(s)

Jun-01-2022, 1:06pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread This just showed up in my inbox re: Gibson guitars in General Mandolin Discussions

Sorta the point I was trying to make with the scroll-&-points "F" silhouette. There were quite a few individual luthiers a few years ago, who built...

67 replies | 4467 view(s)

May-31-2022, 12:44pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread This just showed up in my inbox re: Gibson guitars in General Mandolin Discussions

As far as mandolins are concerned, Gibson missed the boat, IMHO, by not going after all the builders who made instruments with the "F" silhouette, as...

67 replies | 4467 view(s)

May-31-2022, 12:26pm

allenhopkins replied to a thread What kind of financial sh to make use? in General Mandolin Discussions

No finish expert here, but I'm not quite sure why you want to refinish it at all. The finish "checking" it shows doesn't affect sound or...

21 replies | 1583 view(s)

allenhopkins
Mando accumulator

Mini Statistics

Recent Visitors

Basic Information

About allenhopkins

Signature

Contact

Statistics

Total Posts

Total Thanks

General Information

allenhopkins Mando accumulator

Mini Statistics

Recent Visitors

Basic Information

About allenhopkins

Signature

Contact

Statistics

Total Posts

Total Thanks

General Information

allenhopkins
Mando accumulator