View Profile: Mandobar - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Yesterday, 5:58am

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

They are not as rigid/thick as the Reunion Blues. Neither is the Mono, in terms of guitar bags. Richard Beard uses the Access Bags (not sure if...

8 replies | 245 view(s)

Jun-26-2022, 11:21am

Mandobar replied to a thread Holding on to your personal Holy Grail mandolin in General Mandolin Discussions

Bonding with it is the key. Play it enough to make a judgement as to whether you want to keep it.

34 replies | 1834 view(s)

Jun-26-2022, 11:19am

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

I have both the Access bag and the RB guitar bag (I found the banjo bag to be too tight for octave or bouzouki). I’d go with the Access bag if your...

8 replies | 245 view(s)

Jun-26-2022, 6:43am

Mandobar replied to a thread Holding on to your personal Holy Grail mandolin in General Mandolin Discussions

I have to say, Michael Heiden makes a mighty fine mandolin. I am now in possession of two (the most recent is a blond A5 from 2021). I waved...

34 replies | 1834 view(s)

Jun-24-2022, 11:32am

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

TME had an older Girouard A5 when I was there Wednesday. They also have a Smart two point that is styled for jazz. It’s got a bigger, fuller neck...

31 replies | 1189 view(s)

Jun-23-2022, 12:02pm

Mandobar replied to a thread Concerning Loar copy mandolins in General Mandolin Discussions

I played a Griffith Girouard yesterday…of all the Loar-inspired mandolins out there, some have the look, but none have really had the sound. Until...

41 replies | 9703 view(s)

Jun-21-2022, 8:30am

Mandobar replied to a thread Dennis Cahill has passed away - R.I.P. in Celtic, U.K., Nordic, Quebecois, European Folk

From what I have read, it appears that he had been ill for a bit. Very sad news.

12 replies | 804 view(s)

Jun-18-2022, 4:42pm

Mandobar replied to a thread Girouard "Griffith" tribute mandolin. in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

I believe someone is in the process of purchasing the one at TME.

17 replies | 931 view(s)

Jun-17-2022, 4:30am

Mandobar replied to a thread Girouard "Griffith" tribute mandolin. in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

From what I understand there are four Girouard Griffin models. This includes the one in the Andrew Marlin/Bruce Harvey video, which belongs to...

17 replies | 931 view(s)

Jun-16-2022, 4:31pm

Mandobar replied to a thread Girouard "Griffith" tribute mandolin. in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

I don't believe that there are going to many of these.

17 replies | 931 view(s)

Jun-10-2022, 6:19pm

Mandobar replied to a thread Girouard A4 build thread. in General Mandolin Discussions

Both Campanella and Toole build in a certain style. It’s not an aesthetic, it’s a style of building, with years of experience in developing a French...

27 replies | 2734 view(s)

Jun-10-2022, 5:03am

Mandobar replied to a thread New Guitar Case under $600 in Equipment

Hiscox is no longer selling in the US. Visesnut sells cases that are a bit over your price range. A lot of luthiers have switched to them. You...

4 replies | 362 view(s)

Jun-08-2022, 6:48pm

Mandobar replied to a thread Just saw this note in classified section: What does it mean? in General Mandolin Discussions

It’s pretty clear. Most sites discourage these forms of payment. As a buyer, you have no recourse if a purchase made with these forms of payment...

16 replies | 1871 view(s)

Jun-06-2022, 3:05pm

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

As Scott said, there is Northfield, which markets the Calhoun at around $1k. There is nothing after that because it is not sustainable. My hat is...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-06-2022, 1:07pm

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

Other than Northfield what other US makers are making a playable, presentable A style mandolin in any quantities? And I’m not talking about solo...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-06-2022, 12:42pm

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

Sonny is not paying benefits to a group of employees along with workman’s compensation insurance, etc. is he? Does he even have employees? ...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-05-2022, 2:13pm

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

They bought a majority share. Dana is in pursuit of retirement. Eastman is his exit plan. Bourgeois has always had a venture capital group which...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-04-2022, 6:08pm

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

They’d have to be triple that price if they are going to be made here. Eastman is going to play to their strengths which is a full factory...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-04-2022, 4:53pm

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

There’s no way the small shop they have in Lewiston (which is in an old Mill down the street from where they were several years back) is going to...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-04-2022, 5:29am

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

Eastman has control of the company. So, yes, these are going to be made for the most part in China. The Maine facility is small, and most of the...

45 replies | 3580 view(s)

Jun-03-2022, 4:56am

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

Sue, I think it all depends on the state laws, as someone mentioned. River Dave is actually living within the boundaries of the state of Vermont,...

67 replies | 4468 view(s)

Jun-02-2022, 6:53am

Mandobar replied to a thread How does it work when people are playing together? in Old-Time, Roots, Early Country, Cajun, Tex-Mex

Generally after a few through the same tune (which is why in old time sessions you play the tune so many darn times) the versions generally...

34 replies | 1962 view(s)

Jun-01-2022, 10:55am

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

Fender has a different outlook on things these days. They actually hired a few builders who were competing with them, like Ron Thorn.

67 replies | 4468 view(s)

Jun-01-2022, 8:12am

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

Well, I have to say that the guy in town here, who lost 40 foot of his oceanfront view to his neighbor (after letting multiple owners of the property...

67 replies | 4468 view(s)

May-31-2022, 7:08am

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

Most of Gibson "knockoffs" (actually, I prefer to refer to them as "refinements") are far superior in quality and performance to what the company...

67 replies | 4468 view(s)

May-30-2022, 7:04pm

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

And yet, they seem to sell enough to stay in business and stay out of court. Maybe they can buy Gibson next time around.

67 replies | 4468 view(s)