Troublesome Creek

https://reverb.com/item/36245595-tro...eybee-mandolin
https://reverb.com/item/36245604-tro...eybee-mandolin

Any thoughts on these? I’m familiar with the background of the company and I think what they are doing is a good thing, but they just seem to be a bit overpriced. They look like very fine instruments, but I can buy a Waterloo which is a similar instrument built by an established builder for less. If I saw one of these for under $1500 I probably would have jumped on it. I’m just curious to see what others think.

[QUOTE=Steve 2E;1791243]https://reverb.com/item/36245595-tro...eybee-mandolin
https://reverb.com/item/36245604-tro...eybee-mandolin

Any thoughts on these? I’m familiar with the background of the company and I think what they are doing is a good thing, but they just seem to be a bit overpriced. They look like very fine instruments, but I can buy a Waterloo which is a similar instrument built by an established builder for less. If I saw one of these for under $1500 I probably would have jumped on it. I’m just curious to see what others think.[/QUOTE

Doug that is over the shop used to work for collings guitars and does killer work. He has worked on many of my high end mandolins along with my friends and bandmates guitars. I know he had some other top builders come in and help set the shop up. i would assume the mandolins are very high quality. i am within driving distance but haven't been back since they started production. I saw the drawings of their concept on an "f style" which looked pretty cool but im not sure if they ate building those yet. maybe i need to take a little trip.....

there's a company I'd overspend towards. Go for it!

f-d

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Originally Posted by John M. Riley

...I saw the drawings of their concept on an "f style" which looked pretty cool but im not sure if they ate building those yet. maybe i need to take a little trip.....

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The "Honeybee" is different from the Waterloo in several ways. The top is center-weighter and X-braced so the sound is different from that of Red Line, Waterloo and other mandolins built more closely to the Gibson Army Navy model. Other than that, they are made with premium Appalachian woods including red spruce and they sport a high gloss finish.
I was not involved much in the design of the Honeybee other than building the prototype. I also built the "f-style" prototype. It is built to Loar specs other than some "modernization" (radius 'board, different inlay, etc.) I don't think there are any immediate plans to produce the "F". They don't have enough trained workers to go there yet.

For the record, no financial interest here. My contract with Troublesome Creek ended during the Covid-19-induced shut-down.

They look nice! Always cool to have high quality options!

The walnut back on the natural-topped one is something special. Well, the other one is pretty nice, too.

NO, I DON'T need another mandolin!:whistling:

Thanks for everybody’s input. I noticed that the price has changed from $1900 to $1799. Every bit helps.
I’m only about 3 hours from Melodee’s brick and mortar store so I might take a trip to check them out. I am quite interested, but I’d like to play one before I pull the trigger.

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Originally Posted by Steve 2E

I noticed that the price has changed from $1900 to $1799. Every bit helps.

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I love flattop mandolins. I started on a used Mid-Missouri and have subsequently purchased a Flatiron 1N, a Gypsy Vagabond, and two Redline Travelers. I even later custom ordered a Poe Scout with all the bells and whistles. $1900 — or even $1799 — is an ambitious price point in the flattop market. I sincerely hope they’re worth it.

In the classifieds...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161604#161604

Adjustable necks!? :disbelief:

Pretty nice looking mandolin!

NFI

*full disclosure: I'm the sales manager for Melodee Music and we sell Troublesome mandolins and guitars

They are sweet little mandolins. I am a guitar player but this thing makes all three of my mandolin chords sound amazing. It is a lot rounder sound than the flat tops.
I'm incredibly proud to be carrying Troublesome Creek and to get the word out there about their instruments and their mission. If you make your way out to the shop tell me you saw it on Mandolin Cafe and we will be happy to make a donation for the classified ad.

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Originally Posted by ChrisMelodee

*full disclosure: I'm the sales manager for Melodee Music and we sell Troublesome mandolins and guitars

They are sweet little mandolins. I am a guitar player but this thing makes all three of my mandolin chords sound amazing. It is a lot rounder sound than the flat tops.
I'm incredibly proud to be carrying Troublesome Creek and to get the word out there about their instruments and their mission. If you make your way out to the shop tell me you saw it on Mandolin Cafe and we will be happy to make a donation for the classified ad.

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Welcome! I also started on 3 chords!

f-d

Three chords is really all you need...

Kirk

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Originally Posted by tiltman

Three chords is really all you need...

Kirk

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And the truth.

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Originally Posted by tiltman

Three chords is really all you need...

Kirk

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Originally Posted by Eric F.

And the truth.

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So long as it's a country song...

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Originally Posted by TheMandoKit

So long as it's a country song...

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I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.

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Originally Posted by Cobalt

I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.

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There was or perhaps still is a band by that name in Virginia.

I think I’ll write a song - “Troublesome Creek” - and then rationalize getting another mandolin...
They look nice!

Kirk

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Originally Posted by Bob Buckingham

There was or perhaps still is a band by that name in Virginia.

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I had forgotten about them, but you are right. I worked on some instruments for at least one of the members when I was still in VA.

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Originally Posted by Cobalt

I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.

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Just found this...



Cool tune. :cool:

A google search will reveal that there are "Troublesome Creeks" in my states across the US, but the one in Knot County Kentucky runs right beside (and occasionally right through!) the parking lot of Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument company. The McLain Family Band is from the area and the tune is obviously named after the same Troublesome Creek. Several McLains are still active and I ran across some of them from time to time when I was working there. Al White (one of the mandolin players in the clip above) just retired from Berea College. Soon before he did (and soon before I left) he and his band from Berea stopped by the shop and played some instruments. Sometimes it just seem that history suggests that instruments should be built there!

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Originally Posted by Charles E.

In the classifieds...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161604#161604

Adjustable necks!? :disbelief:

Pretty nice looking mandolin!

NFI

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And it's gone....

Attachment 189232
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161689#161689

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Originally Posted by Charles E.

And it's gone....

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It was me!

I took fatt-dad’s advice and went for it!

I made the trip down south to Melodee to check them out and ended up buying. Sales manager Chris was welcoming and knowledgeable and provided a very comfortable buying experience. I’m really impressed with the build quality and tone of the instrument. Thanks and good luck to Doug and everyone at TC! Hope you build many more!

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Originally Posted by Steve 2E

It was me!

I took fatt-dad’s advice and went for it!

I made the trip down south to Melodee to check them out and ended up buying. Sales manager Chris was welcoming and knowledgeable and provided a very comfortable buying experience. I’m really impressed with the build quality and tone of the instrument. Thanks and good luck to Doug and everyone at TC! Hope you build many more!

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So great!

f-d

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Originally Posted by pheffernan

I love flattop mandolins. I started on a used Mid-Missouri and have subsequently purchased a Flatiron 1N, a Gypsy Vagabond, and two Redline Travelers. I even later custom ordered a Poe Scout with all the bells and whistles. $1900 — or even $1799 — is an ambitious price point in the flattop market. I sincerely hope they’re worth it.

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It was worth it to me. I absolutely understand where you’re coming from and I had my doubts, but I’m quite happy that I made the purchase. I’m not willing to say what I paid, but I will say that Melodee is willing to negotiate on the price.

As Sunburst said above it differs a bit in construction from other flat tops. I can’t really put tone into words, but to me it has nice projection with a more modern “wet” tone than a vintage “dry” tone. It has a lot of sustain. Notes will linger on if you want them to. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like it.

Fit and finish are flawless. The neck and fretwork are silky smooth. Setup is perfect. I’m more than satisfied and it’s the most inspiring instrument I’ve had in quite a while. It’s almost like a custom build that I forgot I ordered. Enough of my gushing. I’m just really happy!

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