Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Thanks Scott. I’d certainly like to see pics of the Ellis builds. Have fun,
Steve
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Cool! Have fun for all us less privileged folks who can't attend
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Scott R
I'm down at Summer NAMM . . . . I grabbed photos of most of what is here if anybody is interested.
Are you kidding? I want to see pictures of EVERYTHING!
5 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Ok... let's start with my favorite, Ellis & Pava. (I apologize in advance for the cell phone photos--I wasn't planning on doing this...)
Here's a look at their sweet booth:
Attachment 178359
Starting with the closest Ellis first and working back we have:
Attachment 178360
Ellis F5 Special #400 - Tom's personal mandolin with hummingbird inlay
This one is really nice, and a treat to play.
Attachment 178361
Ellis Twin Point Special - Oval
The first oval twin that Tom has built.
Attachment 178362
Ellis F5 Tradition - Torrefied
This is the one that CJ couldn't put down. I think I heard it is going to Carters and will be up for sale soon. It is very strong, and was just strung up for the first time a couple days before the show.
Attachment 178363
Ellis A5 Special - Flern Inlay
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Thanks Scott. Pava Mandolins Facebook page has a few pics up, and a video of some old hack banging on one of her F5s.
5 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
And here are the Pava instruments that came along for the trip:
Attachment 178364
Pava A5 Pro - Blonde with Koa Binding, Koa Iris Inlay and Koa Tuner Buttons
This is a pretty neat one, the koa binding is definitely unique--and the blonde top is gorgeous.
Attachment 178365
Detail shot of the koa binding, inlay, and gotoh tuners with koa buttons.
Attachment 178366
Pava A5 Satin
(I still think these are the best value A5 on the market, all the sound and they are amazingly well built)
Attachment 178368
Pava A5 Pro - Pava Wire Inlay
Probably the first look at the new Pava Wire inlay. Has the full iris with the tiny inlaid silver wire that Tom's torch and wire inlays are known for...
Attachment 178367
Pava F5 Satin
12 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Ok, and on to Weber next. They brought a lot of nice mandolins, a couple octaves, a mandola, and a mandocello.
I'm also attaching all the info provided on the display cards in the booth--though I don't think they had the series names and model names correct with their catalog. Not sure why.
Attachment 178369
Attachment 178370
Attachment 178371
Weber - Fern "F" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Adirondack Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $8999.00
Attachment 178372
Weber - Crooked River "F" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Adirondack Spruce
Back/Side: Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $6999.00
Attachment 178373
Weber - Vintage "F" Mandolin Oval Hole
Top: Adirondack Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Antiqued Ivoroid
MSRP: $6999.00
Attachment 178374
Weber - Bitterroot "F" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $3999.00
Attachment 178375
Weber - Bitterroot "A" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $3499.00
Attachment 178376
Weber - Gallatin "F" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Maple
Binding: Unbound
MSRP: $2999.00
Attachment 178377
Weber - Bitterroot "A" Octave F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $3999.00
Attachment 178378
Weber - Yellowstone "A" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $3999.00
Attachment 178379
Weber - Yellowstone "F" Mandolin F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $4999.00
Attachment 178380
Weber - Yellowstone "F" Octave F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $5999.00
Argh.. hit image posting limit. To be continued.
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Weber, continued:
Attachment 178381
Weber - Yellowstone "F" Mandola F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $5599.00
Attachment 178382
Weber - Yellowstone "F" Mandocello F-Holes
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back/Side: Flamed Maple
Binding: Ivoroid
MSRP: $6499.00
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Heading back to the show--will post Eastman, Saga, and The Loar stuff tonight or tomorrow.
Going to get some hands on time with that new Weber Octave, looks neat.
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
This is wonderful, Scott. Thanks. I'd love to see those cases as well!
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
That Ellis 2 point oval checks all the boxes. Serious MAS for that one. Gorgeous in every way.
Thanks for the pics and report Scott.
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
There was a lot of interest in the twin point oval, it sounds as good as it looks. I don’t know which shop it is headed to after namm....
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Thanks for the report! Any wide angle photos of that big Kentucky lineup?
7 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Ok, so let's talk about the cases next. What I saw there were the TKL Vectra cases. Which, while new to me, have been in existence for at least a couple years now (though when I was doing a lot of case shopping--they never turned up for sale anywhere).
Here's what I know. There are a lot of TM's here:
- Cases are made in USA
- Rigidlite™ exterior - which is a molded polymer (plastic, right?)
- Secure-fit™ - impact-absorbing, thermal-insulating AIC™ Interior (not thinsulate, and no temp ratings that I could find)
Observations
- The cases are VERY lightweight. Maybe 1/3 the weight of a Calton. They are NOT flight cases.
- The interior is nice, and the stuff compartment is Calton sized. Not huge.
- The interior will fit an A model, or any Gibson sized F model (Ellis wouldn't fit well, but TKL said they could custom mold interiors for luthiers who wanted to order regular batches. If you know your mando is big, this probably won't work for you off the shelf.)
- The exteriors can be customized with any graphics on front or back--which could be cool for brands looking for a uniquely designed case. The print quality was pretty nice on their samples (good resolution potential, just low rez photos for sample graphics).
- The latches felt good, but there were 4 of them (3 front, one back) when maybe 3 could do?
Overall I thought they were really nice cases. Googling I see an old reverb listing for a gold one at morgan music for around $250, so maybe that is street price? Would be nice to know how good the thermal protection is, and if you can drop them off a roof with an instrument in them... (If I get my hands on one to test for a while, I will report back)
The folks manning the TKL booth were super nice and very encouraging about customizing for builders, so that's nice to hear.
Here's what they had to look at:
Attachment 178405
Attachment 178406
Attachment 178408
Attachment 178407
Attachment 178409
Attachment 178410
Attachment 178411
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
4 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
And then my absolute most favorite mandolin find at Summer Namm 2019 is these fine folks:
Attachment 178420
You may have seen some of their guitar stands in the high-end room at Carters, but I noticed the Eastman 315 hanging when I walked by, so I stopped in to chat.
They decided the market also needed some mandolin stands, and they've made a new design with a hanger yoke that is appropriately sized for our skinny necks! (They also made some banjo stands, but who would want one of those? Maybe Steve Martin.)
Anyways, they've got a few different 'tiers' of stands:
Standard
Solid Sapele, Cherry, Walnut, or Curly Maple
Special
Same woods with a tasteful skunk stripe of contrasting color
Premium
Fancier woods like Bubinga, Chechen, and Pau Ferro.
The stands collapse into a skinny 'stick' profile, and fit into a slick little carry bag--but honestly they are gorgeous to look at, and I think a lot nicer than many of the other metal or wood stands out there today.
Also, all contact points are suede leather covered so no rubber problems.
Here's the good stuff
Attachment 178416
Flame Maple and Sapele (I think) Mando stands. You can see the hanger yoke fits right, and the lower bouts hit in the center of the contact pads.
Attachment 178417
Here's the back view, I think these are the 'standard series (no skunk stripe)
Attachment 178418
Just another side profile view.
They are rumored to be running a batch of Mando stands in a month or two--and have a waiting list started. I've got no financial interest in this other than ordering a few stands at the show for myself... :grin:
Check em out at https://www.solidgroundstands.com/
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Ok, Kentucky! I only got one photo of their stuff (sorry). I think I have enough info to give you a rundown of everything in it:
Attachment 178419
KM-1050
Mastermodel Series
Graduated, carved Adirondack/Michigan maple, radiused ebony
MSRP: $2995
KM-855
Artist F-Model Mandolin
Flamed maple, handcarved European tone woods, radiused ebony
MSRP: $1695
KM-750
Deluxe F-Model Mandolin
Handcarved German spruce & Alpine maple, radiused rosewood
MSRP: $1495
KM-650
Standard F-Model Mandolin
Handcarved German spruce & Alpine maple, radiused rosewood
MSRP: $1395
KM-606
Standard F-Model Mandolin (though sign said A...)
Handcarved spruce & maple, radiused rosewood
MSRP: $1195
KM-508
Artist Series
Flamed maple, carved european hardwoods, radiused ebony
MSRP: $995
KM-508
Artist A-Model Mandolin
Carved German spruce top, european hardwoods, radiused ebony
MSRP: $895
KM-150
Standard A-Model Mandolin
Carved Sitka spruce top, european hardwoods, radiused rosewood
MSRP: $595
KM-272
Deluxe Oval Hole A-Style Mandolin
Carved German spruce top, european hardwoods, radiused rosewood
MSRP: $695
3 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Here's a couple shots of what Eastman brought to the show. I still favor well set up Eastman 305's as the best sounding entry level mando out there--really really great builds in my book. Also their limited edition guitars with Adirondack tops were pretty great as well.
Attachment 178424
Attachment 178425
And then the treat for me was getting to check out the ER-M.
Attachment 178426
Top Wood: Solid Maple
Back/Sides: Solid One Piece Mahogany
Finish: Nitrocellulose
Pickup: Lollar mandolin humbucker
MSRP: $1,299
Really beautiful instrument, great build, great feel. Personally I wouldn't know what to do with an electric mando, but this one is super nice.
Here's the other stuff in the photo:
MD515/v-AMB
Antique Varnish Series - F-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Maple
Finish: Antique Varnish
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $1,399
MD505CC/n
A-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Maple
Finish: Vintage Nitro
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $975
MD415-BK
F-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Mahogany
Finish: Nitrocellulose
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $1,000
MD915-BD
F-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Adirondack Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Flamed Maple
Finish: Vintage Nitro
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $2,999
MD605-SB
A-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Flamed Maple
Finish: Nitrocellulose
Pickup: K&K Duotone
MSRP: $1,099
MDA815
Mandola - F-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Mahogany
Finish: Nitrocellulose
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $2,125
MDO305
Octave Mandolin - A-Style with F-Holes
Top Wood: Solid Spruce
Back/Sides: Solid Mahogany
Finish: Matte Nitrocellulose
Pickup: Optional K&K Duotone
MSRP: $875
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Ok, I think all I'm missing at this point is The Loar...
Attachment 178427
Left to right...
Professional Series
All Solid F-Style Mandolin
Hand-Carved solid spruce top
Hand-Carved solid figured maple back & sides
Figured maple neck with rounded "v"profile
1-1/8" nut width
Gotoh tuners
LM-600-VS
List: $1199.99
MAP: $899.99
Performer Series
All Solid F-Style Mandolin
Hand-Carved solid spruce top
Hand-Carved solid maple back & sides
Maple neck with rounded "v"profile
1-1/8" nut width
Grover tuners
Vintage Sunburst finish
LM-520-VS
List: $799.99
MAP: $599.99
Honey Creek Series
F-Style Mandolin
Hand-Carved solid spruce top
Maple neck with rounded "v"profile
1-1/8" nut width
Satin brownburst finish
LM-310F-BRB
List: $399.99
MAP: $299.99
Honey Creek Series
A-Style Mandolin
Hand-Carved solid spruce top
Maple neck with rounded "v"profile
1-1/8" nut width
Satin brownburst finish
LM-110-BRB
List: $333.99
MAP: $249.99
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Too cool! Just one thing, you described The Loars from R to L, I was slightly confused at first. Is there any way you could get some video evidence of the Weber octave?
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Is it really true that Eastman is now making their mandola and octave mandolin with mahogany back and sides instead of maple?
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Excellent reporting, Scott. Those Solid Ground stands have my attention.
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Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Don, I’m just reporting what they had on the info cards hanging next to the instruments at the show. I can confirm that IS what they said, mahogany.
Here are the cards (hard to read, sorry)
Attachment 178431
Attachment 178432
It could certainly be a typo on their part by whomever made the display cards. Website still states Maple, and the MDO I bought a few months ago new was Maple. Probably a mistake.
Re: Summer NAMM 2019 Report
Thanks for the solid reporting and photography. R/