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I had the opportunity to sit down with this lovely instrument today while hanging with the guys at the Mandolin Store. There were a handful of 'If I had the Means" instruments during this visit, but this one was the showstopper.
It was one of those instruments that you feel the warmth and goodness to your core as you play it.
When you are used to a mandolin a cello can be a chore to play, but this one was easy to fret, and every note sang a good song.
Yummy.
Some of those old Gibson mandocellos are really something special. When I lived in Seattle last year, they had a Gibson K1 in for a few weeks. I went to the store three times just to sit and play it for an hour or two. It was really a lovely instrument. Too fun.
Thanks for sharing!
I felt that way with my K2 as well. But I fell for the luscious curves of a K4 and traded up. To be honest there's not a whole lot of difference in the tone and playing, although the price was almost three times more. If you decided to buy the K2 (not clear from your post) I'm the guy who put together a collection of solo mandocello music for CMSA. Let me know--it will make you appreciate and show off your instrument even more.
Jim
Thanks for the offer, Jim. I'd love to take you up on it, but unfortunately any funds that would have allowed me to bring this one home are going away next month, right around the 15th.
They also have a new Weber K5 cello (new version with a dovetail neck joint) at the store and I was able to A/B the two. The K4 was nice, but it was obvious, to me anyway, it is going to need a few years of play before it can match up with the Gibson.
Weber K-4 or K-5?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerry Cassidy
If it was a K-5 (i.e., f-holes) it will never sound the same as an oval hole K-1, 2 or 4. These are different beasts -- I have had both oval and f-hole mandocellos for a long time and they just sound different.
Gerry, the sheet music was offered by the composers, and was given out at the conference. No expense there, some selections were even posted here in the cafe. Give me your email address and I'll send the pack. The conventions can be expensive of course, travel, hotel, and registration.
In looking at he pictures of this instrument, it looks to me like there are numerous water stains on the label and on the wood of the back around it. Does that give anybody else pause?
I would be concerned if buying from a distance.Quote:
Originally Posted by multidon
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But somebody else jumped on the chance to get a Loar era mandocello with an adjustable truss rod. It is now marked as sold.
I could see the staining being a concern just from pics, but it's a non-issue.
The piece has it's battle-scars just from being around so long, but as for play-ability and tone, it was one of the nicest cellos I've ever played.
My money is on whoever bought it being a happy camper.