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F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Thought y'all might like to know:
An F-4 owned by Norman Blake is available at Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments.
http://gregboyd.com/product/1917-gibson-f-4-mandolin/
A little history-- I purchased this mandolin from Curtis McPeake around 2006. Norman acquired it from me in 2009, and played it often. I re-fretted it to Norman's specifications with .080" x .040" fret wire, and installed maple strips into the last four slots of the fingerboard extension, which is my preferred alternative to grinding the extension down or cutting it off. I believe that the saddle is one I made from Sambar stag horn, which is very similar to elephant ivory in texture and density.
Norman played this instrument frequently for quite a few years. I do not know whether or not he recorded with it. He acquired the instrument after his retirement from touring.
The pickguard on this mandolin is interesting-- it has some green highlights along with the usual tortoise shell colors. I have only seen pickguards with this color scheme on a small handful of other mandolins, all made during the same time period.
Until I saw Greg Boyd's pictures, I had forgotten that this mandolin has a one piece back.
This is a very fine F-4, and I hope it finds a good home. I have no financial interest in the mandolin or any connection with Greg Boyd.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
I've played it a couple of times. It's a great sounding mandolin.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
There’s another 1917 down the page, $500 premium for the Norman Blake mojo doesn’t seem TOO bad.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
The "Norman Blake" one sounds better, in my opinion.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
You know, when I read about an instrument once owned by someone, all I can think is here is an instrument a discerning musician rejected as a keeper.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Br1ck
You know, when I read about an instrument once owned by someone, all I can think is here is an instrument a discerning musician rejected as a keeper.
That’s one way to look at it. Another way is, Norman isn’t getting any younger and he has played and collected a huge number of instruments over the years. You can’t keep every instrument forever. I’ve played a Gibson guitar he used to own at a local shop — it could be a lifer for anybody who didn’t have the means or the reason to experiment with different sounds.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
There are other reasons for letting an instrument go, especially for a person who is over 80 years old.
And in my personal experience, I've never kept an instrument that I disliked for more than a year. I have let good instruments go after 10 years if my tastes changed, or I simply wanted something different.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Drew Streip
...You can’t keep every instrument forever...
What? Who says?
Depressing news...
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
allenhopkins
What? Who says?
Depressing news...
I fully concur!
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Timbofood
I fully concur!
Nobody’ll miss my Eastman if they bury me with it but I think some people would be upset if y’all took your F4s or Loars to the grave :cool:
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Steve made this Model 1 for him last year, so 80+ y/o hasn’t stopped him :grin: Steve’s ovals are incomparable.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Br1ck
You know, when I read about an instrument once owned by someone, all I can think is here is an instrument a discerning musician rejected as a keeper.
Didn’t Sam bushs hoss used to belong to Norman?
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mtucker
Steve made this Model 1 for him last year, so 80+ y/o hasn’t stopped him :grin: Steve’s ovals are incomparable.
Than you haven't played on a Girouard oval ! :)
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dave Hanson
Steve who ?
Dave H
Had to blow up the photo on my desktop, but that's a Gilchrist.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Platt
Had to blow up the photo on my desktop, but that's a Gilchrist.
Oh? That Steve.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dave Hanson
Steve who ?
Dave H
Oops sorry, yes, Gilchrist.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
We posted a lengthy list of Norman's instruments in 2016 when he liquidated a great deal of his collection and had Carter Vintage Guitars handle the sales. This was likely among those IIRC. There were a lot of very fine instruments in that lot and we only posted a few of them. Some of them went directly to buyers without ever even being photographed. Norman Blake didn't own clunkers. A collection like this is typically a musician's IRA.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
And the instruments on that link are gorgeous.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
John Rosett
The "Norman Blake" one sounds better, in my opinion.
I would like to know about that?!
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
What do you want to know?
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mandolin Cafe
We posted
a lengthy list of Norman's instruments in 2016 when he liquidated a great deal of his collection and had Carter Vintage Guitars handle the sales. This was likely among those IIRC. There were a lot of very fine instruments in that lot and we only posted a few of them. Some of them went directly to buyers without ever even being photographed. Norman Blake didn't own clunkers. A collection like this is typically a musician's IRA.
Greg told me that he got the F4 from Norman.
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Which mando do you mean? Or is the "Norman Blake" the F4? :)
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Re: F-4 owned by Norman Blake
Quote:
Originally Posted by
John Rosett
What do you want to know?
I just wanted to know if there is one mandolin Norman Blake always played. I think I misunderstoud your post. Sorry, John!