1923 F-5 Loar #71839

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Originally Posted by Jim Garber

I am sorry for your loss. I had heard of your dad but never met him. I played with the NY Mandolin Orchestra for a number of years in the 1980s but I think he was there many years before. Thanks for posting the video.

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Attachment 142267

Thanks for your comments. If I did it correctly, there should be a picture of him in the orchestra from 1950 attached here.

Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Timbofood

So Keith, have you taken to the mandolin as your father did or has the infection not spread?
Do you have any other video of your father playing? Even if you don't the one you have shared is very very cool!
My father played quite a few instruments but, I have no recordings or even photographs of him being musical, most of what I have are him cooking!
I love hearing this kind of story, how did he end up owning this mandolin?

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Attachment 142268
Thanks for your input. His father bought it for him when he was around 14, so he has been the owner for about 75 years. He tried to teach the mandolin to me and my brother but I went to college playing the double bass and my brother ended up playing the piano. The cool thing is we were able to gig with him for many years. Here is a picture of him and his F-5 with an old band around 1975. The other musicians are descendants from the great violin maker, Guarnerius from 17th century Cremona, Italy. Ann George and her son, Chip.

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Originally Posted by barry

Thank you so much. What a wonderful piece of historic documentation that video provides. We are all very sorry to hear about the loss of your father.

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Thank you for your comments.

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Originally Posted by slimt

would love to see a current picture.. Thanks for posting..;

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Here's one of the belly...

Attachment 142269

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Originally Posted by eightmoremiles

Keith
I met your father at a CMSA meeting here in Louisville about 12 years ago. He had a small table showing some of his compositions. He was a real gentleman, and a gentle man. I talked with him for quite a while, and played his Loar, and he played mine. They were set up very differently, and he noted the remarkable difference in the sound quality and volume of the two instruments. We both agreed that, although their greatest use today is in Bluegrass, they were designed for classical work. I hope you will take up the mandolin cause, if you have not already.

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Keith
I met your father at a CMSA meeting here in Louisville about 12 years ago. He had a small table showing some of his compositions. He was a real gentleman, and a gentle man. I talked with him for quite a while, and played his Loar, and he played mine. They were set up very differently, and he noted the remarkable difference in the sound quality and volume of the two instruments. We both agreed that, although their greatest use today is in Bluegrass, they were designed for classical work. I hope you will take up the mandolin cause, if you have not already.

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Thanks for your comments. I hope it's history will be preserved.

That is so cool, he got it from his Father! In the both photo of the orchestra, and the trio, he is holding an F4, it being a mandolin with an oval sound hole. Those photos are not with his F5. Do you have the F4 as well?

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Originally Posted by Keith Karasik

Here's one of the belly...

Attachment 142269

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Thank you.. . By the looks of it.. the condition is really Nice..

Eli said he wouldn't let bluegrass players play it because the time he did someone scratched it.

IMHO Bluegrass players have damaged the great majority of Loar F5's out there. Sorry, just sayin'.

All Bluegrass players? Just askin'.

I think he was very protective of the instrument, as you can tell from its condition. He just had a way with words.

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Originally Posted by Henry Eagle

All Bluegrass players? Just askin'.

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Not all. :)
But, many were not at all careful, or mindful of them, it was a different time.

They weren't "Loars" back in the day ......... just the best mandolins available.

A little stark from the flash, and I forgot to say "Cheese!" but here's Eli at the Wynkoop in Denver at a Denver Mandolin Orchestra performance in the early 2000's.

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Originally Posted by Ken Waltham

Not all. :)
But, many were not at all careful, or mindful of them, it was a different time.

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:)

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but the Nov. 2015 "Mandolin Journal" has a nice profile on Ely Karasik. I did not know him, though I now attend the Classical Mandolin Conventions and was moved by the memorial piece on him.

I remember seeing the Loar has Schaller replacements on it. You can see the long forward buttons.

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Originally Posted by Ken Waltham

Not all. :)
But, many were not at all careful, or mindful of them, it was a different time.

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True indeed, I wonder how many of them are in the hands of classical musicians (as designed) as opposed to bluegrass folk?

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Originally Posted by Timbofood

True indeed, I wonder how many of them are in the hands of classical musicians (as designed) as opposed to bluegrass folk?

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All the good ones I have owned have came out of the non BG world. Much cleaner, less modified. Just having a look across the F5 descriptions in the F5 Journal will quickly show how many have been messed with.
To answer your question... originally..100%. :)

You guys are borderline on snobbery. Ken ...... watch out! :grin:

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Originally Posted by f5joe

You guys are borderline on snobbery. Ken ...... watch out! :grin:

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It sort of goes with the territory when discussing instruments that 99.9 percent of the world can't afford. Kinda like forums discussing cheap Rolex watches or collecting gold bricks on a budget -- there aren't any......:grin:

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Originally Posted by Jeff Mando

It sort of goes with the territory when discussing instruments that 99.9 percent of the world can't afford. Kinda like forums discussing cheap Rolex watches or collecting gold bricks on a budget -- there aren't any......:grin:

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I'm alluding to classical vs. bluegrass rather than valuable instruments.

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Originally Posted by f5joe

I'm alluding to classical vs. bluegrass rather than valuable instruments.

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Just a guess on my part, but wearing a tuxedo probably makes you more careful than wearing bib overalls........

Joking, of course! :)):)):))

Joe knows what I was talking about, we've been friends a long time. Jeff... I guess that is what I was hinting at in a less direct manner! :)