Sam Bush's Mandolin He Got From Norman

[Red Englemann]

A friend was telling me about the '37 or '38 #Gibson that Sam got from Norman is the 70's. I heard that Norman had the braces shaved down.

I read some info of the Gibson site, but I was wondering if anyone has more info. The search did not yeild what I was hoping for.

Thanks

Red

[cooper4205]

from mandozine's CoMando Guest of the Week interview with David Grisman & Sam Bush

COGW interview

Sam:

I bought "Hoss" in January, 1973 from Tut Taylor, who had acquired it in a trade from Norman Blake. While Blake owned "Hoss" he had Randy Wood shave the tone bars and that's when it came to life. I had heard the mandolin before the surgery and was amazed at the transformation. I begged Norman to let me know if he ever wanted to sell it, and so when he made the trade with Tut, he told him to give me the first call, which he did. When I went to pick up the mandolin I found that it had a beautiful new varnish finish, applied by Randy Wood. Apparently, since I had last seen it, Norman and John Hartford had scraped off the original finish one night. I really think that varnish finish has a lot to do with the sound of this instrument that I love. Since I've owned "Hoss", I've replaced the fingerboard twice. The current fingerboard was made by Harry Sparks and is slightly arched. I lost the original trussrod and tailpiece covers years ago, and have custom relplacements made for me by Diane Patrick. I also have installed new Waverly tuners. I used to replace tuners about once a year, but haven't had to do that with these Waverlys since they were installed 5 years ago.

[Fretbear]

Sam has said more recently that "Hoss" is (in his own words) "dying-getting played out or something" alluding to the fact that all the mods and top and tonebar thinning have had an (over the long term) detrimental effect on the mandolin. Whomping the hooey out of it for 33 years must also have be taken into consideration. The sound that Sam gets out of Hoss is very unique, unlike other F-5's that one will hear, and definitely not a classic bluegrass sound, with a brighter and more crystaline lead, while the chop is all bottom. A unique mandolin for the unique Master.

[Red Englemann]

Thanks, I always think it is interesting how musicians approach their tools.

Red

[Klaus Wutscher]

So is Sam still performing/ recording with Hoss?

[Red Englemann]

Anybody got a real closeup of "Hoss"?

red

[testore]

Everytime I have seen Sam Bush I am amazed that that mando doesn't implode. He beats that things like red headed step child. I'm not sure what mando could put up with that for an indefinite period of time. He should start performing with his signature model like Doyle Lawson, put Hoss away for special occasions.

[Russ Jordan]

There are always great mandolins at the MerleFest Mandomania--Loars, Ferns, Gils, Nuggets, etc. Probably not the easiest gig to run sound for, and it seems like there are always some instruments I can't hear very well. But Hoss always cuts the mic really well.

[tree]

I'm going to see him in Asheville on Sunday night - hope he plays Hoss!

[cooper4205]

where is he playing in asheville? the orange peel

[Russ Jordan]

Sam Bush is playing the mountain state fair Sunday.

[8strings]

....only in Black & White

[Red Englemann]

....only in Black & White

Thanks.

Red

[Larry S Sherman]

....only in Black & White

This would make a great poster. I would buy it!

[TeleMark]

....only in Black & White

This would make a great poster. I would buy it!

Ah. New wallpaper!

[Tim Conroy]

I like the way the angle of the light in that photo shows how scalloped out the fingerboard is between the frets. A testament to how hard Sam plays ol' Hoss.

[Darryl Wolfe]

I talked to Sam a few months ago and he said there was no truth to the rumor of Hoss going down/dying

[Darryl Wolfe]

more recent

[Darryl Wolfe]

lasr

[Steve Scott]

Would other Gibson F models benefit from tone bar shaving? What about newer ones?

[f5loar]

Darryl, I believe the first photo of Hoss you show and the last one are taken about 20 years apart. If that's the case then Hoss is holding up pretty darn good and not showing that much more for the wear considering what has gone through in 20 years of constant pounding. There ain't many '37's out there today.

[Red Englemann]

Would other Gibson F models benefit from tone bar shaving? What about newer ones?

I understand that either the original finish was removed or thinned by Norman et al.

Was the tone bar shaved through the holes or was the top removed?

Thanks for the pictures.

Red

[Klaus Wutscher]

Would other Gibson F models benefit from tone bar shaving? What about newer ones?

As I recall, when designing the Bush sig. model Charlie D. did not duplicate the shaved bracing and thinned out top, claiming that he was concerned with long- time effects. From what I gather, he thought that the top was too thin for a production model (warranties). As far as I know, the current (nashville made) Ferns and MM are made to Loar specs so they should be fine. However, older (Montana made) Gibsons could possibly benefit from minor modifications. I think that Big Joe mentioned that these are made in the Gibson shop with good results.

[Soupy1957]

Ok gang.......I've been around guitars for decades, but only around the Mandolin for about 4 months.....what part of the Mandolin are you calling the "Tone Bar?"
-Soupy1957

[danb]

The two braces that run roughly next to the f-holes