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Thread: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

  1. #1
    Registered User Petrus's Avatar
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    Default "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    That's one word for it ... yowza!

    Click image for larger version. 

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    http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMAZING-Anto...-/131610600830

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  3. #2
    Registered User RichM's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    That's truly one of a kind. Thank goodness.

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  5. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Nothing that Antonio Tsai sells is one of a kind. Unfortunately there will be others.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  7. #4
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    There is a local music store with three of these novelties; hideous.

  8. #5
    totally amateur k0k0peli's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    That will really grab eyeballs at the next jam. Should elicit a few comments too.

  9. #6
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Hildreth View Post
    ... hideous.
    Yeah but... When the wood dries and it starts falling apart, does it get a) more hideous or b) less hideous?

    Several years ago, The Kennedys played a concert in Montclair, NJ. Maura played a stunning "F-style" full-size guitar that had to be retired in the middle of the show. Being several years old (see their 2008 "Better Dreams" album cover), it had reached its expiration date.
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  10. #7
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Lipstick on a pig.

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  12. #8

    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Is it really more profitable for antoniotsai and brucewei to inlay the heck out of lower teir instruments, as opposed to investing that energy into making great instruments?

    I do like my Eastmans....
    ----

    Playing a funky oval-hole scroll-body mandolin, several mandolins retuned to CGDA, three CGDA-tuned Flatiron mandolas, two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25.5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone.

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  13. #9
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Those instruments come from Vietnam. If they ever figure out how to make a normal copy of an A with a snakehead headstock that isn't blinged up they will probably own the low end market. Same if they can ever do a real F style. Until then they impress some people enough to buy them.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  14. #10
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by EdHanrahan View Post
    Yeah but... When the wood dries and it starts falling apart, does it get a) more hideous or b) less hideous?

    Several years ago, The Kennedys played a concert in Montclair, NJ. Maura played a stunning "F-style" full-size guitar that had to be retired in the middle of the show. Being several years old (see their 2008 "Better Dreams" album cover), it had reached its expiration date.
    I just looked at that cover. Two Tsai Guitars and two Tsai mandolins. Really??????
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    I dunno - more inlay maybe

  16. #12
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Betcha that tailpiece won't last six months.
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  17. #13
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Maybe it just needs.......
    More cowbell?
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  18. #14
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    I kinda wish someone would build a real mandolin in that shape so we could see whether it has any interesting acoustic properties.
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  19. #15

    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    I think what keeps 'em going is that eBay buyers think, "how bad can it be for $250?" (or whatever--this one is being sold by a guy in Texas for $450) I've heard most of them implode before they make it to the buyer or shortly after, although Antoniotsai's feedback is 99% and he has done over 31,000 transactions, so......somebody likes 'em. I saw some in person at a guitar show and although inlaid, the quality is very poor, IMHO

    Also, it might appeal to those wanting a heavily inlaid instrument for about 1% of what Martin might charge you.....of course, you've got to really be into dragons..............

  20. #16
    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by George R. Lane View Post
    Lipstick on a pig.
    Maybe we should buy one for our Prime Minister.
    Eoin



    "Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin

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  22. #17
    Middle-Aged Old-Timer Tobin's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    You'd think that with all that inlay work and fancy body binding, that they would put some binding on the edges of the fingerboard and at the peg head. Kinda strange that they didn't. Maybe they thought that would be too much, LOL.

  23. #18

    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    The thing may implode and in short order as mine basically did and before that the fret layout was off and was unplayable up the neck. The finish is poorly done as well with lots of little blemishes. The inlay is not to everyone's taste to be sure but there was nothing wrong with the inlay--that's done rather well! It is the instrument that is bunk! The tailpiece will not fail though as someone suggested --the thing is about a pound and a half of solid brass! That's a post Vietnam War benefit from millions of shell casings littering the country side! I was just over that way and I see the problem --the humidity is about 95% and most likely these instruments are not produced in any kind of climate controlled environment nor is the wood, no matter what the source, likely to be stored in such a way as to not come up to equilibrium with the relative humidity. Maybe they would work pretty good if you live in a jungle!

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  25. #19
    Registered User Petrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I just looked at that cover. Two Tsai Guitars and two Tsai mandolins. Really??????
    Maybe they got a good deal if they agreed to show them on the cover.

  26. #20
    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    If Liberace had played mandolin it would have been a match made in heaven.

    Since he didn't (as far as I know) I can think of a different kind of match that would be useful.
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
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  28. #21
    Registered User Petrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by barney 59 View Post
    The thing may implode and in short order as mine basically did and before that the fret layout was off and was unplayable up the neck. The finish is poorly done as well with lots of little blemishes.
    "Sold as-is with no warranty or returns." Forget about any 48-hour approval with these guys.

  29. #22
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Those instruments come from Vietnam. If they ever figure out how to make a normal copy of an A with a snakehead headstock that isn't blinged up they will probably own the low end market. Same if they can ever do a real F style.
    Quote Originally Posted by barney 59 View Post
    The thing may implode and in short order as mine basically did and before that the fret layout was off and was unplayable up the neck. The finish is poorly done as well with lots of little blemishes. The inlay is not to everyone's taste to be sure but there was nothing wrong with the inlay--that's done rather well! It is the instrument that is bunk!
    Although I've seen Tsai's instruments and am not a big fan of somewhat sketchy instruments with overdone inlay, I will say that the 2 Vietnamese made mandolins I own (from Duc Ngan) have been in fine working condition now for a number of years, the wood has not split, the inlays are intact, the tone is fine.

    Evidently not all of these instruments are made alike.



    The one in the picture is a much more normal shape, has the special side soundholes and inner rim resonator - and and doesn't have the plastic look of the Tsai instruments.

    http://www.chionline.com/Antoniotsai/

    Lots of complaints about Tsai's instruments

    http://www.chionline.com/Antoniotsai/positive.html

    Some positive comments

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/261529993186...MakeTrack=true

    One similar to mine for sale

    http://www.saigonstrings.com/mandolin.htm

    Like mine




    http://www.thanhcammusic.com/guitar.htm

    They make an F sort of mandolin, no idea if it's any good


  30. #23
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    http://www.vietstrings.com/mandolins

    Another seller of the ones like mine - more expensive

    Attachment 138789

    and I never have seen one like this - F holes and the side sound holes!


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  32. #24

    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    I'm near a Vietnamese Buddhist temple, and know quite a few Vietnamese musicians. i was surprised to play at least two of the mandolins, and to find them to be very lively.
    ----

    Playing a funky oval-hole scroll-body mandolin, several mandolins retuned to CGDA, three CGDA-tuned Flatiron mandolas, two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25.5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone.

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  34. #25
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Amazing" Antoniotsai

    They are pretty lively sounding indeed!

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