NMD - Skip Kelley Vintage F-5 #54

[bbaker2050]

Yeah, nice sounding mandolin. Like those Monroe licks!!!

[Drew Egerton]

Thought I'd post this here as well as the videos thread just as an update on how this beauty sounds after a month and a half of playing it regularly. These are regular J74's that aren't dead but aren't new. The kind of chunky almost dead tone on some of the G string notes is just my bad playing habits lol. (I mute it down at the bridge side too much).

Old Dangerfield

[Gabriel Wiseman]

Great mano Drew!! Enjoyed getting to play on it a few weeks ago!!

[Drew Egerton]

I finally got around to adding these two clips to Youtube so I thought I'd share.
Alan Bibey and Danny Roberts picking on the Kelley F5 #54 at last year's Alan Bibey Mandolin Camp.

[AlanN]

Like it was yesterday, Drew!

[Steve Sorensen]

Nice!
Steve

[Clinton Johnson]

Real nice!

[Bill Kammerzell]

Hi Drew,
I would be very excited to own a Skip Kelly F5. I too am from Statesville.
Dwight Burks

Statesville NC. Isn't that the home of Harry & Jeanie West Fine Musical Instruments? I understood that Harry had passed on and spoke to Jeanie last year. Said the children were helping her to run the business. They have some special instruments at that store.

[Drew Egerton]

Statesville NC. Isn't that the home of Harry & Jeanie West Fine Musical Instruments? I understood that Harry had passed on and spoke to Jeanie last year. Said the children were helping her to run the business. They have some special instruments at that store.

Yes, I live a couple miles from the store and played in a band with Harry's son Scott for a while.
Scott and Jeanie run the store pretty much on their own and from what I understand are staying pretty busy with it.
If you just walk in and look around, it's your typical beginner to intermediate level instrument shop. There are a couple of really nice Martin guitars on the wall (The HD28V is amazing). Most of the mandolins are The Loars or other similar brands.
There are still some special and unique instruments that they keep in the back or upstairs but who knows what they've got. I do think they've started trying to sell off more of those higher end items lately.

[thorntonwendell@gmail.com]

I just acquired Skip Kelly #58 F5 model. It is a great mandolin with a large rich tone. I thought it sounded good when I received it. After the armrest came loose while playing, I took it off to prepare for re-installation. I don't know why or how, but that armrest was suppressing the sound. The mando opened up huge with that thing off! Very pleased with this instrument.

[lflngpicker]

Drew, that is a great sounding instrument and you play it well. The tone and volume came through loud and clear. Thanks for letting us all hear one of the great Kelley builds! Dan

[Drew Egerton]

I just acquired Skip Kelly #58 F5 model. It is a great mandolin with a large rich tone. I thought it sounded good when I received it. After the armrest came loose while playing, I took it off to prepare for re-installation. I don't know why or how, but that armrest was suppressing the sound. The mando opened up huge with that thing off! Very pleased with this instrument.

Congrats on your new mando! I have never used an armrest so I can't really comment, but it sure seems to me like it could hurt the sound.

[Drew Egerton]

Drew, that is a great sounding instrument and you play it well. The tone and volume came through loud and clear. Thanks for letting us all hear one of the great Kelley builds! Dan

Thank you!
I think it is only sounding better now than it did 2 years ago.
I switched to Nickel Bronze D'addarios and use a more rounded pick now (KS80 Blue Chip) so I feel like I'm getting a lot better tone these days, plus getting a little time on the mando itself. It's about time for frets though! (Skip I have been meaning to call you for a while....)

P.S. and NFI, I cannot believe nobody has picked up #60 yet. It's available on Mando Mutt for a STEAL of a price IMO. Not that I need it, but I'm tempted myself other than the flat board.