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Thread: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

  1. #1
    Registered User Joey Anchors's Avatar
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    Default Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Today I finally made the visit to Fiddler's Green to drop my MD404 off for upgrade work. After explaining to what I needed installed and setup. I got a chance to play all their mandolins they had in stock..

    I played everything from Eastmans (ovals and FF) to Ratliff, Collings, Northfield and SilverAngel.

    My favorite by far was the SilverAngel F-style that was built in 2011. Very full sounding and even across the frequency spectrum... once I upgrade from the MD404 in a number of years it will be to a SA.

    The Collings sounded and played well but not nearly as full as the SA. There was a nice Gibson oval that was a joy to play as well.

    I was really surprised the Northfield Ff f-style sounded on the thin side.
    I can't wait until the MD404 is finished so I can compare it to the list above!

    Very happy I got to visit this great shop.
    Waterloo WL-M

    Blues Mando Social Group - member

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  3. #2
    Down the road I go Trav'linmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Joey, what upgrades are you doing on your 404 ? And please let us know how the results are also.
    Larry
    Very few of us know, how much we have to know, in order to know, how little we know.
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  4. #3
    Registered User Joey Anchors's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Quote Originally Posted by Trav'linmando View Post
    Joey, what upgrades are you doing on your 404 ? And please let us know how the results are also.
    Larry
    Rubner machine tuners, Brekke bridge, pickguard install, new endpin and neck strap button install.
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  6. #4
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    FG is where I got my Collings. I can't imagine a cooler acoustic instrument shop.
    ...

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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    FG is where I got my Krishot. Cool people, cool shop. Wish there was something like it in Chicago.

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  10. #6
    Registered User BBarton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Did you try the Passernig A-5 (if it's still there)? I think FG is the only outlet for Stefan Passernig's A models.
    Too many instruments...too little time

  11. #7
    Registered User Joey Anchors's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Quote Originally Posted by BBarton View Post
    Did you try the Passernig A-5 (if it's still there)? I think FG is the only outlet for Stefan Passernig's A models.
    Possibly.. I played almost every mando they had. I just remember the SilverAngel sounding amazing and played so easily. I'll be doing more testing when my MD404 is finished to do a real A/B test against the high end stuff.
    Waterloo WL-M

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  12. #8
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    I've been there twice (last time was to pick up my MT and all I played that day was it and a Pava). My first trip I tried about everything on the wall. They had a really awesome Altman, first I'd ever seen or played. I remember the way it was carved: way deeper on the sides than any other mandolin I've ever seen. It sounded great too. Everything did. But there was a particular KM900 there that day that was about as good as anything I've ever played. Not sure if that was or is typical of a KM900 but that one was gold. The thing I remember most about the visit was the Huss and Dalton guitars. Probably the nicest guitars I've ever played.
    Last edited by Caleb; Jan-09-2017 at 2:10pm.
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    Middle-Aged Old-Timer Tobin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Fiddler's Green is my favorite toy shop. It's where I bought my Ellis and Pava. They are great folks, and aside from being a fun shop for mandolin tasting, they provide quite a lot of service to the music community via lessons, jams, concerts, etc. If I lived closer to Austin, I'd for sure be attending a lot of their stuff. Sadly, it's got to be a planned day-trip for me to get there. I do need to get back over there, though, and try some other instruments. They have a whole banjo room that I wasn't interested in at the time, but would surely pique my interest now.

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  16. #10
    Registered User BBarton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    FG is also a supporter of the O'Flahertys Irish Music Retreat held annually near Dallas. I wish we had a store of that caliber in our part of the world!
    Too many instruments...too little time

  17. #11

    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    No surprise everything sounds thin compared to a Silverangel, but those that like a brighter tone think the SA too dark. It is just a matter of what one likes and wants to play on it. Myself, I want both. A Northfield would be a real nice complement to my SA.

    Good shops with a good selection are invaluable when trying to hone in on the sound you are looking for. Inevitably, cost is a MAS dampening factor.

    There seem to be a lot of SA mandolins for sale right now. You can buy an A style quite reasonably.
    Silverangel A
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  19. #12
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Quote Originally Posted by BBarton View Post
    Did you try the Passernig A-5 (if it's still there)? I think FG is the only outlet for Stefan Passernig's A models.
    That’s where I got my Passernig A5 years ago , STILL love it !!!
    '09 Passernig A5
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    Mid 1890's German fiddle

  20. #13
    Registered User Barbara Shultz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    I love Fiddler's Green! My son lives in Austin, so I try to go every time I'm there! I accidentally bought my Collings MT2O there several years ago... and am so thankful I did!

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  22. #14
    Gilchrist (pick) Owner! jasona's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    "Accidentally" :D
    Jason Anderson

    "...while a great mandolin is a wonderful treat, I would venture to say that there is always more each of us can do with the tools we have available at hand. The biggest limiting factors belong to us not the instruments." Paul Glasse

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  23. #15

    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Quote Originally Posted by jasona View Post
    "Accidentally" :D
    You know accidentally don't you? Wasn't even thinking about it, but there I was, half a block away from ****** store with a little time to kill. What harm would there be just to check it out? I have everything I could possibly want or need.

    What! A pristine A2Z? Might be the last one I ever see. Oh my, there's a creamy white MTO, and a used Northfield Big Mon. Oh crap, shouldn't have gone into the vintage guitar room an played that 1922 0 18.
    Silverangel A
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  24. #16

    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Joey, did you see a Ellis "A" there ? play it /
    best/Ronnie

  25. #17
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Fiddler's Green..

    Quote Originally Posted by Psyberbilly View Post
    That’s where I got my Passernig A5 years ago , STILL love it !!!
    Must have been a good batch!
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
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