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Thread: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Around

  1. #1
    jonathansfather
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    Default F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Around

    Hello Everyone. I am brand new to this site and to the forum. I started playing mandolin right out of high school. My first instrument was a new Epiphone A model. Over the years, I've owned several mandolins, and I'm looking for information about my current instrument. Since about 1991, I've owned a mandolin with the following information branded inside the soundbox, viewable through the top, scroll soundhole:

    Fiddlin'-Around
    A.J. LaMarche, Jr.
    Phoneix, MD

    And just above this branded info, is the numerals "23031," appearing to be written in pencil, and upside down from the branded info.

    On the peghead, the MOP inlay reads "La Farte." I was told by the man from whom I traded/purchased this mandolin that it was once used by a mandolin player with the group Paul Adkins and Borderline.

    Any information about this mandolin, the luthier, the shop in Maryland, the inlay (which appears to be a play on "la forte," or "with force") or the claim about the instruments use in the Borderline band, would be appreciated.

    I can also be reached at jonathansfather1@gmail.com

    P.S. I don't play much anymore. I just get the instrument out every 3 or 4 months and piddle with it a few minutes, then put it back in the old Gibson rectangular case. I'm interested in selling or trading the instrument once I get some information. The current pro set-up was done by the luthier at Fret-N-Fiddle in St. Albans, WV, then under direction of now-deceased and legendary WV musician Joe Dobbs.

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    We always like to see pictures.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  3. #3
    jonathansfather
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    We always like to see pictures.
    Yes, Sir. Will take some pics asap. Thanks! Mark

  4. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    While you all are waiting for the photos, you can take a look at this thread from 2014.
    Jim

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  6. #5
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    Quote Originally Posted by jonathansfather1 View Post
    Hello Everyone. I am brand new to this site and to the forum. I started playing mandolin right out of high school. My first instrument was a new Epiphone A model. Over the years, I've owned several mandolins, and I'm looking for information about my current instrument. Since about 1991, I've owned a mandolin with the following information branded inside the soundbox, viewable through the top, scroll soundhole:

    Fiddlin'-Around
    A.J. LaMarche, Jr.
    Phoneix, MD

    And just above this branded info, is the numerals "23031," appearing to be written in pencil, and upside down from the branded info.

    On the peghead, the MOP inlay reads "La Farte." I was told by the man from whom I traded/purchased this mandolin that it was once used by a mandolin player with the group Paul Adkins and Borderline.

    Any information about this mandolin, the luthier, the shop in Maryland, the inlay (which appears to be a play on "la forte," or "with force") or the claim about the instruments use in the Borderline band, would be appreciated.

    I can also be reached at jonathansfather1@gmail.com

    P.S. I don't play much anymore. I just get the instrument out every 3 or 4 months and piddle with it a few minutes, then put it back in the old Gibson rectangular case. I'm interested in selling or trading the instrument once I get some information. The current pro set-up was done by the luthier at Fret-N-Fiddle in St. Albans, WV, then under direction of now-deceased and legendary WV musician Joe Dobbs.
    Sent you an email. There are a few Lamarche's that still live in Phoenix MD. One is named Andrew J. Could be the same guy?
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  7. #6
    jonathansfather
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

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ID:	164314Here are some pics, fellas. Thanks for being patient.

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    Last edited by jonathansfather1; Jan-25-2018 at 1:57pm. Reason: Adding More Pics

  8. #7
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    The Paul Atkins group was a good one. Gospel.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  9. #8
    jonathansfather
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    Default Re: F-style A. J. LaMarche, Jr. Mandolin "La Farte" Fiddliin' Aro

    Quote Originally Posted by billhay4 View Post
    The Paul Atkins group was a good one. Gospel.
    Bill
    Gospel bluegrass was my first taste of the music. I was about 12 years old, and my Papaw Jarrell (mom's dad), a local gas station owner in Bim, WV, population less than a hundred folks in 1970, had joined the Free Will Baptist church, and began playing his old Sears Silvertone with some buddies in church on Saturday nights. They had guitar, banjo, upright bass, fiddle, but no mandolin. Papaw died a few years later. I got his Silvertone and songbook, and vowed I'd one day play the mandolin. When I was 19, got my first Epiphone taterbug. Am nearly 60 now, and was up this morning, drinking coffee, and listening to Ronnie Reno's Old Time Music on RFD-TV. Guess once it gets in your blood, hard to filter it out.

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