I had the chance to visit both Carter's vintage and Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville yesterday. Both are pretty amazing places. My main goal was to play some stuff in the $2000ish range to see if it's worth it to me to spend that much as opposed to buying a nice Kentucky model. Here is what I learned in no particular order:
- I don't care for the sound of the Collings mandolins that I can afford. This surprised me. I can hear and feel why they are exceptional, but the sound didn't suit my ear.
- The name on the headstock isn't always helpful. I played a Snelson F model. Never heard of Snelson. I asked the salesperson whay he could tell me. "Nothing except that it's a hand built mandolin. " I liked the sound of it better than many nite recognizable brands.
- After an hour in the high end room at Carter's, I will never believe anyone who says that their $1,000 mandolin sounds just as good as mandolins that cost five times as much - or I'll be at least vey skeptical. Having said that, I will be grateful that I can afford a mandolin that i an not ashamed to play next to those that cost five times as much. There is a noticeable but not huge difference.
- The range of sound profiles from all of those mandolins is amazing, and is never have appreciated that without having played them on the same afternoon.
- The Loar signed instruments were awe inspiring.
- I walked in prepared to be most impressed with a Pava or Silverangel. The Pava did end up being one of my two favorites in the $2500 or less category. (The one Silverangel at the two stores was impressive But like the Collings not the instrument for me. ) But the other was a Weber Absaroka that cost about 700 less. If I flipped a coin, I'd have been thrilled with either. And so the Weber will soon be hanging in my wall.
Highly recommend spending some time at these two stores for anyone who has a chance to do so.
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