Ha! Missed that!... my bad, lol
Ha! Missed that!... my bad, lol
aka: Spencer
Silverangel Econo A #429
Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.
Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here
"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
I own a franzke mandola. I’ll say the quality is excellent and the guy is really nice also
(I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts
of both, they were not discontented with each other. -- Segovia
Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandolin
Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandola
Weber Gallatin Mandocello
Weber Gallatin Soprano (Piccolo) Mandolin
Breedlove Prototype Mandolin
Thanks to all for the great responses and informative reading!
I have reduced my A-Style choices, so far, to...
"In no particular order"
Black
Pava
Silverangel
Girouard
Sorensen
Any comments pro or con are still welcome on my choices
Last edited by treidm; Oct-13-2018 at 3:58am.
2011 Black A5 (#9) Mandolin
1952 Gibson A-40N Mandolin
1924 Gibson TB-1 Trapdoor Tenor Banjo
1975 Gibson MK-35 Hybrid Braced Dreadnought Guitar
1993 Washburn M3 SW/TS F-Style Mandolin
2004 Martin D-16 GT Dreadnought Guitar
2006 Martin DC-16RGTE AURA Dreadnought Guitar
1997 Seagull S6 Dreadnought Guitar
1970's Kay KB-52 5-String Banjo
1960's Pirles 4-String Tenor Banjo
Phil
“Sharps/Flats” ≠ “Accidentals”
All are fine builders with established reputations. I have never played a Sorensen or a Girouard, but I have owned both a Silverangel and a Pava and still have an oval and a GBOM from Mike Black. Were I in your position, I'd probably buy the used Black A5 from Vintage Mandolin Headquarters and have Mike service it as he's local to you. However, if your primary objectives are "dark and deep" tonality and "bang for your buck" economics, then I would think that Silverangel would be the best match.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Glad you brought this up...
Having the maker local would be a major advantage!
That could outweigh some other thoughts...
But buying used...
Hopefully the maker honors warranty past 1st owner to some degree
Like comes unglued or some big problem because of materials or assembly etc.
I talked to one that does, but some say to original owner only
Last edited by treidm; Oct-13-2018 at 11:43am.
2011 Black A5 (#9) Mandolin
1952 Gibson A-40N Mandolin
1924 Gibson TB-1 Trapdoor Tenor Banjo
1975 Gibson MK-35 Hybrid Braced Dreadnought Guitar
1993 Washburn M3 SW/TS F-Style Mandolin
2004 Martin D-16 GT Dreadnought Guitar
2006 Martin DC-16RGTE AURA Dreadnought Guitar
1997 Seagull S6 Dreadnought Guitar
1970's Kay KB-52 5-String Banjo
1960's Pirles 4-String Tenor Banjo
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
So thankful for your response!
This helps with my thoughts of Black, because of locality of maker and myself.
Lawrence KS is about 45 minutes from Leavenworth KS, where I am. My wife and I both like Lawrence. We have most work done on our instruments at Mass Street in Lawrence
, Reid
2011 Black A5 (#9) Mandolin
1952 Gibson A-40N Mandolin
1924 Gibson TB-1 Trapdoor Tenor Banjo
1975 Gibson MK-35 Hybrid Braced Dreadnought Guitar
1993 Washburn M3 SW/TS F-Style Mandolin
2004 Martin D-16 GT Dreadnought Guitar
2006 Martin DC-16RGTE AURA Dreadnought Guitar
1997 Seagull S6 Dreadnought Guitar
1970's Kay KB-52 5-String Banjo
1960's Pirles 4-String Tenor Banjo
I definitely think that there is added value in having access to the builder so that he can periodically look over the instrument. I also think that there is some extra cache in that Mike builds his A5's modeled after the Mrs. Griffith Loar. My Hester A5 is of the same design, and it is an absolut cannon.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
regarding custom instrument pricing vs. the Big Boys . Due to economy of scale alone direct competition is not even an option.
I've been building going on 20 years and price and profit haven't been part of the equation yet. My experience has shown folks buy custom to get what they can't anywhere else . That always seems to be their prime motivation .
Hmmm, sorry you say always, when that's not my motivation at all. Getting something different has not entered into my thoughts regarding this possible purchase any whatsoever...
The advantage of a new build opposed to a used one, would allow you to see if certain things could be done. maybe you want a wider nut or a different tailpiece etc.., But I've never thought getting what no one else has as a prime motivation
Wouldn't bother me at all if everyone had one just like mine. As long as I like it, then it's cool with me...
Reid
2011 Black A5 (#9) Mandolin
1952 Gibson A-40N Mandolin
1924 Gibson TB-1 Trapdoor Tenor Banjo
1975 Gibson MK-35 Hybrid Braced Dreadnought Guitar
1993 Washburn M3 SW/TS F-Style Mandolin
2004 Martin D-16 GT Dreadnought Guitar
2006 Martin DC-16RGTE AURA Dreadnought Guitar
1997 Seagull S6 Dreadnought Guitar
1970's Kay KB-52 5-String Banjo
1960's Pirles 4-String Tenor Banjo
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