Custom Build Luthiers

[slimt]

Hope Im allowed to chime in here... I have this No. 2 build.. Hes only done 2... but from what Ive listened to and Played on this Moon.. its a outstanding mandolin.. fit and French polish finish and attention to detail is very well done...

Sota Mori designer and Builder of this mandolin.. built in 2016... not sure when another will be done...

[MontanaMatt]

Hope Im allowed to chime in here... I have this No. 2 build.. Hes only done 2... but from what Ive listened to and Played on this Moon.. its a outstanding mandolin.. fit and French polish finish and attention to detail is very well done...

Sota Mori designer and Builder of this mandolin.. built in 2016... not sure when another will be done...

That there is a unique axe!

[slimt]

That there is a unique axe!

Thanks.. its a cool piece..

[treidm]

Thanks to all for interesting opinions
I've been reading, studying and thinking a lot about it

I had decided to look into having a Silverangel A made, so went to web site and did the Contact Silverangel tab
It says, fill out the following form and I’ll get back to you

So I did and waited a week with no reply
So, sent another message and again waited over a week and still NO reply

I just sent a third message and will see if he contacts me, this time
Is he still making them, or out of town or does my breath stink?
Anyone know if he is still around?

[Blues Healer]

Ken posted in the classifieds a couple of weeks ago.

[treidm]

Am I allowed to post a URL to a reverb ad and ask you all opinions?

[Timbofood]

Not everyone has enough hours in a week to build and answer email very promptly. I’d just relax and dream of your new toy!
I do understand the frustration with response time, just try dealing with an insurance company!!!

[geoffa]

I just sent a third message and will see if he contacts me, this time
Is he still making them, or out of town or does my breath stink?
Anyone know if he is still around?

Sent you a PM with Ken's email address. He is still making mandolins. I'm considering having one built by him too and we've been emailing back and forth a bit.

[mandroid]

One at a time name dropping aside , the site has had a builder's data base you missed finding.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/builders.html

[JeffD]

Larger manufacturing companies that one might assume would have a much larger overhead that they pass on to consumer and/or brand recognition that many times require you to pay a little for the name.

That seems counter intuitive to me. That larger overhead is spread over many many more instruments, while a small builder, even admitting a smaller overhead, has to cover a much larger percentage of it with each instrument. The smaller builder is, I think, more likely to do many of the building tasks by hand, for many and various reasons, which is time consuming. In addition those parts and pieces a luthier doesn't make but purchases really add up. The small builder doesn't, I would guess, have the purchasing power to get a gazzilion tail pieces at a discount.

My direct experience kicking tires and checking prices leads me to believe the that custom builders are not consistently less expensive than the "big boys", if anything, the opposite. Comparing quality to quality, that is.

The reason to go with a small luthier custom build, it seems to me, is to get something not available elsewhere. It is not necessarily (or even typically IMO) the way to go to save money.

[Br1ck]

To me supporting a small builder is in a great part fueled by the desire to support old school craftsmanship.

Sure would be nice to have one of the unique designs from Sorenson.

I did not commission my Silverangel, bought it used, but enjoy having a luthier built instrument. So much skill is required.

[Mandobar]

I think it all depends on the builder. I don’t think you can generalize based on categories.

[rowka]

Ken at Silverangel had posted on the cafe that his web site has been giving him troubles with the contact function. Take advantage of his email provided by geoffa. My experience is that Ken responds within a day to direct emails.

[treidm]

The reason to go with a small luthier custom build, it seems to me, is to get something not available elsewhere. It is not necessarily (or even typically IMO) the way to go to save money.

It never was about "just the money", I was thinking, getting best bang for buck.
If quality was same on 2 instruments, but one is cheaper in price, I don't mind getting better bang for buck.
And that goes for my vehicles, TV's or any other item I'm buying unless there is a reason I support a particular brand.
And I do like supporting smaller businesses also

And as far as getting something not available to others, I really don't care if everyone has the same as me or not, as long as I like it, it's cool...

I just want quality, American made, and the deep dark sound I like. If I can save a little by buying from a good quality small maker, I would like that. Although it looks like big boy Gibson may need help. But that's another subject
I can't afford a Gilchrist or Monteleone, but Silverangel and a few other small makers. are in my range
As long as their quality is up to par, and I suspect they are, and they are cheaper than say, Gibson, I may go with the smaller maker

BUT there never are absolutes in this. I could suddenly decide I HAVE to have something. It just happens sometimes, then you can throw all the previous logic, out the door...

You can still find something nobody else has for yourself and spend whatever you want. I won't knock you, I congratulate you for getting what you want and wish you well.

In my real life music has always been an inclusive culture to me. It brings people of different ideals, races, stations in life etc. together. Where we can enjoy this wonderful thing together....

[treidm]

Sent you a PM with Ken's email address. He is still making mandolins. I'm considering having one built by him too and we've been emailing back and forth a bit.

Thank you Geoffa!
I sent him an email
Reid

[Kevin Winn]

Can't believe no one has mentioned Will Kimble in this thread...

[kyken]

Thank you Geoffa!
I sent him an email
Reid

Got it treidm. answered. Did u get mine? Having problems with my web site. I'm not up on high tech stuff, sorry, pm me if you want., that's no problem.

[JeffD]

I was thinking, getting best bang for buck.
If quality was same on 2 instruments, but one is cheaper in price, I don't mind getting better bang for buck.

I agree. But boy that is a hard thing to determine. I tend towards some of the comments above that one cannot for sure say that one category (large manufacturer) is more for the dollar or less that the other (small builder). It likely depends on the instrument.

The very best bang for the buck is a previously owned instrument.

And as far as getting something not available to others, I really don't care if everyone has the same as me or not, as long as I like it, it's cool...

I agree also. I am not so interested in what others think of my choice of instruments, or think of me owning them. My angle was that there are a lot of really creative luthiers out there, who have different ideas and different takes, without compromising quality, and the courage to break away from "the standard". I think this is more easily found with the small build individual luthiers.

A typical example would Joe Campanella, whose mandolin designs really really appeal to me. As soon as I can put enough nickles in a row...

[DougC]

The cafe has a lot of discussion about neck profiles and other things to consider. Personally I don't like strap buttons attached to the heel. But a trip to a store with mandolins is quite an education. And you will need to know what you want before trying a custom build.
It would be really cool to have one built to to my own 'specs' and to develop a friendship with a luthier.

But I have a different outlook you might consider. That is that a used instrument, especially one from a maker that has a reputation for high value when bought from a place that is also highly respected is 'hand's down' the best.

You can meet and make friends with people on the classifieds at Mandolin Cafe. For example, I bought a Collings mandola from the guys at the Mandolin Store and I feel like I supported some great guys and I bought a outstanding instrument at a great price.

This is just one example. There are other really fine stores around the country. (And you will find the best here...)

[treidm]

Got it treidm. answered. Did u get mine? Having problems with my web site. I'm not up on high tech stuff, sorry, pm me if you want., that's no problem.

Yes, I got your email, thanks..

I will email you and let you know what I'm looking for..

, Reid

[ollaimh]

when i see a great second hand instrument at a "steal" price, like a model i ordered and paid for directly, i never regret paying top dollar. great lutheirs are what people like us need to make our music and they are worth every penny. (but i will pick up a second one if that happens). and i wheel and deal often in the big company made instruments.


i did just do a trade locally for a bill davis artist model A. it sings. i normally like the round sound hole, but these f holes have both chop and bright bright projection for my jigs and reels. so i vote for bill davis.


however sometimes when a great builder is not well known you can get a great instrument before they become famous, and it may be a lot cheaper. in guitars i bought a ted thompson T 1 with brazillian rosewood back and sides and engleman spruce top before he got better known, and it was $1900 with tax case and all. but i special ordered one of his jumbos a few years ago and paid a lot more, because his instrument gave me decades of joy and i always wanted a jumbo and he deserves every penny, but i recently traded for another thompson jumbo!!!

[Old Growth]

Matt Ruhland fits this category. Not yet well known, great mandolins, exceptional value.

[soliver]

Somehow, I double posted ... see below vvvv

[soliver]

Treidm, Ken Ratcliff has had trouble with his website; particularly the contact portion. He's just finished up the mandolin I custom ordered and is shipping it out tomorrow. I will pm you his email address so you can contact him directly. His production time is a very bearable 3-4 weeks.. for all intents and purpose I will be receiving my mandolin exactly 4 weeks to the day I ordered it... at a very affordable price too. Ken works very hard and very fast!

Here's the thread on the build: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...lverangel-Fray

Custom made "Econo A" model:
Cedar top
Soft Maple 1 piece back and sides
Gold colored hardware
K&K Mandolin Twin installed
Ebony radiused fretboard
Speed Neck
Lightly distressed "Old Violin" finish.
Excited to receive it soon!

[George R. Lane]

Treidm, Ken Ratcliff has had trouble with his website; particularly the contact portion. He's just finished up the mandolin I custom ordered and is shipping it out tomorrow. I will pm you his email address so you can contact him directly. His production time is a very bearable 3-4 weeks.. for all intents and purpose I will be receiving my mandolin exactly 4 weeks to the day I ordered it... at a very affordable price too. Ken works very hard and very fast!

Here's the thread on the build: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...lverangel-Fray

Custom made "Econo A" model:
Cedar top
Soft Maple 1 piece back and sides
Gold colored hardware
K&K Mandolin Twin installed
Ebony radiused fretboard
Speed Neck
Lightly distressed "Old Violin" finish.
Excited to receive it soon!

Check post #95. He and Ken have contacted each other.