Officially joining the Silverangel Fray

[Bill Kammerzell]

Just purchased a 1998 Silver Eagle from a Cafe member. It arrived Friday, (yesterday) and I'm real happy with it. It's not only beautiful, it plays easy and sounds great. It is in just about pristine condition. At some point there was a refret by Dave Harvey. I'll try posting some photos. The build date is my oldest daughter's 19th birthday and I thought that was cool.
This has a one piece back, and a third soundhole. Really some intricate inlays, art work and carvings. Real nice purfling along the sides and the headstock. Well, I ned to go play it some more because it real dosn't look played.

[soliver]

Very cool Willkamm!... I saw that one in the MC classifieds. Congrats on that work of art!!!

[Bill Kammerzell]

Thanks. The price was too reasonable to pass up. Can't imagine what it would take to purchase new today? 6K?

[soliver]

His Econo A's are very affordable!

[KoalaBear]

I was not aware there was a Silverangel Group!... I'll check it out!... thanks for the heads up Tani!

You will find David in that group as well.

Tani

Kentucky KM 150.
Ken Ratcliff Silverangel Econo A.
Davy Stuart f hole bowl back mando.
Barnes and Mullins open hole bowl back
(spruce top, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides)

[Bill Kammerzell]

His Econo A's are very affordable!

Correct. Normal F style is usually $4000.00. I have to guess with the artwork, purfling, inlays, and carvings that has to raise the price another 1.5 to 2 K. This was priced around the same as an Econo, so I couldn't resist.

[soliver]

So I just joined the SA Social Group... looks relatively inactive... lets revitalize that!!!

willkamm, I played a SA F style at Carter's that was a non-painted Dark Burst top version of the same one you have. Same looking scroll and same shaped headstock. I believe it has a spruce top and I think it was a 1999 (not sure)... it sounded amazing. Not quite as deep and throaty as the cedar topped one that OldSausage has but equally goooooood tone and priced at $3K... This one:

https://cartervintage.com/collection...lue-angel-1999

sounds like you got a great deal!

[Bill Kammerzell]

So I just joined the SA Social Group... looks relatively inactive... lets revitalize that!!!

willkamm, I played a SA F style at Carter's that was a non-painted Dark Burst top version of the same one you have. Same looking scroll and same shaped headstock. I believe it has a spruce top and I think it was a 1999 (not sure)... it sounded amazing. Not quite as deep and throaty as the cedar topped one that OldSausage has but equally goooooood tone and priced at $3K... This one:

https://cartervintage.com/collection...lue-angel-1999

sounds like you got a great deal!

Yes. I saw that one at Carter's on line also. Mine is a spruce top also. It has everything in the way of sound I look for. And yes, it was a great deal. I had a spare arm rest to put on it or I would have contacted you for a new one.

[Bill Kammerzell]

So I just joined the SA Social Group... looks relatively inactive... lets revitalize that!!!

willkamm, I played a SA F style at Carter's that was a non-painted Dark Burst top version of the same one you have. Same looking scroll and same shaped headstock. I believe it has a spruce top and I think it was a 1999 (not sure)... it sounded amazing. Not quite as deep and throaty as the cedar topped one that OldSausage has but equally goooooood tone and priced at $3K... This one:

https://cartervintage.com/collection...lue-angel-1999

sounds like you got a great deal!

Yes the one at Carter's is 1999.

[soliver]

Staining began today.... I see the light at the end of the tunnel,... hope its not a train.

[soliver]

Ken sent me pics of the stain job yesterday and it looks awesome ...I'll hang onto those pics so you can just see it when it's finished... so he's working on Varnish and polish; for all intents and purposes, I don't know why I wouldn't have it next week! I am oh so excited

[rowka]

That’s really fast.

[KoalaBear]

Ken sent me pics of the stain job yesterday and it looks awesome ...I'll hang onto those pics so you can just see it when it's finished... so he's working on Varnish and polish; for all intents and purposes, I don't know why I wouldn't have it next week! I am oh so excited

Excitement builds.Ken is sending over some picks for the SA to Oz from Amazon,since these picks are not available here, so my suggestion is that you order them from the site, should you want to try the picks.Ken reckons these picks achieve an excellent sound with the SA Econo.Voila`!

https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Gate-D...mandolin+picks

[soliver]

that’s really fast.

i know!!!!

[soliver]

To my understanding, theres some polishing going on right now... still waiting.... I'm hoping for the end of the week. We shall see.

[KoalaBear]

To my understanding, theres some polishing going on right now... still waiting.... I'm hoping for the end of the week. We shall see.

Spencer,

Ken has a video of your mandolin on Tube:Happy Day!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmsq...&feature=share

[soliver]

Thanks Tani, he sent me that so I could hear it.... thanks for sharing it!

[Scott Rucker]

I hadn't been on the Cafe lately and hadn't seen this thread. I did see the video on Youtube a few days ago, when I got the subscriber notification. Sweet! Congrats. I'm obviously a big fan of his work myself as I currently own two of them. I wholeheartedly agree with everyone about the mandolins, his quick turnaround times, and the ease of dealing with him.

[soliver]

It's ready!!!

Ken says he'll ship it out on Monday, hopefully



Now to just contain myself until it gets here!!!

[dan in va]

Thanks for posting as i've been watching for your update. There are lots of things to like about this mandolin. i'm liking the old violin finish, which is right for me because my Stanley got distressed pretty quickly. Looking forward to your analysis of sound and playability. Keep us posted!

[KoalaBear]

One heck of a mando.Are you placing a tone bar on it?

will blow Ken back to Oz. Will keep him here has ours.Lol

Tan,songwriter `Gondwana Band`...new CD release 2019:
`Songs of Sydney Basin and South England Fold Belt`

[soliver]

Thanks for posting as i've been watching for your update. There are lots of things to like about this mandolin. i'm liking the old violin finish, which is right for me because my Stanley got distressed pretty quickly. Looking forward to your analysis of sound and playability. Keep us posted!

I've been waiting for updates myself ... this week was all Varnish, wet sanding and polishing so there have been no new pics until today, ... as my wife said, I got spoiled with all the progress photos from the start... I am very pleased with how it looks and based on the sound clip (shared above), I'm thinking it's going to be a beast!!!

[soliver]

One heck of a mando.Are you placing a tone bar on it?

If you mean a Tonegard, yes I'm planning to use one. Not sure if I'll be keeping my Eastman quite yet, so I may just use the one I have on it until I decide ... Ken just told me I'll need to wait about a month for the Varnish to cure completely before I "put anything on it."

Planning to make a dark armrest for it like Wenge, E. Indian Rosewood or even an Ebonized Walnut. I'll decide when I have it in my possession. I'd also like to swap the tuner buttons for black ones if I can find some to fit.

[Mark Gunter]

Extremely nice, Spencer!

[rowka]

Lucky you!