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Thread: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

  1. #1
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Hey all,

    I decided to take advantage of a beautiful day and drove over to Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon, Ca.
    Definitely my favorite instrument store out here in California, if not my favorite anywhere.
    It is just an awesome shop to visit, as they always have a cool selection of interesting vintage instruments.
    I had a great time hanging out with Eric Schoenberg, talking mandolins and dogs.
    They are very nice in there and are happy to let me play whatever I want to play.

    Here are a few of the mandolins I played today:
    Giacomel J5
    Gilchrist F5
    Gilchrist F4
    Dudenbostel A5
    Altman F5 (Owned by Mike Marshall)
    Mid 1930s Gibson F5 (revoiced)
    1934 Gibson F10
    1942 Gibson F4 (Used on Tone Poems “Watson Blues” Track 15)
    2 Gibson early 3 Points
    Gibson A Jr
    Lyon and Healey

    There are some shots below.

    The winner of the day was the Giacomel.
    I had a bright refined tone, and played like a dream
    It was open and even all the way up the neck.
    Plus, it was just a beautiful thing.
    The way the front and back are carved is so unique and cool.
    I was surprised at how tiny the frets were.
    I am used to fat Northfield frets.

    The Dudenbostel A5 and Gilchrist F5 were a close second.
    The Altman was a beautiful mandolin, but the Dude and the Gil were better.

    One of my favorites was a little Gibson A Jr.
    It was just fun to play and sounded rather awesome.
    Definitely my favorite Gibson A that I played.

    The two old Gibson 3 points were super cool.
    They are louder than I thought they would be.
    Lots of Mojo in those.

    The Lyon and Healy was just very very cool.
    I think it is my favorite Mandolin design, after the F5

    The second winner of the day was an astounding Lewis 10 String Mandocello.
    It was monstrous in tone.
    Definitely the loudest Mandocello I have heard.

    I also played a bunch of Schoenberg guitars, which are pretty magical instruments.
    My favorite guitar of the day was a very early Gibson L5.
    It was just a stunning thing all round, and had an astoundingly cool tone.
    Unfortunately it was $24,000, so it did not come home with me.

    After playing all those cool mandolins, I can home to my Northfield Artist 5-Bar, and I am still more than thrilled by it.
    I prefer its tone, volume, and playability over anything I played today.
    That is a good feeling.



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    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

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  3. #2
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    KOOL! That Gil F-5 was mine for quite awhile, a 1982. I really want to play the old re-grad F-5, F-10 and the 28 Fern!

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  5. #3
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    The revoiced F5 and the F10 were cool.
    I would rather have the Giacomel, Dude, or Gil.
    Their tone was more exciting.
    That Gilchrist is a pretty mandolin.
    It has mojo.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  6. #4
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Yes that old Gil had some pretty serious tone, I just found myself liking tone bar braced more than the X braced Gil, and I had the opportunity to trade it with some pennies for a mid 30's F-5 fern. I like the F-10 because well me being a huge fan of the rare and oddball 30's Gibson's I have a 35 F-12 and a few 30's F-7's so the 10 would complete my set. I find those depression era Gibson's intriguing. Sure those short necks don't have the power of a 5 scale instrument some will surprise you. That Dude is a fantastic looking mandolin. I've never played any of those Giacomel horns, I sure would like to, talking about odd shaped mandos they are it man and what I've heard David Grisman play with those-YEH.

  7. #5
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Nice to see Eric Schoenberg is still running a fine music store. I believe he was the founder of The Music Emporium back when they had a small store in Porter Square in Cambridge Mass. The biggest mistake I've ever made with musical instruments was playing a used Sobell octave in the early 80's and leaving without it.
    Steve

  8. #6

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    That store is still on my list. Probably an hour and a half away. I did walk by once, but I had my then six month old grandaughter with me while her mom was playing a gig. She wasn't happy about it.

    I was eyeing that jr. on the web site, but then the '13 A-1 popped up at Gryphon and that's a 20 min. drive. Boy are we spoiled for stores here.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

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  10. #7
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Yup, the Bay Area has some good stores, at least Gryphon and Schoenberg.
    I moved here from LA and was thrilled to have some good vintage mandolins to try nearby. It is amazing to me that a city as big as LA doesn’t really have a good store for mandolins. McCabes is Ok, but mostly average imports, with a few Collings and a vintage Gibson or two.

    I love Schoenberg because it is a beautiful room, on a beautiful street, in a beautiful town, on a beautiful bay.
    I also love that when you chop a G chord, the whole room reverberates from the instruments on the wall like a delicate choir of angels backing you up.
    Plus Eric is so nice and interested in talking instruments.
    His own guitar designs are magnificent instruments.
    Anyhoo, just a great place to go try things out, and if you are careful, they love for you to play the instruments.
    It gives the instruments a chance to stretch their legs and get tuned up.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  11. #8

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Sylvan in Santa Cruz is also a good store. Weber, Pava, Girouard, and Ellis, plus the odd local luthier mandolin. Eastman dealer too.

    Then there's Steve Swan for vintage Gibson guitars and lots of basses. Then Mighty Fine for luthier fare.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

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  13. #9
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Cool. I will have to check out Sylvan.
    I would like to play an Ellis.

    Is Steve Swan good with fixing mandolins?
    Are there any super mandolin luthiers in the Bay Area for fixing mandos.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  14. #10

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    That torch and wire 3 point is stunning!
    Stiver F5 #366
    Kopp K-35 Braz
    Huss & Dalton TD-M Custom
    1935 Martin 00-17
    HD-28E Retro

  15. #11
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Quote Originally Posted by Trich View Post
    That torch and wire 3 point is stunning!
    Yup, it was super cool, and that torch and wire headstock is so impressive in person.
    I was surprised how good it sounded too. It had a tone similar to Gibson A oval holes, but it was just a bit different.
    It was loud and had a great reverberation and presence.
    If I were rich, I would have taken it home that day.
    There were two 3 points of about the same vintage.
    One had the neck replaced with an old Gibson neck.
    I actually preferred the tone of the new neck one, but that fancy headstock would make me consider it instead.
    Both sounded great.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  16. #12
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    I keep thinking about that Lewis 10 string Mandocello.
    It was astounding.
    It was unvelievably loud and rich.
    Anyone looking for a mandocello should check it out.
    I doubt if you can find a better sounding one.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  17. #13
    plectrist Ryk Loske's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve L View Post
    Nice to see Eric Schoenberg is still running a fine music store. I believe he was the founder of The Music Emporium back when they had a small store in Porter Square in Cambridge Mass. The biggest mistake I've ever made with musical instruments was playing a used Sobell octave in the early 80's and leaving without it.
    You're right Steve ... Eric was the founder and the Emporium has never been the same since he left. Fortunately the '28 L-5 that was there and stayed after my visit ... i was able to find a few years later in Boston.

    Ryk
    mandolin ~ guitar ~ banjo

    "I'm convinced that playing well is not so much a technique as it is a decision. It's a commitment to do the work, strive for concentration, get strategic about advancing by steps, and push patiently forward toward the goal." Dan Crary

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    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryk Loske View Post
    You're right Steve ... Eric was the founder and the Emporium has never been the same since he left. Fortunately the '28 L-5 that was there and stayed after my visit ... i was able to find a few years later in Boston.

    Ryk
    There was an unbelievable early L5 at Schoenberg yesterday.
    If I had $24k it would have come home with me.
    Best acoustic arch top I have played.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  19. #15

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Quote Originally Posted by CWRoyds View Post
    Cool. I will have to check out Sylvan.
    I would like to play an Ellis.

    Is Steve Swan good with fixing mandolins?
    Are there any super mandolin luthiers in the Bay Area for fixing mandos.
    Gryphon is about as good a repair shop as there is. If it's vintage you may get Frank Ford himself to do the work. I imagine Schoenberg would be good too.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

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  21. #16

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve L View Post
    Nice to see Eric Schoenberg is still running a fine music store. I believe he was the founder of The Music Emporium back when they had a small store in Porter Square in Cambridge Mass. The biggest mistake I've ever made with musical instruments was playing a used Sobell octave in the early 80's and leaving without it.
    Eric was one of the partners at TME at one time. Stu Cohen founded the store, way back when in Pittsburgh. He then moved it to Cambridge.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  23. #17

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    For repairs, I’m very happy with Lewis Santer in Emeryville.

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  25. #18
    plectrist Ryk Loske's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    I was quite happy with the work of Paul Hostetter http://www.lutherie.net who did work on the above mentioned L-5 for me.
    Ryk
    mandolin ~ guitar ~ banjo

    "I'm convinced that playing well is not so much a technique as it is a decision. It's a commitment to do the work, strive for concentration, get strategic about advancing by steps, and push patiently forward toward the goal." Dan Crary

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    Notary Sojac Paul Kotapish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Eric and James at Schoenberg are great guys and I love visiting their shop. I've played -- and attended -- a few concerts there, too. Super intimate, house-concert vibe, and the instrument-browsing during the break is impossible to top.

    All of the luthiers mentioned above do great work. I believe Paul Hostetter isn't taking on much new work these days, but he's done a lot of things for me, and Lewis Santer did a beautiful job reworking my trusty old Westerman OM/zouk.

    For a complicated restoration I'd probably opt for Gryphon simply because Frank runs the most comprehensive and fully equipped shop and has so much experience with so many elaborate repairs, as witness by his frets.com page.
    Just one guy's opinion
    www.guitarfish.net

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  29. #20

    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Bought a couple of very nice Asturias ukes from Schoenberg. Martin clones from Japan with that
    harp-like tone. So sweet.

  30. #21
    Registered User JAK's Avatar
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    Default Re: Visit to Schoenberg guitars, Tiberon, Ca

    Speaking of Steve Swan guitars, he has a GREAT looking Santa Cruz Tony Rice Pro guitar on his website. May have to get to his shop soon....
    John A. Karsemeyer

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