Top Fifty-plus Reasons

**mandocrucian** · Oct-29-2005, 9:39am

...Why mandolin players take up guitar
(alphabetical order)

1. Duane Allman
2. Junior Barnard (Bob Will & Texas Playboys)
3. Jeff Beck
4. Chuck Berry
5. Dan Ar Bras (Alan Stivell)
6. Paul Burlison (Johnny Burnette Rock N Roll Trio)
7. James Burton
8. Randy California (Spirit)
9. Martin Carthy (solo, Steeleye Span, Albion Country Band, Waterson-Carthy)
10. John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, Copperhead, Raven)

11. Eric Clapton
12. Charlie Christian
13. Eddie Cochran
14. Ry Cooder
15. Steve Cropper
16. Jerry Donahue (Hellecasters, Fairport Convention)
17. Nick Drake
18. Dave Edmunds
19. Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
20. Rory Gallagher

21. Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
22. Dick Gaughan (solo, Five Hand Reel)
23. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
24. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
25. Peter Green (original Fleetwood Mac)
26. Jimi Hendrix
27. John Lee Hooker
28. Eric Johnson
29. BB King
30. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits, Notting Hillbilies)

31. Albert Lee
32. David Lindley (El Rayo X, Jackson Browne)
33. John Martyn
34. Curtis Mayfield
35. Tony McPhee (Groundhogs)
36. Wes Montgomery
37. Jimmy Page (Led Zep)
38. John Renbourn (Pentangle, solo)
39. Don Rich (Buck Owens & the Buckaroos)
40. Don "Buck Dharma" Roesser (Blue Oyster Cult)

41. Carlos Santana
42. Brian Setzer (Stray Cats)
43. Steven Stills
44. Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention, solo)
45. Pete Townsend
46. Robin Trower
47. Stevie Ray Vaughan
48. T-Bone Walker
49. Joe Walsh (James Gang, Eagles, solo)
50. Muddy Waters

51. Clarence White (Nashvile West, Byrds electric, Kentucky Colonels, Muleskinner)
52. James Calvin Wilsey (early Chris Isaak albums including the song "Wicked Game")
53. Howlin Wolf (& Hubert Sumlin)
54. Link Wray
55. Angus Young & Malcom Young (AC/DC)
56. Neil Young
57. Frank Zappa

**chirorehab** · Oct-29-2005, 9:46am

Trey Anastasio.... (Phish)

**mikeomando** · Oct-29-2005, 10:08am

court-ordered pre-frontal lobotomy...

**fangsdaddy** · Oct-29-2005, 11:44am

thurston moore
d. boon
tom verlaine
tony iommi

**mandocrucian** · Oct-29-2005, 12:06pm

Originally Posted by

court-ordered pre-frontal lobotomy...

And this is coming from a guy who is into playing blues guitar licks on the electric mando (if memory serves correct)?....... (and who has the tag-line of "For the last time, it's not a ukelele..." to boot)

Now, if I'd posted in the Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country, Gospel Variants area, I'd expect this sort of comment, but if you look again, you'll notice it is the Rock, Folk Rock, Roots Rock, Rockabilly section.

So what particularly is so "lobotomizing" about the idea of no longer, continually, beating your skull against a wall (now that'll give you a lobotomy) trying to give that "ukelele" some legitimacy or credibility somewhere beyond the haybales where it doesn't have much of either?

NH

"I see the light....and the light is very bright!" - Michael Hurley, back cover of the Blue Navigator album jacket.

**Ken Sager** · Oct-29-2005, 12:12pm

This thread should be titled Why ANYBODY takes up guitar.

**John Flynn** · Oct-29-2005, 1:22pm

"Get your money for nothin' and your chicks for free."

**jmkatcher** · Oct-29-2005, 2:08pm

Originally Posted by

So what particularly is so "lobotomizing" about the idea of no longer, continually, beating your skull against a wall (now that'll give you a lobotomy) trying to give that "ukelele" some legitimacy or credibility somewhere beyond the haybales where it doesn't have much of either?

Isn't legitimacy or credibility what you make of it? It's a shame there's not more rock mandolin, but that doesn't stop me from continuing to enjoy playing it. I like to think that the (e)mando sound is persuasive to those who aren't familiar with it. I've been thinking lately about picking up the electric guitar as well, but as an augmentation not a replacement. The instrument selection is sure easier over there though, and the haybale thing is not my style, so I am very sympathetic.

Best regards,
JMK

**mandocrucian** · Oct-29-2005, 3:06pm

Originally Posted by

Isn't legitimacy or credibility what you make of it?

No, it's what others make of it.

Hey, I like playing mando; I've done it for 30+ years. But it would be 10 times less hassle to play (out) the rock stuff in the role of a half-assed guitar player. And I'm not talking about the technical difficulty of pulling off guitar stuff on a mando neck (twice as hard as doing it on a guitar). It's having to put up with all the BS from other players who are so rigid that everything has to be done with the same instrumentation as the record, or are threatened by another instrument encroaching on their "turf".

Or players of genres (where mando is a mainstay) who have a problem with the unholy & wayward musical choices being played on one of "their" instruments, and is dismissed on those grounds.

Well, I'm finally cured of any irrational allegiance to any particular instrument. I may as well play all those guitar lines on a guitar (or viola, or flute) instead of a mando and save myself a lot of hassle and grief. In retrospect, should have done it 15 years ago. Too damn stubborn I guess, but I've finally wised up.

NH

(Too bad Monroe never made the switch to over fiddle, or guitar, since that was what he evidentally wanted to play in the first place. Stayed with the mando for spite cause that was what he got stuck with by default when he was a kid. Guess he never could get past that trauma.... all his fiddle players that worked for him said he really was a fiddler at heart.)

**mad dawg** · Oct-29-2005, 3:10pm

Nice list, and a special shout-out for the following nominees:
Allman
Cooder
Lindley
Fripp
Gibbons
Gilmour (Can you think of an unmemorable Gilmour solo? I think not!)
Zappa, and his SG
Page
Stevie Ray

Plus, I would like to offer the following additions to the list:
Bonnie Raitt, for her melodic slide work
Tommy Bolin (RIP; worked with Zephyr, Moxy, post-Walsh James Gang, post-Blackmore Deep Purple, and two great solo albums)
Marc Bolan (RIP; T Rex)
Adrian Belew (King Crimson, solo artist, David Bowie)
Terry Kath (RIP; original Chicago guitarist, who could make that SG soar)
Jack Johnson (he might not go down in history as a great guitarist, but I love his rythmic style -- makes me want to head down to the beach with a beater 6-string for an all-night Koom Buy Yah (sp.) session with friends)

**SternART** · Oct-29-2005, 4:25pm

Jorma Kaukonen could certainly be added to this esteemed list.

**mikeomando** · Oct-29-2005, 4:44pm

Just for the record, I WAS JOKING. I'd play guitar if I could. It was sorta like a banjo joke. I'm sorry if it ticked anyone off. If I could play as well as Niles I'd be out on the road instead of lurking around here. Oh, and it kind of had a halloween thing too. Sorta.
If I could add Scotty Moore to the list (since James Burton is on there), in all seriousness, I would.

**Nathan Sanders** · Oct-29-2005, 4:51pm

Ok..so why do guitar players take up mandolin? I played guitar long before mandolin. And, also, Doc Watson should be on the list.

**mikeomando** · Oct-29-2005, 4:54pm

Oh yeah, Billy Zoom (X)

**Dave Gumbart** · Oct-29-2005, 5:27pm

A couple of Steves...
Steve Morse
Steve Ferguson (original guitarist for NRBQ, with two excellent solo discs in recent years, Jack Salmon With Derby Sauce and Mama U-Seapa. And speaking of the Q, Al Anderson is no slouch himself)

David Hidalgo (Los Lobos)
Danny Gatton
my friend Gary

**bjc** · Oct-29-2005, 6:05pm

Didn't see Randy Rhodes or Dimebag Darrell? Maybe too metal...good topic though...

**John Rosett** · Oct-30-2005, 2:06pm

niles, it pleases me no end to see that you put junior barnard at the number 2 spot on your list. what a great and wild guitarist he was, and certainly one of the unsung fathers of rock guitar.
i'm assuming that you didn't mention django because this is a "rock guitar" discussion. how about danny gatton, bill kirchen, and redd volkert?

**TeleMark** · Oct-30-2005, 5:23pm

Originally Posted by (dave g @ Oct. 29 2005, 18:27)

A couple of Steves...
Steve Morse
Steve Ferguson (original guitarist for NRBQ, with two excellent solo discs in recent years, Jack Salmon With Derby Sauce and Mama U-Seapa. And speaking of the Q, Al Anderson is no slouch himself)

Another Steve: Vai. Anybody who can impress Zappa has to have some validity. See also: Mike Kennealy, Warren Cuccurillo, etc...

Also:

Joe Satriani
John Petrucci

**ira** · Oct-31-2005, 9:13am

wow- was not expecting such an angry/bitter thread. to each their own- i wish you well, but should we now refer to you as guitarcrucian.

as for my own opinion (and yes, once again, this is opinion), though i love the playing of all of those guys, and yes it is different trying to play many of their tunes on mando, and also yes, i might pick up the 6 string at somepoint for fun. i will keep playing rock on my mando, and even if i play those gentlemen's tunes, i wont try to sound like them. you are correct imho niles in that if you are trying to sound like a guitar, pick up the instrument and play it. if you are trying to play songs you like and like the sound of a mando in that tune, sometimes filling the role of the guitar, even if it doesn't sound just like it, then play the tunes and enjoy!

when i play a rock or pop tune-e.g., steve miller "the joker" i play that initial riff, same notes as the orig, but i'm not trying to sound like a guitar or bass, just playing the tune, and it sounds good, just different- same role different sound. if i wanted to sound just like the album as i said- i'd get that instrument.

peace all,ira

**Dave Caulkins** · Oct-31-2005, 11:33am

Heh,

I think I went the wrong (right?) direction for this thread, as I played guitar for almost 15 years before mandolin... My direction on the mandolin has sent me back to guitar more than once... I find it easier to convert guitar licks to mando by actually learning the guitar part first...

Dave

**RolandTumble** · Oct-31-2005, 3:21pm

Lowell George....

**Mandomax** · Oct-31-2005, 3:39pm

Shawn Lane
Roy Buchanan
Jimmy Bryant
Joseph Spence
Joe Diorio

**Ken Sager** · Oct-31-2005, 3:47pm

I read in Niles' last message that he laments not sticking to guitar, that guitarists are perhaps more marketable (employable) than mandolinists, and that loyalty to any given instrument is unnecessary (if not downright counterproductive).

I can't argue with any of this, except to say that Niles has proven that quality sells, integrity counts for something, and you can make a market for yourself doing almost anything, even playing mandolin.

Guitarcrucian, indeed, Ira.

Follow your bliss,
Ken

**mad dawg** · Oct-31-2005, 3:55pm

Originally Posted by (RolandTumble @ Oct. 31 2005, 12:21)

Lowell George....

Good catch, Roland.

**mad dawg** · Oct-31-2005, 4:00pm

Ooops -- and don't forget Johnny Winter.

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