LoarFest Reports...Please!

[f5loar]

In the group photo I took in 2000 in Louisville I count 38 Loars/Ferns of which 2 were H5s. This was towards the end of the LoarFest and I am certain many left before the photo especially a few celebrity Loars that were there but not on display. There were some other prewar years there too so they were not all Loars.
I was not there in 2001 maybe you meant 2001. Darryl and I had a mini-LoarFest at the SPBMA in Nashville in 1987 with a group photo of 11.

[craigw]

Thanks Tom. I was at the event where we had a group photo that made it in BU later that year along with a story about the event. We also did a show and tell where most everybody told an interesting story about how they found their Loar or if they knew it's earlier history, etc. I was the one whose Loar was stolen in California on Easter Sunday of 1974 and I got it back a year to the day after it had made it all the way to East coast.

[f5loar]

That sounds like 2000. I recall the BU write up. That write up might have the total count in it.
I think Darryl was at the 2nd one in 2001 but he has not commented on how many where there.

[f5loar]

Okay I did some digging and came up with the years for LoarFest East at IBMA. The first that you were at was in 1998. The 2nd one that I was at was Oct. 23, 1999. Not sure if there even was a 2000 held. So at the one you were at there was only 20 some Loars but at the one I was at there was 50 some. The article in BU was The First Loar Fest in the April 1999 issue which sparked the interest for more involvment in the Oct. 1999 event. You are in the center kneeling on the floor with a Loar. I should have known I was not there in 2000 as I was in Detroit at the 100th Anniversary of Cadillac in Oct. The March 2000 BU has the front cover of the Loars from the '99 LoarFest. In the General Store is another photo of all of us playing Big Mon and another photo of 35 Loars/Ferns on the floor.

[Ken Waltham]

I remember the Loar theft story distinctly. I remember who stole it from you, and where it ended up. That was amazing. I had a lot of fun at that one, I was also there the year before, but could never have believed it was that long ago. Wow, time flies.

[Mando Medic]

To those of you who were at Loar Fest and had a Loar in the Tasting, here is the current list as it was recorded. Please check it and make sure that if your Loar was there and you do not see it below that you let me know. We're doing post production on the CD now. Before I have the jacket information printed, I need to hear from all the Loar owners about information that you may or may not want printed. Please contact me at kenc@wvi.com. A huge thanks to Mike Compton and John Reischman for playing all those Loars. Ken Cartwright

[Mando Medic]

Reischman's Tasting.
1 # #71901 # #Jan. 12 1923
2 # #73005 # #Apr. 25 1923
3 # #73103 # #Apr. 25 1923
4 # #73728 # #July # 9 #1923
5 # #73733 # #July # 9 #1923
6 # #74000 # #July # 9 #1923
7 # #74662 # #Dec. 11 1923
8 # #75327 # #Feb. 18 1924
9 # #75700 # #Feb. 18 1924
10 #76547 # #Mar. 31 1924
11 #75945 # #Mar. 31 1924
12 #76792 # #Sep. 22 1924
13 #81290 # #Jan. 4 # #1925
14 #79833 # #Dec.1 # #1924
15 #76495 # #Mar. 31 1924
16 #Itzbeen Real w/John's Loar
17 #70327 # #Dec. 14 2005 Master Model Distressed
18 #70328 # #Dec. 16 2005 Master Model, distressed John's

Compton's Tasting;
1 # #75327 # #Feb. 18 1924 Reischman's
2 # #76547 # #Mar. 31 1924
3 # #73728 # #July # #9 1923
4 # #81290 # #Jan. 25 1925
5 # #71634 # #Dec. 20 1922
6 # #71901 # #Jan. 12 1923
7 # #74000 # #July # 9 1923
8 # #73005 # #Apr. 25 1923
9 # #76792 # #Sep. 22 1924
10 #75945 # #Mar. 31 1924
11 #73733 # #July 9 1923
12 #75700 # #Feb.18 1924
13 #73013 # #Apr. 25 1923
14 #76495 # #Mar. 31 1924 Mandola
15 #89516 # # # # # # # # #1929 Fern
16 #02536 # # # # # # # # #2002 Gilchrist-Compton's
17 #70373 # #Mar. 19 2003 Master Model
18 #Comptons Gilchrist playing his tune.

[danb]

Hmm, can't get Mike's page to load right now..

[JimRichter]

It's a workin'. Might have hit a speed bump this AM if too many people were on the site reviewing the Journal. Mike's hosting plan is a small one--when we started didn't think it would get this big. This summer when it's time to renew, I'm going to have to upgrade both the server space as well as the throughput.

Jim

[mandopete]

It's always a treat to read Mike Compton's posts. I really think he should write a book!

[Spruce]

"Looks like they brought out the Neumann mics for the panel discussion too. #What's up with that?"

The company hired to do sound for the whole event used Neumann KMS 105s exclusively...
They had about 15 of 'em...

It was the first time I've ever used this mic, and actually had a hard time keeping my train of thought on the panel while I tried out the off-axis rejection....
(Which was excellent).

Here's another shot of Lawrence, this time selling cutting boards at the Orcas Island Tonewoods booth...

[danb]

Jim, PM me.. I host some pretty busy sites

[Scott Tichenor]

Jim, PM me.. I host some pretty busy sites

Make sure you purchase the "I promise I won't spill beer on your server" plan.

[Brian Aldridge]

I hope these Loarfest gatherings do not turn into an event specifically manipulated into something for vocal self-appointed (or whoever appoints them) experts to declare certain Loars as being "the best". This kind of thing would just ruin these events, making people not want to participate.

[ShaneJ]

I'd love to go if I could, whether somebody thinks Loars are the gold standard or not. They're definitely instruments that will be part of the short list when any such discussion comes up, I'd imagine. It would be VERY cool to get to see and hear so many of them (and maybe actually get to touch one briefly). It would also be cool to meet some of the Cafe' "locals" in person. Anybody up for "LoarFest West Texas" next year?

[JEStanek]

A chance to meet Dan, Scott, Daryl and see a Nudie suit! That alone is worth the price of admission!

Jamie

[f5loar]

The best Loar? Aren't they all the best? I think those of you who will get to hear the Loar Taste CD will be surpised at how close they sound in the same person's hands. I think the biggest difference was in they type string and the wear on the that set. There must be 12 different types of strings to string one up with these days. From mono-steel to silk and steel. Several types of bronze and then add in the exliers and DRs etc and you get an idea of what you can put on any mandolin. After all that picking Brian,Darryl and I did in the lobby it's a wonder we had any strings left on those old Loars! They were on fire at times. Sparks were jumping,
fingernails a flying. Heated jams like that tend to deaden a string quickly as the sweat rolls down over them and your toe tapping heels kick up the dust clogging up the grooves in those wound strings. And then we hand them over for a pro to taste! What were we thinking? No wonder Darryl went on to bed.

[Brian Aldridge]

Tom, as far as that jam went, let me say that it was very inspiring and challenging to jam with you and Darryl. I had a blast. I fell in love with your April 25. Your July 9 caused me a severe case of sensory overload.

[f5loar]

I know what you mean. Your 4/25 was peeling the bark off that tree in the lobby. And Darryl's seldom played July 9th was waking up the dead across the street. We stirred a lot of attention in that corner. Glad I wasn't wearing the Nudie suit or it might have vibrated the rhinestones out!

[Mando Medic]

I stood close by and watched and listened to that jam. Awesome. What great players and yes, the Loars were just screaming with joy. I really wish I had video taped that jam. You guys are just too much. You deserve the fine instruments that you have. And you are right to say how similiar they sounded in the same hands. Close, but yet different. Thanks guys. Ken Cartwright

[danb]

Jim, PM me.. I host some pretty busy sites

Make sure you purchase the "I promise I won't spill beer on your server" plan.

Sounds like someone wants some unplanned downtime !