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Thread: Ira Louvin's mandolin

  1. #1
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Wow. I hadn't seen that one. What kind is it.

    I wish it were featured more in the cut.

    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Ah, they don't do it like that no more. Thanks for posting.

    Is it me or does Ira resemble Niles H.??

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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Wonderful.

    Something else you don't see much anymore these days: on the choruses, the lead singer switches to harmony.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Not sure what make that mando was. I have read that Ira had a nasty temper..no doubt from the liquid courage..he would often be found mending the mando he busted the night before in a intoxicated rage. He went thru alot of mandos. I always thought he was a very fine mandolin player for the style the Louderbacks played. Thanks for posting..they cant be beat.

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Slotted headstock (notice he's got his strap attached through the slots) and cat-eye soundholes suggest German manufacture although I'm not sure which one. Hofner, Hohner and Framus are the likely suspects.
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    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    That would be Loudermilk.
    That band certainly did use up a lot of mandolins.....

  7. #7

    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by evanreilly View Post
    That would be Loudermilk.
    That band certainly did use up a lot of mandolins.....
    I knew that...my mind wasnt doing what I wanted my fingers to do. Thanks Evan.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    One of my favorite (of many) Louvins tunes. There's a really nice version of this one on one of Ray Legere's CDs as well.

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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Which Ray CD would this be on?

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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    I believe Ira built some mandolins and guitars.
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  11. #11

    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by AlanN View Post
    Which Ray CD would this be on?
    Hey Alan. It's on the album he did with Roger Williams called "River of No Return".

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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Thanks, New Breed. Need to dig that one out. Ray (and co.) are such great players. If you go to his website, he has an area for tab/music purchases, where you can get his solos to many recorded tunes. He actually put a couple up there on my urging.

    When I grow up, I wanna be like Ray

  13. #13
    Registered User swampstomper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Wow! Thanks for posting that. Just fabulous country music the way it was meant to be. Great shuffle, and how about Paul Yandell's flatop, showing his pate as he leans into his Atkins-style solo? The brothers are so in sympathy, two very distinct voices but blending just so... and the timing... note how they hit three straight downbeats in the chorus line that begins "and when your...". Ira does some harmony "up there" that no one else can duplicate. We can't hear the mando but anyway -- Ira was first and foremost a singer.

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    I have been a Louvin Brothers fan for long time. Those of you who haven't seen this - a video on the Louvin Brothers and then on Bill Monroe. From the BBC.

    Ira plays that snakehead A style I am used to seeing. But the other mandolin from the first clip, I am curious.


    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  15. #15
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by swampstomper View Post
    Wow! Thanks for posting that. Just fabulous country music the way it was meant to be..... We can't hear the mando but anyway -- Ira was first and foremost a singer.

    While there are none on that clip - we have all heard Ira's fantastic turn arounds between verse and chorus. And he had a distinctive tremolo, a little wider spaced, and spot on the rhythm - almost like it was 64 notes written out.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  16. #16
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Looks like a Framus Texas model. Shown at the top of this page. I think perhaps the earlier models might have had slotted headstocks.

    One for sale in canada. They say Nevada but the Framus site shows a one soundhole variety as the Nevada.
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  17. #17
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    I think it might be a Graciella.

    Jim

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  18. #18
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Jim, I think you nailed it.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  19. #19
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Spot-on! Now, why did Framus make a "Graciella" and a "Graziella"? And how can they describe the Graciella as having "massive ornamental inlays and binding"? Is a "massive" inlay one weighing over 12 ounces?
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  20. #20
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    Allen, I think it is a translation thing, tho I have usually seen the word used as an equivalent to solid and in massive spruce top.
    Jim

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  21. #21

    Default Re: Ira Louvin's mandolin

    On the Satan Is Real Album Charlie and Ira built the fire for the background shot. Ira made the wooden cut out of satan. Longtime opry photographer Les Leverett was on hand to take the album cover photo, as he did so many artist. He told me they liked to have burned up before getting the shot they wanted.

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