Hi all,
I’m not familiar with this maker and hoping the forum can educate me. What are some comparable brands you would compare against. Notable characteristics? Lastly, this price seems right?
http://A.L. Smart F5 1990 Sunburst h...ntent=22276847
Hi all,
I’m not familiar with this maker and hoping the forum can educate me. What are some comparable brands you would compare against. Notable characteristics? Lastly, this price seems right?
http://A.L. Smart F5 1990 Sunburst h...ntent=22276847
Can't get that link to work.
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
The link isn’t working for me either, but there is a more recent Smart F5 that’s been languishing for some time at Morgan Music with an asking price of $4995.99:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/148375#148375
http://www.morganmusic.com/usedmando...tegory=4256012
I can’t speak for everyone, but I think of Lawrence’s work as part of an Idaho tradition, preceded by Bob Givens and now followed by Austin Clark, of building beautiful, handmade mandolins. He tends to work with locally sourced woods, including Engelmann spruce, and his mandolas in particular are owned by some of the best players in the world (Marshall, Reischman, Thile, etc.).
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Let’s see if this link works better:
https://reverb.com/item/22276847-a-l...ntent=22276847
I didn’t realize that it was a lefthanded F5, which is a relative rarity. The price has already dropped considerably, but it has also been listed for nine months. So I might consider an offer, but be wary as the seller has had issues with two sold instruments in the feedback section.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
The earlier Smart mandolins have stunning voices, most have engelmann tops. The Music Emporium sold a used two point Smart for just under $6k a few months back, so I’d say the price on the A5 in the classifieds is quite reasonable.
I’ve played some of the newer ones with Adirondack tops and have to say, I prefer the earlier ones with engelmann tops.
That said, I’m thinking the F5 at Morgan is the one with the re-voiced top that’s been at a few shops over the last few years. Not sure why that was done, but if I remember correctly, it was not done by Smart. Which may be why it’s been around for sale for a while. Lots of pros play Smart instruments, including Chris Thile (mandola), Mike Marshall, Joe K Walsh, and Courtney Hartman is playing one of his archtops.
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
I own a Smart F5 and it is a very well made mandolin. Beautifully constructed with an exquisite voice. Mine is a bit newer, 2014 so I can’t really speak to older Smart mandolins. Here’s a clip of mine. Mine has an engleman top and soundwise compares well to my engleman topped Givens, with the Smart having a sweeter tone with more of a bell like ring and Givens more woody and punchy. The Smart is the strongest mandolin I own. It is very even from string to string and doesn’t lose any tone as you move up the neck.
Last edited by Victor Daniel; Jan-25-2020 at 11:00am. Reason: Added more info
2014 AL Smart F5
1988 Givens A
1921 Gibson A
2009 Peter Zwinakis Selmer Guitar
2002 Martin D-18V
1999 Huss and Dalton CM Custom
Several Old Fiddles
The above does not play.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Thanks or the reply's.
Fixed the link here:
https://reverb.com/item/22276847-a-l...-1990-sunburst
Victor Daniel, Beautiful sounding instrument. Very sweet and even toned. Might be worth visiting this AL Smart I'm considering.
Last edited by Don Grieser; Jan-25-2020 at 5:04pm.
2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic
Do you have any examples? I see precious few luthier-built F5’s in the wild. I don’t know what Lawrence is charging for an F5 mandolin these days, but I was quoted $12K by him for a new F5 mandola, so I’m going to guess that the figure is north of $9K, making a used one for less that 2/3 the price a relative bargain . . . most likely because it’s a lefty.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
It’s also 30 years old, if it truly is from 1990. Generally a used Smart F5 would be around $7k.
Also an "A" style at Reverb.
https://reverb.com/item/17220902-a-l...custom-a-style
This has been listed for a year.
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
I have a fan fret 5 course Mandola and an F hole Mandocello of his. You can't find much better fit and finish, and his voicing is top quality. You simply can't go wrong getting one of his instruments. Marshall, Rosum, you name top grade musicians that own his creations and you get the idea
John D
This option might be a lower priced alternative for the OP:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/150628#150628
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
There was recently a black Smart A5 that moved quickly in the classifieds with an asking price of $3700:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/150539#150539
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
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