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Thread: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

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    Registered User Elkhorn1's Avatar
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    Default Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Here's a sweet video of Adam Steffey test driving a Koa/Cedar F-5 at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville recently. I'm currently in the process of building him a new Koa/Cedar F-5 that should hopefully be completed by the end of the year! Enjoy!

    Last edited by Scott Tichenor; Dec-09-2013 at 8:49am. Reason: easier to view here vs. forcing readers to click-through to YouTube.

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    Registered User Cheryl Watson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Very nice! Adam brings out the warm, full tone. It's a strong mandolin and it already sounds broken in.

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    Registered User Timothy S's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    I was watching those videos last night! Incredible instruments and equally impressive performance.
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    Registered User Jim Ferguson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Nice pickin by Adam Steffey........a talented mandoliner for sure.
    Thanks for sharing.
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Very nice.
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    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Congratulations Robb! Nice job! That is one sweet sounding mandolin!

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Robb,if you've kept an eye on your previous threads,you'll know that i've been an admirer of your work (& woods) for a long while.You've built some of the most glorious (& hazardous - think Cocobolo) mandolins i've ever seen. Thanks for the Adam Steffey clip - if proof were needed that your mandolins sound as good as they look,we've got it - awesome !!!,
    Ivan
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Beautiful mandolin and beautiful pickin (so beautiful that I done stole a lick...)

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    Registered User Elkhorn1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Thanks to all for the very nice comments. I'm pretty excited to currently be building a Koa/Red Cedar mandolin for Adam; it should be a perfect fit for his style of playing! Man can he pull the tone out of a Koa mandolin!

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    Infrequently Smelt Gregory Tidwell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    That is really great. Take a look at Adam's left pinky. He uses it to great effect, but it looks like its set on a different plane than the rest of his fingers. Anyone know if he broke it at any point or anything like that? Just wondering.
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Robb, that is a great clip. If the one he is playing is Red Cedar and Koa and is for sale, how is the one you are building for him going to be different? Will it have a different finish and or bindings? Are you going to tweak the tone a bit to suit his playing?
    Charley

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    Registered User josh a's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Charley,

    The one he is playing in the video is currently for sale at Carters, I was in the shop today

  14. #13
    Registered User Elkhorn1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Hey Charles, The mandolin I'm building for Adam will differ only slightly at his request. I carved the soundboard just a hair thinner at the crown and there will be other subtle changes. He basically really liked the mandolin as is but wanted a couple of different things. Neck shape, string spacing, no pick guard, silver hardware, just a few minor adjustments. The Koa/Cedar mandolin at Carter's is really a sweet instrument! I actually just strung up the new one going to Adam this morning; it's strong!! I'll post a few pictures of it in the white here in a day or so.

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    Registered User Trey Young's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    Hey Robb,
    That's a great sounding clip of Adam playing the Koa/Cedar! Which number is that one? Congrats on the build for him too! That must be a lot of fun to have someone like Adam Steffey ask you to build him a mandolin! Can't wait to see pictures and sound clips of it!

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    Default Re: Adam Steffey test driving an Elkhorn Koa/Cedar F-5

    regarding Adam's left little finger.... don't know if he ever had a problem with it, ref the question, but this shows what you can do without using one !! He shifts up and down, to avoid using that finger almost religiously ....

    For us poor folks working our butts off trying to get that finger into play, it's a great reminder, form the likes of Adam, and some of the greats like Django, that you don't need all those fingers after all.
    John D

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