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Thread: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

  1. #1
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    Default Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I'm sure this has been asked over and over again, but I couldn't find this topic.
    Who in bluegrass, or old time music, uses an A style mandolin?

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    Registered User Ken Olmstead's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Joe Walsh from the Gibson Brothers plays a Gilchrist A.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/tenorbanjoguy

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  4. #3
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    We have done this list before. Maybe Mike the expert searcher can come up with it. Tim O'Brien is one of the more high profile A-style players. There also Jody Stecher and Carl Jones, Curtis Buckhannon, Norman Blake. Lots more in old time music.

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    Registered User SincereCorgi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    A little-known mandolinist named Aaron Stefley or something...

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Pretty broad question. In addition to their F, most of the bluegrassers I know have and play, (on occasion) an A mandolin. In oldtime most of the people I know have and prefer an A oval hole and some have F ovals as well and F hole models for bluegrassin. Don't sweat the small stuff play and enjoy and buy what YOU can afford and like. Don't matter what I or anyone else thinks.
    Last edited by Jean Fugal; Feb-05-2014 at 12:02am. Reason: correct spelling
    Jean

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Me, and some other guy, oh what's his name - Tim O'Brien.

    I thought every mandolin in old time was an A. Except for the Fs.

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  11. #7
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    First time I saw Sam Bush in Colorado he was playing an a model. That would have been 1973.

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  12. #8

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Red Rector was a A style player.

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    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I do. Like Joe Walsh in the above video and Kym Warner from the Greencards I opted for a Gilchrist A model, and saved enough money to buy an F model from most major manufacturers.

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    One of the best sounding mandolins I have heard on a video. Wondered what it was, thanks.

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I can't seem to locate many videos of these players using their A's

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    mandolin slinger Steve Ostrander's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    First time I saw Sam Bush in Colorado he was playing an a model. That would have been 1973.
    Sam was playing an A when he was with the Nash Ramblers backing up Emmylou in the early nineties.
    Living’ in the Mitten

  17. #13

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?


    You can compare A's and F's on this one

  18. #14

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I noodled through Big Sciota on an oval hole flatback A the other day... The Bluegrass Police only gave me a $437 fine; usually they just drag you out into the desert and peck at your face with their pointy F-style headstocks like ornately-carved buzzards.

    --Tom

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    Registered User Mike Sutterfield's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I'm considering an Ellis A or a kimble A. I've played both of these. The Ellis is fab and sounds a lot like an F. The Kimble is LOUD and less balanced but woofy and in your face. Loved both! A great value really. They sound better than a LOT of F's.

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  21. #16
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Every picture I've ever seen of Buzz Busby he was playing a Gibson A with f holes. He was hardcore bluegrass!

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    And ol Buzz would speed up his heart to get the fast tremble he did.

    Loads of pickers down through the ages have played the bluegrass on A styles.

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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Norman Blake
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  26. #19

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Foss View Post
    Every picture I've ever seen of Buzz Busby he was playing a Gibson A with f holes. He was hardcore bluegrass!
    Couldn't get more hardcore!

  27. #20

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Coletti View Post
    I noodled through Big Sciota on an oval hole flatback A the other day... The Bluegrass Police only gave me a $437 fine; usually they just drag you out into the desert and peck at your face with their pointy F-style headstocks like ornately-carved buzzards.

    --Tom
    Why is that? Sciota is not even a bluegrass tune, it's an old time fiddle tune.

  28. #21

    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Quote Originally Posted by Trampsinger View Post
    I'm considering an Ellis A or a kimble A. I've played both of these. The Ellis is fab and sounds a lot like an F. The Kimble is LOUD and less balanced but woofy and in your face. Loved both! A great value really. They sound better than a LOT of F's.
    I've got a Duff A5 coming in soon, all of his mandos sound great.

  29. #22
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Bunting View Post
    I've got a Duff A5 coming in soon, all of his mandos sound great.
    lucky dog........

  30. #23
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    I do not own any Fs but not for trying.

    I mostly play old time and usually play the Brentrup A4C (oval hole) or my 83 Flatiron A5-2 (f holes and more bluegrassy sound).
    Jim

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  31. #24
    Registered User pefjr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    You mean a real A model?
    I have the world in a jug, and the stopper in my hand.

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  33. #25
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    Default Re: Who plays an A style in bluegrass or even old time music?

    Quote Originally Posted by Trampsinger View Post
    I'm considering an Ellis A or a kimble A. I've played both of these. The Ellis is fab and sounds a lot like an F. The Kimble is LOUD and less balanced but woofy and in your face. Loved both! A great value really. They sound better than a LOT of F's.
    I wonder why you felt it necessary to include that last sentence. I read a certain amount of comments/complaints on these boards about people looking down, especially in bluegrass, on those who play A models. But I haven't experienced that and I played a Givens A, mostly in bluegrass circles, for over twenty years. Now that I play an F model, nothing has changed.

    What I am seeing though is some defensiveness on the part of A style players, like they have to justify their choice. That's how the last sentence reads to me. The satirical comment about the bluegrass police is in the same vein. It doesn't make any sense to me to pit one body shape against another and treat the topic like there are opposing camps. Or bluegrass "police". Nothing like that exists, except in some people's minds.

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