MAS with a purpose

[BJ O'Day]

I travel to visit my daughter 3 or 4 times a year. (Wisconsin to New Hampshire). I haven't brought my mandolin because I'm afraid of damaging it. I need to practice every day or my playing quality really drops off.

Well this week I was looking through CL and found an entry level instrument for sale locally. $100 with a hard case. Montana A-style with F holes. Arch top and back, plywood. No wear or tear, no cracks or obvious repairs. I bought it today. Tuned it up, repaired some minor damage to the case. Ready to carry-on this weekend.

It doesn't sound as nice as my Morris flat-top. But it isn't too bad to my "novice" ear. Plus I think I'll have a little more courage to experiment with adjusting string height, or maybe fine tuning the nut.

So maybe a little bit of MAS, but with a purpose. (At least that's how I explained it to my wife).

BJ

[DataNick]

Congrats and good luck with it!

[MysTiK PiKn]

The comforting thing about fine tuning a nut = blanks are cheap and available. The other comforting thing = cheap jeweller's files are also cheap and available. See Paul Hostetter's site for details.

http://www.lutherie.net/index.html

(and don't read my sig)

[fatt-dad]

I used to travel with my, "Montana." It was great, but. . . The neck warped from beach abuse. It did fine in the duffle bag (checked baggage, no case, clothes for padding). Something about the ultimate warped neck though. I also like traveling with my mandolin. I just take (often) my Flatiron 1N (pancake), but would not really mind carrying the Cohen or Gibson either, depending on what I'm doing at my destination. I mean for practicing in the hotel room, why not carry any of them?

f-d

[BJ O'Day]

Mystik, thanks for the link. Good reading and info on that site.

BJ

[Emmett Marshall]

So maybe a little bit of MAS, but with a purpose. (At least that's how I explained it to my wife).BJ

MAS has a purpose. I got one for SPECIAL occasions. I have another for slightly less special occasions. I have another for every day use. I have one just for melodies. I have another for taking into rough territory. I have two which are used for recording.

MAS is easily justifiable. You have a great wife too.