Dave Apollon Photos

[Dawg]

Just to get the ball rolling (as suggested in the Lloyd Loar Pics thread) here are some images from my Dave Apollon archives, including a very early photo of Dave with a Lyon & Healy Style B mandolin, autographed to "Woodrow" (Woody Herman).

Bill Monroe was also an admirer of Dave's and when I asked Jethro Burns who he thought was the greatest mandolin player, he said without hesitation, "Dave Apollon". Apollon was without peer and his music still moves me in a way that no other player has. Enjoy!

[DataNick]

Thanks for the pics Sir!

I also heard that when someone asked Dave Apollon about Bill Monroe's music, that he reportedly answered favorably...

[DataNick]

Anybody know what kind of mando he'holding in the last pic?

The inlay looks like an F12, but it has a "florida" extension, color looks blond too.

[Charles E.]

Hope it's ok to post a short film clip.........

[AlanN]

Anybody know what kind of mando he'holding in the last pic?

The inlay looks like an F12, but it has a "florida" extension, color looks blond too.

Photo tag, lower right:

DAVE APOLLON with F12N.jpg

[DavidKOS]

IS that a metal bridge saddle in the picture with the piano? I bet that was bright enough to be heard clearly!

[Charles E.]

I think that Gibson, for a very short time, made mandolin bridges with aluminium saddles.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

I think that Gibson, for a very short time, made mandolin bridges with aluminium saddles.

That must have been in 1921, though on a limited basis. Apollon favored the aluminum saddle and even had it installed on his Loar F5.

[Timbofood]

"Strap!? I don't need no stinkin' strap!"

[Ken Waltham]

That must have been in 1921, though on a limited basis. Apollon favored the aluminum saddle and even had it installed on his Loar F5.

I think the aluminum saddle went on most of his mandolins. For sure in the early days. Look at the Loar, the 30's Fern, the 30's flowerpot, it's on all of them. He was known for that. So.. it begs the question.. where did his tone come from? LOL. He always sounds great, even with a metal saddle!

[Ken Waltham]

Hope it's ok to post a short film clip.........

I never get tired of this clip. To me, this is wonderful playing, and style, really what the F5 was designed for. None of the "mindless blues licks" that I hear player after player emulating today. Notice him going for that high A note on the end. The one that he's had the fret pulled to give him space to make the note. Another Apollon attribute.

[Jim Garber]

Here is my contribution to the Apollon gallery. "Hot from Petrograd".

[Benjamin T]

Yesss!!!

[MikeEdgerton]

A quick search brings up these images.

[Timbofood]

I love the Gibson ad!
This is going to be a fun thread!

[Mandolin Cafe]

Here's a picture that was recently shared on another thread by woodwizard. I sent this to David and he said he'd never seen this picture. Wonder if anyone out here knows the whereabouts of this blond Gibson?

EDIT: found a source of this image on the web and no idea if the information is correct, but the translation from Spanish to English reads as follows:

The outstanding mandolin Dave Apollon was the star for several decades in the famous Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. Apollon was one of those invited to participate in the 1970 Convention of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America Rico held in Puerto Rico artists. In the photo , while participating in the Dominican Convent.

[Benjamin T]

While not a photo, it does show virtuosi doing their thing!

[Larry Howe]

Apollon is also name-checked in Saul Bellow's _The Adventures of Augie March_. Don't have the book at hand, but I recall that while Augie's wandering downtown Chicago, it's mentioned that the great mandolinist is performing at the Chicago Theater.

[Mandolin Cafe]

evanreilly, not seen around here in about a year posted a couple of nice images that are known that appear in this thread:

[MikeEdgerton]

Here's a picture that was recently shared on another thread by woodwizard. I sent this to David and he said he'd never seen this picture. Wonder if anyone out here knows the whereabouts of this blond Gibson?

EDIT: found a source of this image on the web and no idea if the information is correct, but the translation from Spanish to English reads as follows:

The outstanding mandolin Dave Apollon was the star for several decades in the famous Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. Apollon was one of those invited to participate in the 1970 Convention of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America Rico held in Puerto Rico artists. In the photo , while participating in the Dominican Convent.

I saw that in the web search and wasn't sure it was him. I should have read the page

[Timbofood]

I told you this was going to be fun!
I love the duet!

[Denny Gies]

How in the he%$ does he play that fast? What a right hand.

[Dawg]

OK, here's what I know about the blonde F-12 (prompted by our fearless leader, Sir Scott). About 5 years ago, I had the opportunity to obtain a 1954 blonde Gibson F-12 (the label says F-12; F-12N is my designation) with a custom F-5 fingerboard, remarkably similar to the one Dave plays in these photos. So of course, I searched for clues of Dave Apollon. There was writing on the label, but it said BLK or RLK.... I looked in the case pockets and under the pickguard — even under the truss rod cover but all for nought. So I took a few pictures. I noticed in the black & white shot of Dave that the 27th fret was removed from the fingerboard (as he often did to facilitate making that note), but not on this instrument. But upon careful examination I saw that that particular fret was set in a bit differently. Maybe that fret was replaced? Or not. Kind of a stretch. So I'm resigned to thinking that maybe this was Dave's and maybe it wasn't, but then when I went to put this baby back in it's brown and pink case I saw IT (a faint imprint of some previously removed initials) and got that good old lovin' feeling!

After awhile I had my good friend and master luthier Chris Berkov remove the "Apollon" fret. I've attached the images that relate to all of this. So here's another mando mystery that probably has been solved, but possibly not. I did play it on at least one gig and it is a good sounding instrument with clarity and sweetness. In any case, I've never seen or heard of another like it. Perhaps you have!

[UlsterMando]

Dawg appears to be a bit of a "sleuth hound".

[Beanzy]

If you count the grain lines from the top of the curve to the f hole there are 9 in both the b/ w and Dawgs colour photo. So it looks like a definite for the mandolin as well as the case.