Wiens mandolins

[Demetrius]

Hi, I'm interested in some feedback from some Wiens mandolin owners.
I can't seem to find but a couple videos on YouTube, I'd also love to hear from
some owners that have really broken them in and explain how it withstood
the test of time. He really does do beautiful work, I really hope some owners
chime in here.

[CES]

Not an owner, but if you haven't done so would search for prior discussions. His business practices seem to have changed based on what I've seen online, but I'd still enter an order with some trepidation. Extremely talented luthier who's built some spectacular Loar copies. I know Dan B sings praise for his, which was featured in FB Journal. Hopefully some owners will chime in, and I truly hope he has righted his ship, so to speak!

[DataNick]

Here ya go...happy reading and hope you find what you're looking for!

Wiens mandolins mandolincafe.com

[Demetrius]

I'm completely aware of all the things that took place on here regarding his business practice.
I have no experience with Jamie, and I'm not gonna judge him.
All I know is from what I've seen, he puts a lot of work into those
mandolins.
I literally just want know what some of owners think
of their Wiens mandolins.

[Scot Thayer]

I own #30 from December, 2010 which I bought from Jamie after Tom Rozum traded it in on a newer one. It's a very nice mandolin, loud, clear, powerful, great note separation and tons of fun to play. Great fit and finish as one would expect. The transaction went smoothly, no problemo. No regrets on this one and no plans to sell anytime soon.

[danb]

I think mine sounds great.

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/sound...ing_around.mp3

[JFDilmando]

I have two of Jamie's instruments. An F5, and a recently completed Piccolo, F5... They both are incredible instruments. I have played the F5 with Loars, Gilchrists, and Monteleones that I have owned, and it is a comparable instrument to all of them.... and a better fit and finish than any of them.

His work just gets better and better, and the sound from the F5 has improved over the last several years, although that is quite subjective. From day one, it sounded great, with great power, and sustain. Jamie has been great to deal with from my perspective, and whatever issues existed in the past, seem to have been just that.... issues of the past. He tried to bend over backwards for me with the delivery of the Piccolo, and really went the extra mile in what he was willing to do to get it into my hands, personally, from his hands....

In jam situations, there is often, the "what IS that mando ?" "it is Killer", "can you play a bit softer, you are drowning out the banjo"
Can't speak more highly of his new, OR his older instruments, other than, they get better with age, and generally, with serial number....

[Ivan Kelsall]

There was a superb example of Jamie's work for sale in the Classified ads. a few weeks ago,being offered at an almost give away price. It did have the Gibson logo on the headstock. It's no longer there so it's either sold or it was removed from sale.
Jamie's business has had it's ups & downs,but i think most folk would regard him as a great builder of terrific mandolin regardless of his past troubles. If i had the cash,i'd definitely investigate his work & his current output,his mandolins are very beautiful.
This one would stop me dead in my tracks,
Ivan

[Billy Packard]

I made a trip over the hill to Gryphon Stringed Instruments a while ago to check out Wiens "Bench Copy". This mandolin was made to look exactly like a particular Loar including a slightly askew 'G' in the head-stock. The way he was able to recreate the look of the original from finish to wood grain was very cool. The label inside looked just like Loar's signature. Wear patterns, color, it was a beautiful mando. It had a very bright voice, lots of treble. Subsequently I communicated with Jamie and found him to be good guy. I would love to play others.

[CES]

Very glad to hear that he's correcting some of the prior issues, and he's truly one of the most talented luthiers building right now. Dan, yours is phenomenal!

[Demetrius]

I'd love to see some videos and photos taken by the owners of these fine instruments...

[JFDilmando]

You can check out pics of many of his mandolins in the mandozine archive site. He has a listing along with Gilchrist there. Many of the photos Jamie took himself and he is as talented with a camera as he is with a chisel.

[josh a]

Thought I would chime in. I own Wiens #41, purchased from Jamie after he advertised it on his website a few months back. It is an absolutely incredible instrument all around. Fit & finish, tone, & playability are all absolutely stellar. #41 incorporates some features from a '22 Loar he was able to study. I have been extremely fortunate to spend time with several Loars, and Jamie really has it dialed in. Working with Jamie was fantastic as well.

Photos are from Jamie's website

[Cornelius Morris]

I commissioned and own Wiens #35. Since I can't improve on Jamie's own photos in Dan's Mandolin Archive, I'll just add the link:

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/wiens/serial/35

My experience with Jamie was excellent from the beginning, and I continue to hear from him three years after delivery. As others have testified, the details of design, fit, and finish are amazing, and the sound is what I wanted. Very responsive; it was set up perfectly when he sent it. It's my last mandolin. Highly recommended.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Cornelius - i just nearly dropped dead with envy ('not' jealousy). That is one incredibly beautiful mandolin. IMHO,Jamie has built some of the most beautiful looking mandolins that i've ever seen,& most likely ever will see. The depth of colour he gets on the bodies is incredible to say the least - having looked at the photos of yours,i really am lost for words.

OK - having praised it to the skies - can i borrow it,but only for a few years ?. ('in your dreams' i hear you say),
Ivan

[Cornelius Morris]

Ivan,

Jamie's photos in the Archive induce that kind of reaction, but my favorite one of the back--which gets the color closest to what I see in front of me--is one he sent me when he had stained and sealed it:

The figure in the spruce and maple is really something, even with my limited camera skills:


As for you borrowing it for a few years--can I get back to you on that?

[Jeff Mando]

Beautiful craftsmanship. I went to the Wiens website. It is worth seeing, if you haven't done so already.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Jeff Mando - "It is worth seeing, if you haven't done so already." It's not for those who suffer from severe MAS !. It was when i got around to thinking of Bank heists that i realised i had to stop looking !!!!!.

Josh - I'll apply a similar coating of praise for your Weins as well. A truly wonderful looking mandolin.

From Cornelius - "...can I get back to you on that ?" . When would that be exactly ?,
Ivan

[William Smith]

I've been in contact with Jamie to see if he'll build me a Wiens to my liking "well whats not to like right" I don't like the bigish V-neck or flatboard, I like a real small rounded neck radius board.He wants me to get some measurements of what I like and send to him. Just waiting on a few factors. I do think his attention to detail is the best! I do not mind waiting as long as it takes, I remember a few years ago on here that he was getting slammed by people because his builds took too long. Impatience is not good....

[JFDilmando]

I have had nothing but great interactions with Jamie during the last several years. As I have said earlier, I have two of his creations, an "F5", and a Piccolo.... both are simply among the best you can find... for craftmanship, and voice. Bluegrasser78, you can't go wrong from my experience.

[Matt]

Hi All, I recently acquired Wiens #9. As expected the instrument is wonderful. But the real pleasure was interacting with Kevin Douglas, the proprietor of the Mandomutt Webstore. It doesn't matter what I purchased, it was the transaction that made it special, Thank you, Kevin!

[pheffernan]

Hi All, I recently acquired Wiens #9. As expected the instrument is wonderful. But the real pleasure was interacting with Kevin Douglas, the proprietor of the Mandomutt Webstore. It doesn't matter what I purchased, it was the transaction that made it special, Thank you, Kevin!

And thank you for removing temptation from my sight, Matt. I feel like I've been eyeballing that mandolin since January, wondering if the price would drop. Now would anyone like to help with this beauty at Carter's?
https://cartervintage.com/products/w...nt=31394812739

[Cornelius Morris]

I wonder why Carter Vintage lists this as 2012. It looks to me to be Wiens #37 (2013) as listed by Dan B. in the Mandolin Archive:http://www.mandolinarchive.com/wiens/serial/37

I own #35, one of only two Wiens mandolins from 2012 as listed in the archive, both of which have fern headstocks. Of the three 2013 mandolins, all with flowerpots, the pearl in the Carter example seems to match #37, although it's at a different angle from Dan's photos.

[pheffernan]

I also believe it to be #37, formerly of Tom Rozum, which Jamie sold roughly a year ago: http://wiensmandolins.com/currently-...e-wiens-f5-37/

[Austin Bob]

There is no question that Jamie makes some drop dead gorgeous mandolins. His workmanship is impeccable.