Re: Gilchrist Mandolins, is there a best year?
Hey Bren and John, Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA has a wonderful 1987 Fern for sale. I went by last Tuesday and spent 45 minutes in a back room playing it and it is wonderful. The E & A 's ring out, singing, and the D & G have a very focused powerful sound. It is reminiscent of Loar's I have played, that bluegrass tone. It has been played a lot and is very open sounding. It is from an estate sale and priced very well at $16,250.
BTW, My 1993 Gilchrist A3 is X braced with an engelmann top and sugar maple S & B. It is warmer and a touch darker sounding than the Fern. It is very powerful and just gets louder the harder I play it. It has sustain for as long as you want. Also, in the years I have owned and played it the tone and volume have improved continually.
Billy Packard
Gilchrist A3, 1993
Weber Fern, 2007
Stiver Fern, 1990
Gibson 1923 A2
Gibson 1921 H1 Mandola
Numerous wonderful guitars
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