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Thread: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

  1. #1

    Default Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    It is funny how things work out. I had made up my mind to buy a new Collings MT today, when a Silverangel appeared in the classifieds this morning. I have always loved the tone of those redwood tops.

    So all you Silverangel owners, feed my waiting angst with pictures, tales of joy, and anything else you can think of. I bought a A style. Stoked does not begin to describe my feeling right now.

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
    It is funny how things work out. I had made up my mind to buy a new Collings MT today, when a Silverangel appeared in the classifieds this morning. I have always loved the tone of those redwood tops.

    So all you Silverangel owners, feed my waiting angst with pictures, tales of joy, and anything else you can think of. I bought a A style. Stoked does not begin to describe my feeling right now.
    I'm still loving my A-style "Econo" from '09. I got to play 2 MTs and an MF-5 a couple of weeks ago, and my SA is certainly in the MT class in tone and playability (though a bit bassier as Ken's mandos typically are). The Collings fit/finish is top notch, and you can tell that the SA is hand made, but it's still well put together. The MF-5 was in another league, but was also priced close to 8 grand, so there's that .

    I think these are some of the best "bang for your buck" mandos out there, particularly in the 900-2000 dollar range, and Ken's work has only gotten cleaner over the years. Also, he seems to have really figured out the redwood tops, so I'd expect yours to be a step up from mine (which is spruce/maple). Congratulations!
    Chuck

  4. #3

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    I really like the rustic aesthetic. Not too keen on the new and shiny. I think the Silverangel fits my personality.

  5. #4

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    I had a Collings MF....crafted with the utmost Collings precision and beautiful to look at, but the tone was very one-dimensional.. It did nothing for me...

    So.... I sold it and bought a Redwood Silverangel with one of Ken's paintings on the back... It's highly distressed...total opposite of the Collings. But I've had MANY people tell me it's the best sounding mandolin they've ever heard.

    I think you made the right choice!
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  6. #5
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Here's mine. It's one of the new Econo A's with redwood top

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This pic is with my Summit, which is also an excellent mandolin!
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  7. #6
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    MAS periodically flares, and I begin to search for my next mando, but, truly, this mando has what I need. To trade or sell it would require me to be moving to another tier of mando-dom, which, honestly, my playing doesn't justify. I refuse to part with it unless I feel I'm truly upgrading, and I haven't found "that one" for < 4 grand yet. I played everything I could get my hands on in Gruhn's, Carter's, and Artisan Guitars a couple of summers ago, and there were mandos there that were better than mine, but they were all much, much more expensive. Whenever I have such an experience, so far, it's reinforced how good my SA is and quelled MAS for a while.

    And, don't get me wrong. While Collings' clean work and finishes are well known, and mine isn't quite that clean, it's very nicely built. It isn't one of Ken's distressed models, and it has a very nice 1 piece maple back on it. I didn't mean that comment above as a knock at all. It's just obviously hand made rather than CNC'd visual perfection.
    Chuck

  8. #7

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Stevo - that's a really nice looking Silverangel!

  9. #8
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Sure is! She's a beaut! It's a distressed model but the distressing seems to be minimal on this one...

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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Stevo75 View Post
    Sure is! She's a beaut! It's a distressed model but the distressing seems to be minimal on this one...
    I should probably say "mild" not "minimal"

  11. #10

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Do all the Econo A models have speed necks, or does it vary with the instrument? Or the degree of relicing.

  12. #11
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    When I visited Ken at the end of June, this year, I think Econo A #5, of the current group was ready for shipping. It was a beauty and felt great in my hands. Fit, finish were just right. I loved the distressing on that one, and hope mine looks close to it. Love the sound that came out of that one, especially on the bass end. I love a bass end that has a strong, solid, ringing tone to it.
    The balance across the strings was so tight. I went from Kentucky to Nashville. Played a lot of mandolins in Music City. Only one I played sounded better than that Econo A. Whoever got it, has a beast.
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    I have #5

    Did it look like the one above? It's possible you could have played #4. Either way mine plays and sounds great!

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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    I think he's doing all of them with speed necks but you could probably request a custom neck. Although I don't think he's making any more Econo A's other than the ones he has still lined up.

    These are a varnish finish so it's not like a speed neck on a lacquer finish where it looks like a stark transition from wood to finish. On these it just seems normal. You don't feel any transition at all. I think you'd probably want a speed neck with varnish finish as varnish can feel sort of sticky at times.

  15. #14
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    here's my Feb 2014 distressed F #341 I changed the Golden Age to German made Rubners-mega difference. Also put it in a Hiscox case. Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by edandjudy3946; Aug-09-2016 at 6:33am.
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    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Stevo75 View Post
    I have #5

    Did it look like the one above? It's possible you could have played #4. Either way mine plays and sounds great!
    Must have been #4. Would have shipped late June early July. I thought it was more like this.
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Yep, must have been #4. Mine went out the week of July 20 or so.

    I'm curious how similar this recent batch of Silverangel A's compare to each other. I asked Ken about it and he said that every mandolin is different (which is to be expected) but that they all have a fairly similar sound. Still, it would be fun to line them all up and play each.

  18. #17
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Stevo75 View Post
    Yep, must have been #4. Mine went out the week of July 20 or so.

    I'm curious how similar this recent batch of Silverangel A's compare to each other. I asked Ken about it and he said that every mandolin is different (which is to be expected) but that they all have a fairly similar sound. Still, it would be fun to line them all up and play each.
    I know I was very impressed with the Econo A that I played. (#4). It was easily the best sounding mandolin I have owned or played until the Weber River F I just purchased, which just blows me away every time I play it. Either it sounds better, I sound better or some combination of both of those. . But then consider the price difference, 7.2 K to 1.4K and the River should very well sound better.
    Ken is such a nice guy. He let me pick out the back pieces, the tailpiece and the tuners, because I was there at his place.
    Him and his wife Laura are such gracious hosts. (Ken says she is great at the finish work. They work on these together.)
    They gave us a grand tour of their home, the art studio, the mandolin shop. Took us to lunch and saw us off to 1-65 West as we continued on our way. My wife got a bunch of photos we will always recall fondly.
    He just put the neck on #7 he tells me and I'm looking for mine (#11) end of Autumn.
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  19. #18

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    I'll have mine before noon tomorrow.

  20. #19
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Congratulations, Br1ck! I have heard good things about those mandolins and they certainly are attractively ornamental if not very authentic! Enjoy.
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  21. #20

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Received my Silverangel this morning. Here are my first impressions.

    You can not tell from pictures what a master of aging Ken is. I mean, the binding is yellowed and matches my 45 year old guitars. He must crack the binding before he glues it in. End of binding doesn't quite butt up, just like real shrinkage. The finish looks like an old Gibson. I especially like the finish shrinking into the grain in spots, and the neck looks like honest wear to the wood. If you only like perfect scratch and flaw free instruments, the Silverangel is not for you.

    I got an immediate bump up in tone from my Eastman 505. The bass fron the G string is amazing, but the E string is just as present. Warm and woody, it is a seductive and pleasant tone. Dig in and the mandolin just keeps on giving volume. Playability is also there in spades.

    If you get the aesthetic and darkish tonal signature, you'll like these.

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  23. #21
    Registered User chipotle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Thanks for the great review, I got lucky and got on the list, I think I may have the last one he's making. Staying patient . Steve, I love the finish on yours, thanks for posting the pic!

  24. #22

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    One more observation, my SA came with D'Addario ss strings, bought by mistake by previous owner. I see where they are the brightest strings, but they seem to me to be perfect on this mandolin. My tone-guard bottoms out on the back before the pads touch the sides due to very prounounced arching of the carve of the back. In contact with tone-guard to see about thicker pads.

    Otherwise I'm thrilled with this mandolin. I adapted to the neck easily, and I see why bigger frets are so popular. Man, it's nice the G string doesn't disappear when chording. Interesting that bridge makes full contact all the way across. Design concession to redwood cross braced top? Mine is #338.

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  26. #23
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
    Received my Silverangel this morning. Here are my first impressions.

    You can not tell from pictures what a master of aging Ken is. I mean, the binding is yellowed and matches my 45 year old guitars. He must crack the binding before he glues it in. End of binding doesn't quite butt up, just like real shrinkage. The finish looks like an old Gibson. I especially like the finish shrinking into the grain in spots, and the neck looks like honest wear to the wood. If you only like perfect scratch and flaw free instruments, the Silverangel is not for you.

    I got an immediate bump up in tone from my Eastman 505. The bass fron the G string is amazing, but the E string is just as present. Warm and woody, it is a seductive and pleasant tone. Dig in and the mandolin just keeps on giving volume. Playability is also there in spades.

    If you get the aesthetic and darkish tonal signature, you'll like these.
    Agree totally. His distressing work is superb. And, I'm continually amazed by the bass response he gets in these instruments!
    Chuck

  27. #24
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    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Quote Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
    One more observation, my SA came with D'Addario ss strings, bought by mistake by previous owner. I see where they are the brightest strings, but they seem to me to be perfect on this mandolin.
    I think that 80/20 strings are generally considered to be the brightest. I'm pretty sure that Ken Ratcliff installs D'Addario EJ75's from the bench.
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  28. #25

    Default Re: Yahoo! Silverangel incoming

    Note on the tone guard. Not the most elegant solution, but I bent it a bit with my hands in three places on the main cross bar and in the middle of the crescent bar. Clears the back now with all the perimeter pads touching the mandolin back.

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