What Would Cause Us to Sucumb to MAS again?

[allenhopkins]

Impulse, sometimes, if the instrument's accessible and affordable. Last mandolin I purchased was last year, when I walked into Stutzman's here in Rochester and saw a nice Strad-O-Lin, better than the one I'd been playing for nearly 20 years, for less than $300. Missing pickguard, but otherwise in good shape. So I traded in the Strad I had (got only $100 for it, but I'd paid $25 for it years ago), kept the case, and got what was a slightly better instrument for $200 and change, figuring in sales tax.

I sorta have reached the point where a major mandolin purchase is unlikely. I've filled in some gaps that I had (bowl-back mandocello, Gibson tenor lute), and I had a local luthier build me a custom five-course, fan-fret -- I'd never commissioned an instrument for myself, and figured, when I passed 70, that it was getting to be "now or never."

Sure, if a Lloyd Loar or a fern F-5 fell out of a tree in front of me, and it were in a price range I could actually afford, I'd be tempted. But that won't happen; I'm never going six figures for an instrument, regardless. Not even five. I'm acquisitive, but not totally irresponsible -- at least I hope so.

Still, I did grab that Weber soprano mandolin at Bernunzio's last year, just because it was so nicely made, and I'd never seen one before. Basically, the mandolin that attracts me has to be something other than just a better F-5; needs to be unusual-to-unique, and not redundant with something in my current arsenal.

[terzinator]

The right Gibby snakehead (at the right price) would be cool; very different than what I have currently.

The only other thing I currently lust after is a higher-end (and guitar-bodied) Octave Mandolin. My Weber Gallatin is cool, but I've heard some reaaaaaally nice ones. (Steve Sorensen. Fletcher Brock. Austin Clark.)

[Mike Scott]

again??? Who said it ever goes away?

[multidon]

I am on a semi quest right now, as a result of an earlier discussion, for a minty late 70s, 80's, or even 90's Martin Style A with its original case. They are probably rare birds, but they do exist according to Martin. They list 1994 as the last year of mandolin production. But other than that...oh yes, I would be tempted by the right Weber Sage 2 short scale octave mandolin, in the right condition at the right price. Other than that, nothing.

I am very picky about condition. I baby my instruments and I like excellent or better condition. I also like a bargain price. Unfortunately those two things rarely coincide. But they have enough times to keep me happy!

[dwc]

My Ellis A5 is a pretty good MAS killer, but I would like to own a Nugget A5 or a Gilchrist A5.

[Scot63]

This unique Gilchrist at reverb.com looks mighty interesting—and I would still have half left (no financial interest—just thought its lines were nice!)!

https://reverb.com/item/500824-gilch...aid=criteo-ads

[Jeff Mando]

I've had pretty much everything I've needed for many, many years -- but, like Allen mentions, price could get me interested in something I could easily pass on at normal retail.

[Upis Land]

Hmm, maybe one of these........ would.........did...?

[Nick Gellie]

I suffer from flashy flame syndrome. I play a 2004 Collings MT which is a perfectly fine but modest looking instrument. Its showing some wear and tear from 12 years of daily play. It has a satin finish with tortoise shell single binding, so it's not a fancy looking instrument. I have purchased a number of instruments with much more impressive pedigrees and materials, only to come back to the reliable and full sound of the MT. Between the fact that it is well broken in, and it has a Engelmann top, it's rare that I find an instrument I like better. (Though I did get to play John Reischman's Loar, and that sounded pretty good!)



So I have two instruments on the classifieds now - a Kimble and a MT2V.

I would say this - I have heard a few Nuggets out there, and every time I do, they make my ears perk up. But haven't played one since I took a lesson with Tom Corbett about 12 years ago...

I am in the same camp as you Bruce. I have come back to a Collings MT. I just love the mid-rangy tone it has and its playability is top notch.

[Dave Hanson]

I'm getting seriously tempted by a used Givens A5 at TAMCO in Brighton.

Dave H

[Phil Goodson]

Gil, Nugget, or Heiden are the only temptations at the moment.

[billkilpatrick]

time ... loot ... and a bigger closet.

[LadysSolo]

I am feeling the beginning of MAS again - there is a 12-string bowlback on ebay at this time, and I have wanted a 12-string bowlback. Someone buy it and help me resist! (Okay, the price is also more than I want to spend, but tempting...)

[varmonter]

I have a rigel i have been playing for about 20 years..I currently am suffering from this MAS malady.
I will have to settle for a 5-5.5k instrument...I have played some northfields and some collings Down in mass.
But no one sells higher priced mandolins up in northern VT.I suppose i could beg pete to make me another rigel..
But his life is busy with life right now .So I would love to play a nice used fern f5 or perhaps something similar
if i could find one...given the money and the guts to spend it i suppose a loar from the 20's would be nice..
But i will quench this thirst eventually...I enjoy the process more than the acquisition...is that sick?? If so than i am afflicted

[Russ Donahue]

A Campanella F becomes available....

[ollaimh]

depends on price and availability, bt since you asked the best sounding round or oval sound hole mandolin i have played was a two point body apirius. i play celtic so i like the round or oval sound hole. i love late teens and early twenties gibson round sound hole mandos. they have a rich woody tone and great projection and volume, so a pristine one would be nice. i have two snakeheads so i am not hurting, but one is refinished and the other has had a bad top crack, which is now repaired and holding fine, so both are great players but neither a collectors instrument. but if i had ten or twenty grand to spare i would be shopping fora high end cittern or octave mando or a high end round sound hole mandolin, just for fun.

[KevinM]

I'm with Ivan above. An Ellis F5, but I could also easily be seduced by a Kimble F5.

[JeffD]

I think one myth we need to expose as totally false is that wanting another mandolin has anything at all to do with our dissatisfaction with what we currently own and play. Sometimes it may correlate, but not necessarily, and frankly I think more often than not its the experience of a new mandolin within reach that causes the dissatisfaction.

I had all the mandolin I could ever need 8 mandolins ago, and I bought the last mandolin I will ever want four times now.

[Bad Monkey]

the '28 F4 I played for a while over at Dusty Strings on my way home from work yesterday. I swore that I was just picking up a couple sets of strings to make sure I'm safe this weekend in case my online order doesn't make it into the mailbox but made the mistake of trying the F4 that had just come in on consignment. I had to put it down and go play a couple arch top guitars so that I didn't think about it anymore. If it was 4k or less, it would have come home...