Dream, Dream, Dream...so what's your list?

[DataNick]

Financially all I can do these days is dream, but we as mandolin maniacs, like Santa we're all keeping a list, right?

Here's mine in order of acquisition precedence:

1. Gibson 2004 F5G Custom: a friend is holding it for me, has a red spruce top, the SB block inlays and chopped off extension. I've played it twice extensively, and this mando has it, with plenty life left in it as it hasn't been played much.

2. Passernig F5

3. Paganoni F5

4. Ellis A5

Well there you have it, I'm interested in yours as well!

[Timbofood]

Mines pretty short,
A Halsey F-5
But, everyone here knows that and I'm sure there has been a whole mailbag of checks going to Bills in time for my birthday......

[noah finn]

Im in my A style/two point phase. If money and availability were not an issue my top 5 would be

1- Top of my list is this Campanella
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...he-classifieds

Beautiful.

2 Ellis A5

3 Gibson snakehead

4 Marty Jacobson nautilus

5 Silver angel A5

I reckon that mix would cover all sonic tastes. Of course ask me tomorrow....

[jhowell]

Still waiting on a KM-606. My playing ability is not likely to improve to the point that I should be messing with expensive mandolins, neither is my budget -- I'm an old guy and my fingers aren't likely to get more supple. I can relate the lust for top notch equipment a bit with golf, though. In my forties I played a little and got to thinking I ought to get a set of pga blades...well...I borrowed a set of said clubs, went to a driving range and wasn't humbled exactly...more like humiliated. To each his/her own...there are some incredible instruments being made today.

[foldedpath]

I'm in a financially limited dream state too these days. If anything, I'd be looking for a non-mando object like a keyed version of the "Irish flute" I've been working with. My S.O. also needs a better bow to match the quality of her fiddle, and that won't be cheap, so that probably comes ahead of anything else.

Back on topic though. If a financial windfall came in a form that required spending it on a mandolin-family instrument, it would be something like this (in order of increasing cost and un-likelihood):

1. National RM-1 mandolin. My Lebeda has a tone and volume that cuts through reasonably well in the local Irish/Scottish sessions, but I've been curious about whether an RM-1 might do better. The trouble is that I dislike the timbre of the RM-1's I've heard, even with flatwound strings. I just prefer the woodier tone of a traditional mandolin. But that's in isolation, and maybe it's different in a big session. The only way to know would be to try one. I just haven't gotten around to it, or had the spare cash for something that would basically be an experiment.

2. A Weber F-style mandocello, so my Weber Yellowstone F octave mandolin would have a big brother. I don't need a 'cello, and I doubt it would fit most of the music I'm playing now. But it would still be nice to... you know, have one. Even if it did spend most of its time hanging on the wall.

3. A Gilchrist F-style mandolin. I'm very happy with my current mandolin and stopped looking for any upgrades years ago. But a certain Gilchrist is the only other mandolin I've had my hands on for a minute or two of playing, where I thought... yeah, I'd trade for this.

[Astro]

Retirement.

[guidoStow]

My list is short: one of Jenny's Phoenix Jazz models. And a 5 bar Northfield Artist series. Pennies are being saved and practice hours logged to make such purchases worth while...

[Drew Streip]

1) This Gilchrist. It's the best mandolin I've ever played. I love the S-holes, the color, the neck, the provenance, and the SOUND! I'm lucky enough to have played pretty much the whole wall at CVG and it speaks to me every. dang. time.

2) Campanella. Any Campanella. The violin style is the classiest thing I've ever laid eyes on. I'm surprised more makers don't offer this.

3) At some point, a teens/'20s Gibson A. I want to own a piece of history. When I grow out of my rock-grass stage and need something more mellow, I know what I'm looking for.

[William Smith]

[QUOTE=Drew Streip;1561205]1) This Gilchrist. It's the best mandolin I've ever played. I love the S-holes, the color, the neck, the provenance, and the SOUND! I'm lucky enough to have played pretty much the whole wall at CVG and it speaks to me every. dang. time.

I have this Gils "Brother or Sister, if you prefer" They are great horns, but mine #82138 "I think" is on the fence, looking to swap or trade her or sell outright.

My dream list-----Another Paganoni, sold mine years ago
Prewar Gibson F-5
1935ish Gibson F-10 so I can complete my set.

[Br1ck]

Retirement.

Problem with retirement is that making a major purchase is like you are betting to die sooner than later. Let's see, I can buy this mandolin now and enjoy it for the rest of my life, or I could go broke when I'm eighty and have to live under the freeway in my travel trailer.

So I'm trying to sell guitars I don't need, and turntables and tube audio gear to get something like a used Northfield F 5s. I think I could be very happy with one of those as my F style. I only like to dream those dreams I have a prayer of making come true.

If I allow for delusion, most any of the likes of Ellis, Monteleone, Gilchrist, Heiden etc., will do nicely.

[red7flag]

I have a sterling collection way better than my playing warrants. While my Ellis is outstanding and more than covers my F5 needs. There is a Heiden I played at Carters (the new one) that just has IT. Is it worth the additional 6.5k. No, but my it is awesome.
My Hester F4 is the best F4 style (short neck) I have ever played. I actually prefer it to M.C.'s wonderful Gilchrist that I have had the pleasure to play, which while a short neck sounds more like a hybrid to my ear. No upgrade available to me.
I would love a Sobell mandolin. I played one once and have been yearning for one ever since.
Mandola. The one I have in hand the Girouard is unique in tone (dark, warm, and strong). I have a "Sobell" type being made my Lawerence Nyberg, but have not heard it yet. I think I am good, but there was a Brentrup H4 that was truly spectacular if I could find it.
OM I really love my Mowry, but were I able to I would buy that GOM that Sierra Hull played at Carters here in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dx5Ft1Pbvw
In the back of my mind would like a top builder to make me a 10 string fanned cittern. Just would love to play configuration and combine a mandolin and a mandola. Maybe having Steve Gilchrist make me one.

[jasona]

I dream of being able to play the mandolin well. *sigh* One day.

[mandroid]

I'm getting 5 new thermopane windows for my house,
I dream of being warmer for less methane gas burned, next winter.

then, there is the Dentist. need some work.



My 95 year old A mandolin gets a re fret.. soon.

[MediumMando5722]

My desires are boring. I want a CA bridge and a stainless steel refret with huge frets for my Eastman. I'd also like to steal back the no-name F my dad lent me at the beginning.

[CWRoyds]

My fantasy purchases go in this order.

Lloyd Loar F5
Dudenbostel F5
Ellis F5
Gilchrist F5

Northfield Artist 2 bar
Northfield Artist 5 bar
Northfield Big Mon
Gibson F5 Fern

1920s Lyon & Healy Style A (Because that scroll heastock and rounded pickguard are awesome)

[fatt-dad]

A Henderson A3 (on order - ha!)
A Hamlett A5 (I got close. . . could order one. . . great guy and knows what he's doing)
A Martin OM-28A (Really want to pull the trigger. And, it's a guitar.)
An Eastman OM (It'll arrive in June)
A Sam Bush F-model (yes, that's the one I'd go for. Think I'd like the nut. Would really need to play first too!)

Just what comes to mind. . .

f-d

[F-2 Dave]

A good sounding five string acoustic/electric mandolin.

[dhergert]

1) a nice teens or 20s F2 or F4

2) something tasteful from Girouard

3) a Gill

4) retirement does sound nice instead

[Mark Seale]

1. A fiddle bow that makes me smile when I pick it up (my fiddle does, my bow(s) do not)
2. Stevens electric mandolin with a spruce top and charlie christian pickup
3. A superb 16" archtop guitar

[mrmando]

Stevens Paul Glasse

Steve Andersen quartet
Lyon & Healy quintet
Gibson oval-hole quartet
Yanuziello electric quartet
Gibson Master Model quartet

(All of these MIGHT be achievable in my lifetime except the last one.)

[sgarrity]

I don't want for much these days but to play along......Might be nice to have another oval hole again. An Archtop guitar would be cool. So would a Waterloo guitar. A matched mandolin/mandola set of Poe Scout models.

[pheffernan]

I'd like to find one of Adrian Minarovic's Hogan F5's to see what all the fuss is about with a scroll and points. I'd also be interested in a snakehead mandola like "The Centaur" from this thread http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ad-H-2-mandola only with f-holes (like the H3 that Gail Hester built recently for Joe Mendel) from James Condino or Gary Vessel.

[Mike Scott]

Well........shoot, just got my Silverangel, and its all the mandolin I could ever want and/or need. But that Duff at Dusty Strings, hmmm. That one is really really nice. So......I guess that would be it or a Harlow, Rayco, Fishook, Beard or Clinesmith dobro-but they're not mandos.

[samlyman]

My list is simple:

The 3 mandolins I already own - a Collings MT2V, a Mid-Mo MO-W made by my friend Mike D, and Kentucky Km-140 that I bought for cheap from a friend when his store closed.

After spending more than 25 years spending I am now content to play what I own and spend time playing my instruments rather than more money. I am happy to be a proficient picker and singer and have learned that more or different instruments will not add to that happiness.

I guess you could say I am living the dream instead of dreaming! That is a pretty good place to be!!!

[Kalasinar]

My mandolin dreams were/are humble but pretty much accomplished. I got an Eastman which I am very happy with. Later I got a CA bridge for it and recently a McClung armrest. I was after a bowlback and got a lovely restored one from David Hynds. I'm happy as can be...seeing as I doubt I'll ever be able to justify anything else. I do dream of being a better player though, so practice practice practice.

In terms of other instruments, I've wanted an electric drum kit for a long time. I can't bring myself to sell my acoustic kit as it's been with me since my early teens...though in my current habitation there's no room for it So an electric kit (...or bigger, soundproofed living space...)