New Vessel February 18 1924 replica

[Spruce]

Not that what Gibson produces in the Distressed MM line is suspect; on the contrary they make some really good mandolins that are pretty good Loar F5 replicas; but if Gibson wanted to make the best, authentic, imperceptible Loar era replica mandolin possible, they'd subcontract out to Gary, negotiate a price per model that he'd find acceptable and list them at $40K...they'd sell a boatload, and customers would be quite satisfied with a genuine Loar replica sold by Gibson!

Well, Gibson kinda did that with the first few (1.2.3...?) DMMs, when they shipped them off to a violin maker who knew what he was doing when it came to antiquing, no?
They also interestingly didn't mention that they had done so...

Those first few DMMs killed the ones that came later...
I saw one at Wintergrass that I sure wish I had taken pictures of--weird bubbly anomalies in the finish that you would never see in nature, and wear patterns that looked like they had passed it around the office with a dull knife and said "go for it"...

It just ain't that easy to do...

[DataNick]

...It just ain't that easy to do...

Hence the need to have Gary do it...nuff said, yes?

[Don Grieser]

Nailed it, Gary!

[testore]

Few more

[Spruce]

Hence the need to have Gary do it...nuff said, yes?

Uhhh, he is...

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Bluegrasser78 - "...Monroe distressed copy ....". I agree !. That was a sensational piece of craftsmanship - it really made my eyes light up. This new one's simply collosal !!!,
Ivan

[William Smith]

From Bluegrasser78 - "...Monroe distressed copy ....". I agree !. That was a sensational piece of craftsmanship - it really made my eyes light up. This new one's simply collosal !!!,
Ivan

I hear ya this one with the virzi gives me serious wood "to dream about"

[Spruce]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin...

[Jeff Mando]

Great work!

[William Smith]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin...

Boy I sure hope not, removing the virzi would be a bummer

[Steve Sorensen]

Gary and I are going to do a Virziectomy on it Sunday, and record the whole thing for posterity...
That's how you create authentic wear around the F-holes and endpin...

Bruce wins the internet today!

(Best tone comes when Virzi is removed at 2:00 in the morning with a screw driver and old coat hanger wire.)

Steve

[mtucker]

don't stop!

[Spruce]

Since you´re a picker too, could you post a video/soundbyte of the mando in question.

OK, I had a chance to visit with Gary today, and play Gary's Loar copy...what a fun day...
I recorded a little interview with him, where we had a chance to discuss the process of copying an iconic mandolin...
There's a sound clip of the mandolin, but the laptop mics show their limitations...you still can get the idea.
A killer sounding mandolin...woof.

...and I think you might get a kick out of our version of Mike Marshall and Todd Phillip's "The Virzexorcism" tape...enjoy...

Here 'tis...

[sgarrity]

Y'all are having way too much fun. I love it!!!

[RichieK]

Hysterical...Reminded me of Firesign Theatre.

[Spruce]

[Mark Seale]

A few shots of the most recent product to come off of the bench. It is complete with Virzi, period fret wire and bridge.

Incredible work!

- - - Updated - - -

Well, Gibson kinda did that with the first few (1.2.3...?) DMMs, when they shipped them off to a violin maker who knew what he was doing when it came to antiquing, no?
They also interestingly didn't mention that they had done so...

Those first few DMMs killed the ones that came later...
I saw one at Wintergrass that I sure wish I had taken pictures of--weird bubbly anomalies in the finish that you would never see in nature, and wear patterns that looked like they had passed it around the office with a dull knife and said "go for it"...

It just ain't that easy to do...

I've got a fiddle by that guy. It's a monster, as is most anything he touches.

[grassrootphilosopher]

OK, I had a chance to visit with Gary today, and play Gary's Loar copy...what a fun day...
I recorded a little interview with him, where we had a chance to discuss the process of copying an iconic mandolin...
There's a sound clip of the mandolin, but the laptop mics show their limitations...you still can get the idea.
A killer sounding mandolin...woof.

...and I think you might get a kick out of our version of Mike Marshall and Todd Phillip's "The Virzexorcism" tape...enjoy...

Here 'tis...

It was fun listening to the "interview"!

[William Smith]

Wow I would've left the virzi in after already the work putting it in I can't afford it anyway but still

[Spruce]

Wow I would've left the virzi in after already the work putting it in I can't afford it anyway but still

...but did you hear the way the mandolin sounded after the Virzectomy?

[William Smith]

...but did you hear the way the mandolin sounded after the Virzectomy?

Well to be honest with the virzi, I think it sounded great after the removal of the virzi what I heard was just chinese and terrible, is there a recording I'm not seeing/hearing? thats also posted? I think it was a mistake taking it out

[Spruce]

Well to be honest with the virzi, I think it sounded great after the removal of the virzi what I heard was just chinese and terrible, is there a recording I'm not seeing/hearing? thats also posted? I think it was a mistake taking it out

It just needs to open up a bit...

[William Smith]

Yeh once she's played in I'm sure it'll be louder, but I think out of the gate with the virzi it was already there. In my opinion anyway,as we all know we all have different perceptions of what we like in sound and voice in a mandolin well any instrument for that matter.

[William Smith]

Personally I think you guys were joking and left the virzi in! LOL The chinese sounds were impressive-ha

[sgarrity]

Gary, are you bringing that down to Summergrass?