Mandolins have been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride over the past couple of years. They’re in an interesting spot right now for a number of reasons. Both Webers (the Bruces) left the company last year, Bill Collings passed away, Breedlove Mando stopped American production, and Gibson’s numbers dropped somewhat due to the flood. You have to wonder where the instrument is headed. Now, there is no doubt that we are in the golden age of flat top acoustic guitars. Today’s builders have brought flat tops into a new era; their quality and sound is breathtaking, however, I don’t think the mandolin is far behind in its own way. The music scene for folk and bluegrass has changed a bit. You are likely to hear it with younger folks (hipsters) with flat brim hats on their heads and PBR in their hands. Still, the mandolin is chopping away in the back ground. Who saw the craze of the ukulele coming? Nonetheless, the mando holds its place. There are luthiers out there making A’s, F’s, cellos and octaves; carving away to create something that becomes a part of you. Many of the luthiers are on a smaller scale and hard to find, but that kind of fits the mandolin; Montana Lutherie (The Bruces), Pava, Michael A. Lewis, Ratliff and [hopefully still] Collings, are just a few that come to mind. Retailers, such as The Mandolin Store, and Stringfest, are still going strong. I am lucky enough to make my living off of these instruments. They can be beyond frustrating at times, but it’s always worth it in the end. They get into your soul and never leave. We should be proud of the instruments we love and try to spread the word a little more. The next step is getting those goofy violin people to pick up a real instrument.
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