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Thread: Whaley A-style

  1. #1
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Whaley A-style

    Hey all,

    Just happened across a Whaley mandolin at a store in Marin.
    I had not heard of Whaley mandolins before, but this one was kinda nice.
    It had a great dark tone, and was pretty loud.
    It was a bit of a bear to play, but I liked it.

    Any of you have a Whaley?
    Anyhoo, there are a few photos below.

    I added one photo of the little Blueridge Tenor guitar I played too.
    I was actually quite surprised how fun this little guitar was to play.
    It had a really nice tone, and was super easy to play.
    These are a pretty good deal for around $500.


    Click image for larger version. 

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    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    Why was the Whaley a bit of a bear to play?
    Jim

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  3. #3
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    I’d have thought it would be more of a whale to play

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  4. #4
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Why was the Whaley a bit of a bear to play?
    The neck was a little bit chunky, and it was just a bit of a chore to play compared to my mandolin.
    Having said that it had a great tone.
    It was warm and open, and was fairly loud and punchy.
    I liked it a lot, but it wasn’t for me.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  5. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    I had a feeling that was it, because you said it had great tone. Either the thickness of the neck or that the action was too high.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
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    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  6. #6

    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    ...so yesterday I messed around briefly with this Whaley mando in a music store in Marin. I quite loved it but don’t know anything about Whaley. Came home and did a search that sent me to this discussion..CWRoyds, I suspect you were the person I handed it over to:-). You didn’t make me want it any less...you made it sound fantastic. Has it really been there that long? I still don’t know anything about Whaley. PS..I thought it was easy to play.

  7. #7
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    Little news story including Sam Whaley, who builds these mandolins.
    Allen Hopkins
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  8. #8
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    Quote Originally Posted by rrocket View Post
    ...so yesterday I messed around briefly with this Whaley mando in a music store in Marin. I quite loved it but don’t know anything about Whaley. Came home and did a search that sent me to this discussion..CWRoyds, I suspect you were the person I handed it over to:-). You didn’t make me want it any less...you made it sound fantastic. Has it really been there that long? I still don’t know anything about Whaley. PS..I thought it was easy to play.
    Yup, that was me.
    I play it every time I go by that store.
    Playing it yesterday I didn't think it was that hard to play.
    I think the first time I was comparing it to my Northfield, which is a super breeze to play.
    As mandolins go, the Whaley plays nicely.

    I just like the tone of that mandolin.
    It is a solid mandolin.
    It's design is interesting, as we noted yesterday, the body seems fairly thin (from top to back.)

    Personally, I think you should go back and buy that mandolin.
    You obviously like it, and it has been there way too long.
    It needs a home.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

  9. #9

    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    I'm confused. Is this a recent build or a vintage mandolin? Appears to be recent. It is listed under the vintage category, FWIW.

  10. #10
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    I'm confused. Is this a recent build or a vintage mandolin? Appears to be recent. It is listed under the vintage category, FWIW.
    Seemed vintage to me.
    Could be a more recent build.
    Maybe I posted originally in the wrong place.
    Last edited by CWRoyds; Mar-24-2019 at 9:13pm.
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

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  12. #11
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Whaley A-style

    I guess that also asks the question, what qualifies as "vintage".
    I know with guitars the term vintage can shift depending on who is buying and selling it.
    Does mandolin have a specific age that determines vintage status?
    Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
    Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
    Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
    Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
    Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)

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