New (to me) family American Conservatory mandolin questions

[ceejengine]

See post #20.

If you are going to spend that much, I think I would spend a bit more and get the Eastman case. I have three of those for my upperend bowlbacks. Very protective.

That’s the very choice I’m struggling through now. I think between that, and the generally... interesting... nature of Hobgoblin USA’s e-commerce solution, I may justbbite the bullet on the Eastman case. Hopefully my Eastman mandolin, stuck in a run-of-the-mill hard case, doesn’t get too jealous.

[Dave Fultz]

I’m thinking of volunteering as an itinerant musician at our local historical village. Walk/sit around playing old old songs. Either use a guitar, My Alvarez AP70 fits the look somewhat, or get a bowl back mando. I’d love to find an under appreciated one, but all I’ve some across so far are split badly. The search continues and it’s half then anyway.

[Jim Garber]

My very first Mandolin was an American Conservatory. It was a nice one in good condition but bowlbacks were not cool. I traded up for a Vega cylinder back and then when I got into a strong band I traded that for a Gibson A. So it goes.

I like simple Vega or Washburn bowlbacks. Keep looking. You will find one.

[DavidKOS]

My very first Mandolin was an American Conservatory. It was a nice one in good condition but bowlbacks were not cool. I traded up for a Vega cylinder back.

Well, those cylinder backs are cool now.

I appreciate all your input about vintage mandolins, thanks!

[brunello97]

To my mind an American Conservatory bowlback in good condition may be the best value in terms of quality / $$ on the used mandolin market that you are likely to find.

Underpriced, under appreciated, and as Jim said above, often were of even higher quality than some mandolins from the L+Hs flagship Washburn line. Typically quite beautiful rosewood on the bowls.

David Grisman started with one. Jim Garber started with one. What other recommendation does a person need?

Mick

[Jim Garber]

David Grisman started with one. Jim Garber started with one. What other recommendation does a person need?

I wonder if Dawg has a photo of him playing his American Conservatory. Here is mine from my hippie days circa 1970.

[brunello97]

I wonder if Dawg has a photo of him playing his American Conservatory. Here is mine from my hippie days circa 1970.

Just think. That mandolin was only 60 years old when you were playing it!

DG's actually looks more like a Weymann, Jim. Maybe likely, given where he spent his childhood days.

A couple of originals, for sure.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

I bought my American Conservatory from the House of Musical Traditions when it was in the East Village in New York. It moved soon after to Maryland where it still is. After I got it I needed a case and found one as a funky shop near Lincoln Center call Locker's Imports. It was not easy to find a bowlback case back then and still isn't today.

[brunello97]

.....After I got it I needed a case and found one as a funky shop near Lincoln Center call Locker's Imports. It was not easy to find a bowlback case back then and still isn't today.

In 1970, the buildings at Lincoln Center ranged from 8 to 4 years old. The Disney Center in Los Angeles opened in 2003. 15 years ago. One quarter the age of Jim's AC bowlback when he purchased it.

"Body and Soul" was written 35 years before I was born, or likely 30 years after Jim's mandolin was made. I still play it all the time.

Time and memory are two of the strangest things we humans have to deal with.

Mick

[ceejengine]

All, thanks again for the help here. I went ahead and bit the bullet, and got the Eastman case. The mandolin itself has been to the luthier, who said it just needed cleaned and restrung! It’s a fun little player, although I’m not a fan of how brassy it is with the very light round wound strings he put on it- but there is plenty of time to explore different string options.