Trying again

[foldedpath]

Good to see you. Your instrument collection was always a good reminder of "the path not taken," because we can't all take the same paths. It's still interesting to see that side of the mandolin world.

[Mack2]

Interested. More details please.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Downsizing? If you need a safe place to park that Triolian . . .

[allenhopkins]

Interested. More details please.

Downsizing scorecard:

#1 -- 1957 Martin D-18, 1970's Guild F-212XL 12-string, 1930's (?) Gibson TG-0 tenor guitar -> Larson brothers' Stahl mando-bass

#2 -- Eastman MDA-615 mandola, Eastman DGM-1 "Giacomel clone" mandolin, Regal koa tiple -> Larson-attributed Stahl mandola.

Six instruments down to two. I continue to keep an eye out for really attractive, unusual instruments, that warrant trading several less-played instruments (yeah, Charlie, the National Trolian mandolin might end up in the mix, though it would have to be a real gem that I wanted!) in the deal.

[Caleb]

I continue to keep an eye out for really attractive, unusual instruments...

Have you seen what these folks are making? https://lamehorse.net/

This one in particular grabs me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R0QLETUIxg

[Bill Clements]

Allen, the Café is a better place with you in it.
Good to see you again.
Enjoy that mandola!
~Bill

[Jim Garber]

Have you seen what these folks are making? https://lamehorse.net/

This one in particular grabs me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R0QLETUIxg

Lovely, of course...

All guitars start at $8000. This includes rear access panel, adjustable playing action, Calton travel case.

I was at the Woodstock Invitational Guitar Show last fall. There were quite a few wonderful luthiers there including Lame Horse in that price range. That video had some excellent playing by Stuart Ryan on that parlor guitar. It almost sounded like a banjo with emphasis on the high and mids:

[Tom Sanderson]

Welcome back Allen. I’ve always enjoyed your posts and I’m happy that you’re back.

[pops1]

I'm not hearing the banjo sound, but is sure doesn't sound acoustic. It looks like two mic's, but the sound is not what I would expect of any acoustic guitar, parlor or otherwise.

[Tom Haywood]

Allen, I somehow missed your hiatus and the reason for it, but welcome back. I always appreciate hearing your perspective - even that one time you were pretty tough on me for causing a thread to be closed. I reckon we sometimes inadvertently step on someone's sacred cow and get whacked for it. Glad the pain is wearing off. Dang, I hate that I missed that '57 D-18.

[foldedpath]

I'm not hearing the banjo sound, but is sure doesn't sound acoustic. It looks like two mic's, but the sound is not what I would expect of any acoustic guitar, parlor or otherwise.

I'll eat my hat if that sound clip wasn't compressed in the mixdown. It almost sounds like an electric guitar with that much compression. And added reverb too. You don't get that kind of reverb from close mic technique. It would have been interesting to hear what it actually sounded like.

[allenhopkins]

With all due respect to the Lamehorse people, the "really attractive, unusual instrument" that would tempt me, would more likely be an early-20th-century Shutt mandolin, or an Epiphone Strand -- something like that -- rather than even an excellent product of contemporary luthiery,

And yeah, Tom, that D-18 was pretty special; braces scalloped by the late Eldon Stutzman, "tortoise" pickguard, Grover Sta-Tite tuners. I'd owned it about 40 years, but I have my 1970 D-41 and my 1940 00-28G/00-42 "conversion," and I wasn't playing the D-18. Plus I knew I'd get a good trade-in allowance (about $3K) from Bernunzio for it.

[Denny Gies]

Glad you're back; you were missed.

[Larry Mossman]

Welcome back Allen.
I always appreciate your shared wisdom.
Larry

[Caleb]

Lovely, of course...


I was at the Woodstock Invitational Guitar Show last fall. There were quite a few wonderful luthiers there including Lame Horse in that price range. That video had some excellent playing by Stuart Ryan on that parlor guitar. It almost sounded like a banjo with emphasis on the high and mids:

Very cool guitar, but I can think of a lot of other uses for $8k.

[allenhopkins]

Again, a blanket "thanks" for the "welcome back" posts. I'll try to stay out of trouble...

[bigskygirl]

I'm glad you decided to come back, I always enjoy reading your posts. There are some I don't particularly care for here, thats what the ignore button is for...