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Thread: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

  1. #1

    Default Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    I know they make great banjos, and I also know they made mandolins at one time. does anyone here have one. just wondering how many of there mandolins are out there & how good are they.

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    Different Sullivan's

    The late John Sullivan built mandolins.

    The late Bill Sullivan was First Quality Music's founder.

    Most of the people I knew that had Sullivan mandolins cherished them.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  3. #3

    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    thanks Mike, I thought at one time they made mandolins in house or they had someone in Japan making mandolins for them. my mistake, maybe I guess they could have been carrying his mandolins.

  4. #4
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    Quote Originally Posted by mandolin tony View Post
    thanks Mike, I thought at one time they made mandolins in house or they had someone in Japan making mandolins for them. my mistake, maybe I guess they could have been carrying his mandolins.
    If they were I am not aware of it. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, it just means I'm unaware of it. Someone will pop in that can straighten it out.

    Bill Sullivan was a guy that knew this part of the community. I remember contacting him looking for strange banjo parts (anything that wasn't being used on a tenor or 5-string) and him giving me names of people to contact.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  5. #5
    Registered User Russ Jordan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    Sumi built the fqms Sullivan mandolins. https://reverb.com/item/13297893-sum...l-sale-pending
    Russ Jordan

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  7. #6
    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    Russ beat me to it. I still remember the sadness I had when FQMS dropped their retail operations. My Rigel came from their store.
    Axes: Eastman MD-515 & El Rey; Eastwood S Mandola
    Amps: Fishman Loudbox 100; Rivera Clubster Royale Recording Head & R212 cab; Laney Cub 10

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  9. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    OK, that jogged something way back in my mind. The connection with Scott Zimmerman/Sumi and Bill Sullivan makes sense. That probably was a natural now that I think about it. Scott is a Cafe member.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  10. #8
    Expert on my own opinion Bogle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    While in Louisville in 2001, I visited with Bill, Jeff, and Eric Sullivan at their shop. Eiichi Sumi happened to be there on that day (very nice gentleman) and they told me of their plans to market Sullivan-branded Sumi-made mandolins. Eric Sullivan showed me a stack of approximately 12 F-style ebony peghead overlays, complete with "Sullivan" logo and all were in fern pattern. These were made in-house at FQMS and were quite beautiful. As I recall, Sumi was going to be sending what would be mostly-completed mandolins to FQMS, with Eric and staff to be completing the final work. I'm not sure as to how many ultimately were completed and sold.

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  12. #9

    Default Re: Sullivan mandolins, fqms.

    bingo Sumi mandolins, and Bill Sullivan was great. a saint of a man & a great person to deal with. he fixed my Deering banjo for free & returned it for free. he refused to take a penny from me. I miss dealing with him, he was the BEST.

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