Thinking about making my up coming octave mandolin a white face, paying homage to the beautiful Gibson A models of the teens. What’s the general attitude towards them today? Does everyone love them like I do?
Thinking about making my up coming octave mandolin a white face, paying homage to the beautiful Gibson A models of the teens. What’s the general attitude towards them today? Does everyone love them like I do?
I love them Gary and long for a late 22 TR. A-3 white top-probably wouldn't like it though as I'm an F-5 type a guy but I know your exquisite work so you'll do it some serious justice my friend! I'd love an F-5 in the white!
I'm a big fan of white face mandolins . . . can't wait to see pictures . . . .
Not a fan of paint on mandolins. Like to see the grain. Makes me think that it’s a way to hide flaws in the wood, even if there aren’t any.
Don’t like it on old Gibson’s either.
Not all the clams are at the beach
Arrow Manouche
Arrow Jazzbo
Arrow G
Clark 2 point
Gibson F5L
Gibson A-4
Ratliff CountryBoy A
Yes!
(My order with Wayne. . . one day. . . is for a white snake.)
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
My first attempt at a hand rubbed sunburst finish took a bad turn when I did the top. It looked awful. Looks great with a black top, though
I’ve heard the concern before about a builder using a flawed piece of wood and hiding it behind black or white paint. But my problem with the scenario is, a builders reputation is founded on their instruments quality over a period of time. Small builders especially can’t risk using bad wood, even once, in the hopes of dumping something less than high quality. ALSO, I don’t buy wood that I wouldn’t build an instrument out of. EVERYONE builder I know is the same. Wood is expensive and we buy very selectively. I have no junky pieces of wood that would need to hide behind an opaque finish.
Bruce Harvie did a refinish to create one many years ago. The thread is here. There was a whole lot of information coming forward that I had never realized about the whiteface instruments. Some of the images don't show up for me, they might for others. The Kilz was an interesting take.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I love the white A3, but I need to see the paint worn off from forearm contact.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
Back in the days when I was working at an acoustic shop here in Kalamazoo a couple of old A-3’s came through, I should have gotten one back when I had that opportunity! They have always had a warm spot in my heart. “Amana” and, “Kelvinator” were the endearing terms we used for them around the store.
Coulda, shoulda, woulda!
Like a couple of others that I passed on!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Here she is, the pics aren’t very good but you get the idea. I’m still doing some finish work but I should be available by the years end.
Looks nice Gary! Is this a "hybrid" mandolin? X-braced?
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
It’s a big, beautiful octave! Yes X braced. 20” scale......
Gary, nice work! I know what you mean about the quality of wood. Opaque colors don’t mean anything is being hid!
IMHO----not a fan of painted mangos. Wood grain is interesting and I love the warmth...however, you may be on to something! Perhaps we can take all of those beautiful valued antique violins and paint them an assorted number of colors---what is the point? As my grandfather used to say...."if you want perfect, buy plastic."
Looks very nice! However, I'm in the natural wood minority. I don't even like sunbursts, let alone white or black painted instruments. I don't mind irregular grain patterns or cosmetic blemishes showing on a natural wood instrument.
You know I go back and forth on painted or coloered wood. In some cases i prefer to see it plain and proud, other times I like some color and sometimes painted is fine. Which has nothing to do with wood quality, all about what I feel the wood wants and or the mood I'm in. If you are in a White face mood and it seems appropriate then go for it!
My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A
Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Count me in as a big fan! I'd love to hear a sound clip or video from either you or the lucky owner!
Thanks,
Baron
MandoLessons: Free Online Mandolin Lessons
Velocipede: My Fiddle Tune Duo
Old Time Mandolin: Solo Old Time Mandolin Album
Cobalt-----love those mangos! Painted Mandos, not so much. I do not like anything that hides the inherent beauty of well chosen wood.
Yes, I hope you didn't mind my little comment. Actually I'm with you, I like to see the wood, even unfinished wood has a beauty. The finish can bring out what is in the wood, nowadays I tend to veer away from even the sunburst effect. But in the end, variety is good, I wouldn't want all instruments to look the same.
Looks great Gary! And an octave to boot!
But why are you rummaging around in my head looking for buttons that say "tempt me"?
Daniel
(who owns a black top F5/F2 hybrid delivered by Gary in 2006)
It’s done and sounding great. I’ll have it at the Great 48 in Bakersfield next month if anyone wants to see it.
Bookmarks