One can adapt to any neck width! I have?
Astro made two statements that I took exception to. I’m not sure what those comments were based on, but let’s look at a few examples. High end builders use different materials, including finish materials. Take a look at the Ellis F5 Reserve at TME. There’s a difference in the look, materials and build between that Ellis and what Tom refers to as his Special. Bubble maple brings both an aesthetic and a tonal difference (note the word “different” here). The same goes for Birdseye, and both come with additional costs. The same goes for the Heritage models built by Michael Heiden. I’ve seen two of these. 200 year old spruce tops. Eye popping is not the word. And yes, they sound “different”, maybe subtle to the ears, but different (there’s that word again).
You are paying for experience and skill set at the $20k+ level. Gil, Nugget, Dude, Monteleone, Heiden, all these guys are on another plane. Finish, fretwork, setups, playability, and voicing, all unique to builder/model, but I’d never say one is “better”, because what’s better for me might not be better for you.
And now back to Dang’s quandary.
Dang, your prayers have been answered, there’s a Nugget for sale in the Classifieds! As for the nut width, it may all depend on the neck profile.
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
It’s in Michigan...road trip!!!
That neck looks wide in the pic in the ad.
2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic
Contact the seller. We can all guess but that is worth nothing. You can't tell much from photos.
For historical purposes:
In any case, one person posted above that Mike is not retired from making mandolins. About 3 or 4 years ago a friend of mine ordered an F4 copy from Mike. I doubt he does this for everyone but he happened to be in her area at the right time in the construction cycle and visited with her to figure out what neck profile would be optimal for her. I played that mandolin and it is a great one. If I had the bucks I would not hesitate to commission one from him.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
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
Not advocating that you buy a Nugget or any particular make; that's your decision. I retired last June. However 18 months earlier I fulfilled my life long mandolin retirement dream of finding and buying a Nugget F. I came across a good deal, although I wasn't actively looking at the time, that I could afford with a bit of financial stretch plus the sell off of another great F. There's been no regret since then and no MAS either. I finally decided to ditch the constant wondering "what if" about all the other super mandolins out there, and just spend the free time I now have learning, practicing, and enjoying the heck out of this instrument. It's been liberating for me to pick up my "ultimate" mandolin and sit down and play. What I discovered was it didn't instantaneously make me a better player but it does inspire me to work at getting better and enjoying the process. So far the stock market hasn't hurt me too much while the music goes on! Have fun with your decision making and don't belabor it. You will know when the time is right and what to do.
We all have a figure in our heads of what our personal limit would be, a comfort zone which we could exceed but won't. I probably picked my mandolin up half a dozen times yesterday, maybe more. That is not unusual. What could I possibly buy that would get more use? At that comfort level, don't buy anything you'd think of selling. If you have that thought keep looking.
My uncle left me a bunch of silver quarters that are sitting in a safe deposit box. Fifty pounds of silver should buy me a nice mandolin. The only thing I need to figure out is to beg forgiveness or ask permission.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
This nugget just landed in the classifieds........
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/144141#144141
He does not state neck width.
NFI
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
I have had a couple of emails with Mike Kemnitzer, he is certainly still building and I am working out the details of a build. Nothing ordered yet but I think it’s going to come together. Thank you all for your help! I had a number of helpful PMs, sorry if I didn’t respond to them all.
I should be pickin' rather than postin'
My boss at the vintage guitar shop would say, "play it for ten minutes and you'll get used to it!" (when people would try to apply their list of dream specs to a vintage instrument.....)
Hagstrom electric guitar necks come to mind -- extremely popular in the mid-60's -- super thin and billed as the "world's fastest neck" and guaranteed for 10 years! (probably designed for 60's teenager's hands....) Certainly out of style with today's "big neck" mentality...............FWIW.
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