Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

  1. #1
    Registered User Mike Romkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Bettendorf, Iowa
    Posts
    525
    Blog Entries
    9

    Default A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

    I have an F5 that needs frets and a '24 F2 I traded for with a repaired scroll that was a bit on the ugly side. There aren't many luthiers in my neck of the woods here in Iowa -- well, there's a guy who works on orchestra instruments who is great, but he's not in the re-fretting business.

    Both those projects sat on the back burner a goodly long time awaiting my next trip to Nashville, Lawrence or Denver. But then Dale Ludwig's name popped up.

    Dale's a mandolin builder and cabinet maker in DeKalb, Ill. I knew of him for building both traditional mandolins as well as some out-there instruments. Somewhere back in my brain is an image of a green mandolin, which are definitely rarities.

    Anyway, short story long, I hoped in my SUV Monday with some mandolins for the drive over to DeKalb, which is about 30 miles east of Chicago.

    The shop is located on the ground floor of what used to be the Wurlitzer Piano Factory. Dale is a heck of a friendly guy. We sat and chatted for more than an hour. He checked out my two repair projects and a couple of other show-and-tell mandolins, and then was kind enough to walk me around his shop and share some of his work.

    Dale had one of his F5s in the shop, his personal baby, which has a neck to die for. One of the best-playing necks I've ever had in my hand. Like butter, as they say. And good tone to boot.

    He also had a redwood-topped oval A that is probably the loudest oval I've ever run into. Dale was able to get his hands on some apparently freak redwood from Orcas Island that is a lot lighter than typical redwood. Kind of a "secret sauce" wood.

    He also showed me some A and F tops he's working on, his setup for getting tops ready to carve, and a couple of guitars he has in the works.

    It's great to have a resource like Dale in easy driving range of my neck of the woods. DeKalb is a whole lot closer than Nashville!
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Mike Romkey For This Useful Post:


  3. #2

    Default Re: A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

    Dale is a treasure for sure.... Can't ask for a more talented, nice guy to be found. He has done some work on some instruments of mine and has done a lights out job each time... Can't speak highly enough of his work or the man.
    John D

  4. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Conneaut Lake, PA
    Posts
    4,147

    Default Re: A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

    His name is Ludewig. It was probably your auto correct.
    Don

    2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
    2011 Weber Bitterroot A
    1974 Martin Style A

  5. #4
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    2,754

    Default Re: A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

    'Great instrument builder, a good friend, and one of the coolest old geezers I know!
    www.condino.com

    Crafted by hand in a workshop powered by the sun.

  6. #5
    Registered User Steve Roberts's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Posts
    189

    Default Re: A visit to Ludwig Mandolins

    "for the drive over to DeKalb, which is about 30 miles east of Chicago. "

    Mike- with due respect, 30 miles east of Chicago is the middle of Lake Michigan. Kinda wet place to build mandolins. I think DeKalb is 30 miles west of Chicago.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •