Re: What are you playing the blues on?
I play mainly on my two mandolins, a Godin A8, which I occasionally amplify, and an acoustic Espana. I like them both equally. I sometimes play older stuff (1920's, early 30's) on my Little Wonder banjolin with octave tuning on the G & D strings. To my tastes, the banjolin doesn't work as well for later blues, but is great for early blues, stomps, and rags. As was implied in the OP, the people I admire mostly played whatever instrument was available and affordable, nothing expensive, so if I start getting fantasies about some custom-made mandolin, I can overrule them without much pain.
Last edited by Ranald; Jul-15-2020 at 12:24pm.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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