Thank you Ranald, if you misunderstood my reasons for asking, certainly other people did too, so it was worth it to clarify. My best to you all.
Thank you Ranald, if you misunderstood my reasons for asking, certainly other people did too, so it was worth it to clarify. My best to you all.
-- Don
"Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
"It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."
2002 Gibson F-9
2016 MK LFSTB
1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
[About how I tune my mandolins]
[Our recent arrival]
Someone mentioned on the first page that supply chains are global and we should get used to it.
True 'dat.
My motorcycle was made in Russia (I wanted a motorcycle that still looked like a motorcycle...with a sidecar) but the gears were made in Germany and the ignition was made in Italy. Lots of things have parts from all over these days.
Any REM fans out there?
That always pops in my head when this topic comes up.Look who bought the myth, by jingo, buy America
Kirk
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
I am guessing it is a Ural. There a couple of them around here.
https://www.imz-ural.com/
Last edited by Charles E.; Aug-11-2020 at 2:16pm.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
sidecar can carry a mandolin, tent, sleeping bag, stove, beer, beer...
All I will add from personal experience is talk to Adrian or Derek at Northfield sometime and your concerns will be eased.
I spent hours at Swannanoa last year with Adrian and came away with a really cool understanding of how the company works and why.
They don't perform some of their operations in China because it is cheap. It just so happens that their very best finish guy lives there and getting him to the USA would be difficult if he did want to go (but I don't think he did).
On the most expensive 4th gen models they basically do all the work here, then send a kit over where the finish is done and then back for final assembly.
Long story short, not as cut and dry as the typical Chinese product stereotype.
Drew
2020 Northfield 4th Gen F5
2022 Northfield NFS-F5E
2019 Northfield Flat Top Octave
2021 Gold Tone Mando Cello
https://www.instagram.com/pilotdrew85
Thanks for bringing the thread back on topic Drew.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
-- Don
"Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
"It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."
2002 Gibson F-9
2016 MK LFSTB
1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
[About how I tune my mandolins]
[Our recent arrival]
Got a Northfield Big Mon a few days ago. I love it.
Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4
Hey Folks, My son and I spent about three hours over at the Marshall Shop last Friday 7/7 with Derek. He was very helpful with us pulled out about 7-8 mandolins for my son to try out Big Mons, 4th Gens and Artists Series in both the engelmann and the adirondack spruce tops. No rush take your time and play and he did. Tough choice for me (4th gen) but the Big Mon Adirondack Spruce was the winner for him. He plays a Gibson F5 Fern Adi (keeper) with a Flatiron Festival for a backup and has played a lot of other mandolins Gibson's, Stiver's, Collings, Weber's etc. and a Ellis that was wow but 12,575.00. Does it have the same bell like tone of the Ellis no but at far less than half the price it sounded fantastic in his hands. IMO way better than a Collings MF for about the same $$$. We have been to a lot of music stores and I have to say for the money they are great sounding mandolins. Will be placing a order for Big Mon 1 piece back in the next few days.
I have a Kentucky KM1000 - it was made in China. I originally resisted for that reason, but the truth is, it came highly recommended by a friend who is an experienced player. It turns out, it really is a very well made instrument for the price. I simply cannot afford a nice Gibson or Weber or Ellis or Collings or any of the fine instruments made by smaller makers. Maybe one day I will, maybe not. But I am very happy with my KM1000 - especially since swapping out the bridge for a Cumberland Acoustics bridge. Considering it's my first mandolin, I could've done much worse
A luthier by the name of Olaf Grawert has designed a couple of violins - due to cost, he has them made in China. Hand made, by skilled violin makers. He oversees the production and makes certain it's up to his respectably high quality standards and uses high quality wood. They are very fine instruments that can be had for a reasonable price - equivalent in quality to good European-made violins, but much cheaper. He has a youtube channel with several videos about his instruments. I know someone who has one of his instruments and is very pleased with it.
Yes, it's a global economy - yes, we should get used to it. We should always check things out beforehand, but these days, that "Made in China" label is no longer necessarily a reason to reject something. And I never thought I'd ever say that...
"Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn
Oh yeah, forgot to say...I played a few Northfields at Wintergrass a couple of years ago. They were all really good and one was outstanding. I’m already very blessed with mandolins...but I was tempted!
They make great mandolins - no matter where they’re made.
Kirk
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