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Thread: Troublesome Creek

  1. #1
    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
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    Default Troublesome Creek

    https://reverb.com/item/36245595-tro...eybee-mandolin
    https://reverb.com/item/36245604-tro...eybee-mandolin

    Any thoughts on these? I’m familiar with the background of the company and I think what they are doing is a good thing, but they just seem to be a bit overpriced. They look like very fine instruments, but I can buy a Waterloo which is a similar instrument built by an established builder for less. If I saw one of these for under $1500 I probably would have jumped on it. I’m just curious to see what others think.
    Last edited by Steve 2E; Oct-13-2020 at 9:27pm.

  2. #2
    Registered User John M. Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    [QUOTE=Steve 2E;1791243]https://reverb.com/item/36245595-tro...eybee-mandolin
    https://reverb.com/item/36245604-tro...eybee-mandolin

    Any thoughts on these? I’m familiar with the background of the company and I think what they are doing is a good thing, but they just seem to be a bit overpriced. They look like very fine instruments, but I can buy a Waterloo which is a similar instrument built by an established builder for less. If I saw one of these for under $1500 I probably would have jumped on it. I’m just curious to see what others think.[/QUOTE

    Doug that is over the shop used to work for collings guitars and does killer work. He has worked on many of my high end mandolins along with my friends and bandmates guitars. I know he had some other top builders come in and help set the shop up. i would assume the mandolins are very high quality. i am within driving distance but haven't been back since they started production. I saw the drawings of their concept on an "f style" which looked pretty cool but im not sure if they ate building those yet. maybe i need to take a little trip.....
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  4. #3
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    there's a company I'd overspend towards. Go for it!

    f-d
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

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  6. #4
    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by John M. Riley View Post
    ...I saw the drawings of their concept on an "f style" which looked pretty cool but im not sure if they ate building those yet. maybe i need to take a little trip.....
    The "Honeybee" is different from the Waterloo in several ways. The top is center-weighter and X-braced so the sound is different from that of Red Line, Waterloo and other mandolins built more closely to the Gibson Army Navy model. Other than that, they are made with premium Appalachian woods including red spruce and they sport a high gloss finish.
    I was not involved much in the design of the Honeybee other than building the prototype. I also built the "f-style" prototype. It is built to Loar specs other than some "modernization" (radius 'board, different inlay, etc.) I don't think there are any immediate plans to produce the "F". They don't have enough trained workers to go there yet.

    For the record, no financial interest here. My contract with Troublesome Creek ended during the Covid-19-induced shut-down.

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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    They look nice! Always cool to have high quality options!
    Chuck

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    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    The walnut back on the natural-topped one is something special. Well, the other one is pretty nice, too.

    NO, I DON'T need another mandolin!
    Kit
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  12. #7
    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Thanks for everybody’s input. I noticed that the price has changed from $1900 to $1799. Every bit helps.
    I’m only about 3 hours from Melodee’s brick and mortar store so I might take a trip to check them out. I am quite interested, but I’d like to play one before I pull the trigger.

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    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve 2E View Post
    I noticed that the price has changed from $1900 to $1799. Every bit helps.
    I love flattop mandolins. I started on a used Mid-Missouri and have subsequently purchased a Flatiron 1N, a Gypsy Vagabond, and two Redline Travelers. I even later custom ordered a Poe Scout with all the bells and whistles. $1900 — or even $1799 — is an ambitious price point in the flattop market. I sincerely hope they’re worth it.
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    In the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161604#161604

    Adjustable necks!?

    Pretty nice looking mandolin!

    NFI
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  17. #10

    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    *full disclosure: I'm the sales manager for Melodee Music and we sell Troublesome mandolins and guitars

    They are sweet little mandolins. I am a guitar player but this thing makes all three of my mandolin chords sound amazing. It is a lot rounder sound than the flat tops.
    I'm incredibly proud to be carrying Troublesome Creek and to get the word out there about their instruments and their mission. If you make your way out to the shop tell me you saw it on Mandolin Cafe and we will be happy to make a donation for the classified ad.

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  19. #11
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisMelodee View Post
    *full disclosure: I'm the sales manager for Melodee Music and we sell Troublesome mandolins and guitars

    They are sweet little mandolins. I am a guitar player but this thing makes all three of my mandolin chords sound amazing. It is a lot rounder sound than the flat tops.
    I'm incredibly proud to be carrying Troublesome Creek and to get the word out there about their instruments and their mission. If you make your way out to the shop tell me you saw it on Mandolin Cafe and we will be happy to make a donation for the classified ad.
    Welcome! I also started on 3 chords!

    f-d
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Three chords is really all you need...

    Kirk

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    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by tiltman View Post
    Three chords is really all you need...

    Kirk
    And the truth.

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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by tiltman View Post
    Three chords is really all you need...

    Kirk
    Quote Originally Posted by Eric F. View Post
    And the truth.

    So long as it's a country song...
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    Registered User Cobalt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by TheMandoKit View Post
    So long as it's a country song...
    I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.

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    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Cobalt View Post
    I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.
    There was or perhaps still is a band by that name in Virginia.

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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    I think I’ll write a song - “Troublesome Creek” - and then rationalize getting another mandolin...
    They look nice!

    Kirk

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  33. #18
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Buckingham View Post
    There was or perhaps still is a band by that name in Virginia.
    I had forgotten about them, but you are right. I worked on some instruments for at least one of the members when I was still in VA.

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  35. #19
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Cobalt View Post
    I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.
    Just found this...



    Cool tune.
    Last edited by Charles E.; Oct-17-2020 at 12:31pm.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  37. #20
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    A google search will reveal that there are "Troublesome Creeks" in my states across the US, but the one in Knot County Kentucky runs right beside (and occasionally right through!) the parking lot of Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument company. The McLain Family Band is from the area and the tune is obviously named after the same Troublesome Creek. Several McLains are still active and I ran across some of them from time to time when I was working there. Al White (one of the mandolin players in the clip above) just retired from Berea College. Soon before he did (and soon before I left) he and his band from Berea stopped by the shop and played some instruments. Sometimes it just seem that history suggests that instruments should be built there!

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  39. #21
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    In the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161604#161604

    Adjustable necks!?

    Pretty nice looking mandolin!

    NFI
    And it's gone....
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  43. #23
    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    And it's gone....
    It was me!

    I took fatt-dad’s advice and went for it!

    I made the trip down south to Melodee to check them out and ended up buying. Sales manager Chris was welcoming and knowledgeable and provided a very comfortable buying experience. I’m really impressed with the build quality and tone of the instrument. Thanks and good luck to Doug and everyone at TC! Hope you build many more!

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  45. #24
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve 2E View Post
    It was me!

    I took fatt-dad’s advice and went for it!

    I made the trip down south to Melodee to check them out and ended up buying. Sales manager Chris was welcoming and knowledgeable and provided a very comfortable buying experience. I’m really impressed with the build quality and tone of the instrument. Thanks and good luck to Doug and everyone at TC! Hope you build many more!
    So great!

    f-d
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

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  47. #25
    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
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    Default Re: Troublesome Creek

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I love flattop mandolins. I started on a used Mid-Missouri and have subsequently purchased a Flatiron 1N, a Gypsy Vagabond, and two Redline Travelers. I even later custom ordered a Poe Scout with all the bells and whistles. $1900 — or even $1799 — is an ambitious price point in the flattop market. I sincerely hope they’re worth it.
    It was worth it to me. I absolutely understand where you’re coming from and I had my doubts, but I’m quite happy that I made the purchase. I’m not willing to say what I paid, but I will say that Melodee is willing to negotiate on the price.

    As Sunburst said above it differs a bit in construction from other flat tops. I can’t really put tone into words, but to me it has nice projection with a more modern “wet” tone than a vintage “dry” tone. It has a lot of sustain. Notes will linger on if you want them to. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like it.

    Fit and finish are flawless. The neck and fretwork are silky smooth. Setup is perfect. I’m more than satisfied and it’s the most inspiring instrument I’ve had in quite a while. It’s almost like a custom build that I forgot I ordered. Enough of my gushing. I’m just really happy!

    Click image for larger version. 

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