Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: The Darlings Mandolin switch

  1. #1
    Registered User Frankdolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    near Boston, MA
    Posts
    859

    Default The Darlings Mandolin switch

    I came across this compilation of Darlings performances on the Andy Griffith TV show that all have mandolin and are pretty cool. But what drew my attention was midway through the mandolinist switches from an early Gibson F4, I'm guess'n, to what looks like a period Gibson F5. I think the early Gibson blows away the new one. What do you guys think? WARNING! Commercials.

  2. #2

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    The 'Darlings' were actually the 'Dillards' and they helped introduce the (uninitiated) world to the Bluegrass sound through that show. As I understand it, the mandolin you see is not always the mandolin you hear. One of our friends on this forum (f5loar) is pretty familiar with the folks involved and knows a lot of the inside stories. Maybe Tom will see your post and chime in.
    "I play BG so that's what I can talk intelligently about." A line I loved and pirated from Mandoplumb

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to FLATROCK HILL For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    Quote Originally Posted by FLATROCK HILL View Post
    The 'Darlings' were actually the 'Dillards' and they helped introduce the (uninitiated) world to the Bluegrass sound through that show. As I understand it, the mandolin you see is not always the mandolin you hear. One of our friends on this forum (f5loar) is pretty familiar with the folks involved and knows a lot of the inside stories. Maybe Tom will see your post and chime in.
    Absolutely right Flatrock, I remember Tom saying that for most of the recordings Dean Webb used an F-5 in the recording tracks, unless that turnip truck backed over my head. I was fascinated by those episodes with the Dillard’s as well as the few with the “Kentucky Colonels” I think there were only two of those but, several more with the Dillard’s.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Timbofood For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    Registered User Murphy Slaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Southern Illinois
    Posts
    400

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    Quote Originally Posted by Timbofood View Post
    as well as the few with the “Kentucky Colonels”
    I only saw 1 of those, one time, and recognized Clarence right off the bat. I don't know how the dates line up with the "Live In L.A." album with Scotty Stoneman, but there's not a lot of video Bluegrass from those days and it's always a hoot when you see some.
    1933 Gibson A-00 (was Scotty Stoneman's)
    2003 Gibson J-45RW (ebony)
    2017 Gibson J-15

    The Murph Channel
    http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkomGsMJXH9qn-xLKCv4WOg

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Murphy Slaw For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    South of Cleburne, North of Hillsboro, Texas
    Posts
    5,089

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    Re: The Kentucky Colonels

    Whoa Mule
    is the only one I've seen on Andy Griffith that I recall ... I've seen every episode of the show. The KC included both Roland and Clarence there, and Roland has a mandolin break. If they were on more than once, I'd love to revisit those episodes!



    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpKhWePGNPc
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
    ----------------------------------
    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

    ----------------------------------
    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
    - YouTube Stuff

  9. #6
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    South of Cleburne, North of Hillsboro, Texas
    Posts
    5,089

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    Just checked the Andy Griffith archives ... The Country Boys did appear in two episodes, both from season 1: Mayberry On Record, and Quiet Sam
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
    ----------------------------------
    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

    ----------------------------------
    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
    - YouTube Stuff

  10. The following members say thank you to Mark Gunter for this post:


  11. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    There were at least two three-point mandolins, one with a broken headstock but the other had a torch on it. Also at least one two point F4. And a young Bob Denver in Bile that Cabbage Down.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  12. #8

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    I read that the prop department of the Andy Griffith Show thought Clarence White's guitar looked weird with no white dots on the fingerboard, so they made some out of something and glued them on for the filming.

  13. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland north
    Posts
    277

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    I'm surprised that Shady Grove wasn't part of that Darlings compilation:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2nEgYiqQUk

    It has some nice mando breaks, and closeups of that 3-point oval hole. The picture quality isn't great, but you can tell it's got the Handel inlaid tuner buttons, and a fancy headstock inlay (torch and wire?), and the big headstock scroll is missing.

    Also, there appear to be at least 3 different mandos in that compilation - of the later 2-points, there's one with block inlays in the fretboard and one with dots.

  14. #10
    Registered User Elliot Luber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Long Island, NY, USA
    Posts
    4,157

    Default Re: The Darlings Mandolin switch

    Perhaps someone just popped a string mid-shoot.

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
  •