New mandolin week: Ratliff

[rnjl]

Hi all, so it's not NMD but NMW as this arrived Wed. I work in a hospital so after a year of the pandemic I decided I was going to give myself something to look forward to, along with finishing an advanced degree. This is an upgraded Country Boy (Country Adolescent?) with gloss top and James tailpiece, big round C speed neck, two piece back and brown finish, which came out with interesting grain patterns. It's got some waking up to do but it's easy to play- only problem is I've been so busy for the past few years that I've barely played so it's time to get back on it. Halfway through the production process I saw Audey was making some in this batch with black binding so I switched over to that and I'm glad I did.

My other two mandolins are A models and boy, F models really feel different, the whole balance is strange at first. Finally, of course, can't say enough about how easy it is to work with Audey Ratliff. Great communication throughout and love his weekly production diaries. I feel like I have to watch the rest of the batch just because we've come this far together.

Oh, and I should say, the white splotch by the tailpiece in the first picture is just a reflection. I am not sure how to get these pictures to be upright, tried flipping them this way and that but they would only upload sideways. Maybe I'll try to take better pictures in brighter light tomorrow.

[addamr]

Congrats. Audey builds a nice mandolin.

Adam