I have no financial interest but there's an intriguing looking Bill Davis A5 near the end of the Classifieds.
Nice price too.
I haven't heard much about his mandolins on these pages. What's the word?
I have no financial interest but there's an intriguing looking Bill Davis A5 near the end of the Classifieds.
Nice price too.
I haven't heard much about his mandolins on these pages. What's the word?
Wye Knot
Bill makes a great mandolin. I played an 'A' and 'F' style at Winfield last year and they both looked, sounded and played great. Excellent construction, great woods/materials. Highly recomended. I sound like a shill, but truly, they are fine intruments. NFI.
Tim
Passernig F5
I think it is a steal.
The secret is... your thoughts create vibrations.
Rigel Q95 espresso con panna
J Bovier Tradition satin carmel
Sullivan A style
Doug Edwards arm rests
Dudenbostel Hat
Picture of Big Mon himself...
I owned Davis F5 #16 for almost 2 years. It was a very fine mandolin in all areas. His fit and finish is as good or better than any maker out there. If I hadn't just taken 6 months off from working, I'd grab that A5 in a heartbeat.
Shaun
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
If it weren't for the special ordered slightly wider fingerboard, it'd be mine by now.
Bill told me the price of a new A5 and, yes, this one's certainly a steal.
Won't someone please take this out from under my eye?
Wye Knot
Just put our Billy D (#7) back in the case. # Hadn't played it for a while. #Still as sweet as candy!
Fear not, the slightly wider fretboard makes it a breeze to play!
Financial Interest Indeed!
Z
Member since 2003!
Good morning. I have a Bill Davis F Style Mandolin. Signed by Bill Davis 2-13-03 and #11203. Can anyone tell me anything about this beautiful instrument? Can anyone share a value range? Thank you all for any information I can get.
Must have sold as it is gone from Classifieds or at least I can't locate it !
I don't have it listed. I own it and wanted to find more information if possible.
Yankees1, I sent you a PM.
Yankees1, I sent you a PM.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bill Davis was a former aircraft employee in Wichita which is a hub for that kind of manufacturing. He had pretty serious CNC chops is what I always heard. He built mandolins sporadically for a few years and then quit quite a few years ago, guessing maybe 8-10 years. Its been longer that than since I've seen him. Not sure how long he did it full-time but it wasn't that long. They were fairly well respected, well made instruments. He was pretty much impossible to get ahold of when he was building and that hasn't changed since he left the business. His mandolins were either sold directly or through Mass Street Music in Lawrence. Possible one of the Wichita music stores might have carried a few but I doubt it. Believe I know one person in Kansas City that owns one of his mandolins but that's it. He's like a lot of regional builders that get well known locally and then decide to move on. It's not a business for everyone. Your chance of tracking down some that might know him is very slim. As far as appraisal, I'd say take it to a dealer that knows his business. Just not enough of them in the market.
Mandolin Cafe - Since 1995
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I'll echo everything Scott said. Bill was here and gone fairly quickly. But his build quality was top notch. Collings level fit and finish. One thing I didn't like and why I sold mine was he really dished out the recurve. That made the top edge of the binding a sharp edge. It was beautiful to look at and done very precisely but not very comfortable on the forearm. I guess and armrest would have solved the problem but I'm not a fan of all the add on products. Charles at Mandolin World Head Quarters sold my F5 a few years back. I think it went for around $3k. A lot of Mando for the money IMHO.
Mine did come from Mass St. Was deciding between the Davis and a matte finished MT2. Scott actually came over to the store and played both so I could hear them from the front.
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
Thank you so much for the great history!
Thanks also for the feedback! Probably just hang on to this instrument but nice to know more about Mr. Davis
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