Let's see some Webers

[Eddie Sheehy]

Gotta squeeze an Absaroka in....

[JeffD]

I assume you like your Aspen.

I absolutely love it.

I originally purchased it as a second, so that I could put my Gibson A2 (see avatar) on lighter duty.

What I discovered is the Aspen is its own #1. For some things I like its sound better than the Gibson, and I love having the option of two distinct sounds.

I use D'Addario J74 or GHS PF270 strings on it, I forget which. I get sustain to spare. It just about rings till you stop it. I also get some cool sympathetic ringing, which I really love.

It is not a Gibson sound, as I have said, and perhaps not the first choice for bluegrass, but BG is only fraction of what I play, and the Aspen is superb at so much else, celtic, old timey, klezmer and eastern european, and it has its own way of singing those old cowboy waltzes.

It is often my go to instrument.

I have played the Weber Yellowstone, and I loved it. But I disagree with the idea of moving up or down - I absolutely deny that the Aspen is a beginners instrument. I have been playing for awhile, and it does really well a lot of the things I need a mandolin to do.

[Randy King]

I do think that Bruce Weber and his bunch are making some of the finest insturments on the market, weather its an A model or an F model. Everyone I have heard has great tone, volume, and sustain!!

[Terry W. Harvey]

Here's my STE F Style

[Randy King]

Man Those Are All Great Looking Mandolins!

[bassthumper]

tony the picture of your vintage oval a is just evil....my weber se cedar is on my knee..it's a beautiful fall day....and we really should be sittin' somewhere in the sunshine making those puppies serenade the day together

[banjer23]

Ive owned probably 20 mandos,,Stivers,,Rigels,,several Kentuckys,Washburns,etc,,no doubt,,this Yellowstone is the best of the bunch,,just my 2cents worth,,,

[Ivan Kelsall]

Here's one for Ken Berner - Did you find that your Beartooth 'opened up' over a period of time or has it stayed much the same since you bought it ?. My Fern has opened up superbly,but it does get more playing than the Beartooth. My Beartooth is only 12 months or so old & it just seems to stay the same - good. I've been told that the different styles of bracing used ie. x-bracing in the Beartooth & Tone-bar bracing in the Fern,make for different opening up periods,with a more defined
difference when 'opened up', for the Ferns. And yes,the Beartooth Mandolins really are a joy to play,
Saska

[Ken Olmstead]

When you buy the armrest/tailpiece you wind up with an extra Weber tailpiece with a 'W' on it. I guess then, the only market is for other Weber owners or guys named Will or williamson or warner or......but it is a great armrest and does the job nicely.

I recognize that armrest!!

[Michael Cameron]

When you buy the armrest/tailpiece you wind up with an extra Weber tailpiece with a 'W' on it. I guess then, the only market is for other Weber owners or guys named Will or williamson or warner or......but it is a great armrest and does the job nicely.

I love these Weber armrest/tailpieces. I have one on a Kimble A5(the "W" is for Will,I reckon).

I bought two;but,the only problem is,they don't fit all mandolins.(or I would have one on my Gibson Monroe/"W" for WSM/Bill).

May be able to "modify" it to fit...

c

[Patrick Sylvest]

It's a good fit, wouldn't you say Ken?

[PsychoMando]

First: Randy, what a terrific thread to start. This really feeds the obsessions for us web-o-holics.
Second: You make awesome mandolin straps! (The preceding was an unpaid product endorsement and the endorser is not related to Randy in any way - that he knows of).
Third: Alright - I already posted pictures of my Yellowstone. But hey, doing this post is distracting me from getting any real work done today. So here goes -
This was a gift from my wife for our 20th anniversary.
First, what you don't see:
Tone-bar bracing, which ages better over time.
A cedar top, which makes for a richer sound and better projection.
A McIntyre Acoustic Feather pick-up, the perfect assist when playing in church with enthusiastic banjo players, electric keyboardists and drummers.

[PsychoMando]

Second, what's up front:
A custom "filled" tailpiece that matches the color of the cedar top.
A "Wood-Nymph" with custom inlay of "Hypomone" - a Konia Greek word that roughly translates "God's grace under fire."
A fossilized, walrus-bone bridge and nut. This improves tone and volume. Vern was kind enough to create a custom "Brekke" bridge on this.

[PsychoMando]

A Gecko inlay in the scalloped fret-board. In the desert Southwest, the sighting of a gecko is considered to be a blessing upon a home. The three stones on his back are sapphire - the stone for September (the month my wife and I married and the birth month for both of our children).
I wanted a finger rest, and Mary wisely suggested making it scalloped to flow with the fret-board.

[PsychoMando]

A truss-rod cover inlaid with "Wonder" - my middle name (my parents had a sense of humor).
The "Fern" abalone headstock. An upgrade for the Yellowstone.

[PsychoMando]

Thirdly, on the back:
A cross in the heel - a reflection of the most significant relationship in my life.
The headstock inlay - the date of our 20th wedding anniversary.

[PsychoMando]

A custom Weber “W” gold tone-gard that Tony built special.

[PsychoMando]

Well - back to the salt mines for me. Keep on pick'n

[Randy King]

Hey Psycho Mando, I take it you might be Dr. Paul?, That is one truly awesome Mandolin !!! I like every detail and aspect of it. Not to mention, My better half and I were married on the same day you were, I'm not sure about the year. We were married in 1980.

AND I REALLY LIKE THOSE TONE GAURDS!!!!!!

[Rob Powell]

Vey nice stuff Paul! I have a Celtic knot tone gard on my Yellowstone. You sure do have Weber mas but they make it easy to get afflicted

[PsychoMando]

O'la Randy!
Yes, the doctor is in.
"So, what I hear you saying is . . . ., " "How did you feel when your mother broke your mandolin?" "Clearly, this explains everything . . ."
"I'm sorry, our session time is up. This week I'd like you to journal about your earliest experiences with the mandolin. Reflect on how this became an ego dystonic substitution for your Oedipal longings."

Ahh, the life of a psychologist.

Meantime - Randy!
Thanks for the good words about my Yellowstone. Great minds marry on the same date! Erin (foolish girl) said "yes" on Sept. 20, 1986. And yes, my bluegrass band did play at the reception. So I figure she had fair warning about this whole mandophile thing. By-the-way, did I mention how very much I have enjoyed the mandolin straps you made for me? And how at every jam I get great comments on how cool they look? And how I continuously tell people they can order theirs from kingmandoman@aol.com? I can't remember if I told you that.

So, if I get some time before heading up to the Wickenburg bluegrass festival tomorrow, I'll try to post some pictures of my Fern (are we still talking mandolins?).
Keep on pick'n - Paul

[PsychoMando]

Hey Rob Powell!
Did you get the tone gard in black, silver, or gold? And yes, they are a serious, yet fun, upgrade for the sound of a mandolin.

[Randy King]

Here is my first Weber. A 04" Bitterroot.

[Randy King]

Hey Paul, I sure would like to see your Elite!

[PsychoMando]

Alright Mandoh-Maniacs:
So, it’s time to avoid some more work at the office. I thought I’d re-post some pictures of a special Weber Fern that I purchased at The Mandolin Store from Dennis and Brian (the best shop on the planet!). The thing that immediately drew me to her was the special coloring, called “Desert Dawn.” Over the past year and a ½ she has really opened up into a beautiful voice – growling lows balanced by a very sweet high end. (Freud would have a field-day with all this).