Here's my latest, a Bill Davis F5. It has an Engelmann Spruce top. My thanks to a fellow Cafe member for letting this beauty go. Original owner was Steve Mullins from the Mandolin Magazine. That's right, he ordered it without the fret dots!
Here's my latest, a Bill Davis F5. It has an Engelmann Spruce top. My thanks to a fellow Cafe member for letting this beauty go. Original owner was Steve Mullins from the Mandolin Magazine. That's right, he ordered it without the fret dots!
A shot of the back. I'm not sure if you will be able to see the volute on the back of the headstock where it meets the neck. A nice touch. 3 piece neck to boot.
A closer shot of the back
Close up top
Side view
Last one.
Bill Davis makes a beautiful Mandolin - flawless construction. A very responsive and balanced instrument. This one was made in 2002 so it still has a couple more years to fully come into it's own.
Bill's Mandolins are top drawer all the way. He deserves more recognition for his work. Keep a watch on him.
Welcome to the family!!!!!
..very nice...Ive heard some great things about these...a builder with a bullet....hes somebody to keep your eyes on fer sure...
Count me a big Bill Davis fan. His workmanship and the sound he's getting is simply first rate. His attention to detail is outrageous. Quite a few Davis mandolins in this area owned by folks I know. If any of you are at Winfield you should try to hook up with him. Great guy.
Good looking mandolin! Cool pictures!
WOW! Gotta love that thing.
What is the general price range for these?
John
Two ways to find out current prices
www.massstreetmusic.com
or look for BW Davis on the ads on the main list of threads.
Here's a pic of Billy and his daughter and a couple of other guys in the background playing his mandos
or here
Sure, he makes top-tier Fs, but that flat-top model he makes for the more reasonably priced is--my opinion--simply the best choice of quality mandolin on *the* market in the under $1K range. Sure, others look pretty, but you should hear these things. No questionable workmanship there. Hitting on all cylinders.
Off soap box.
I have a Bill Davis Artist A model and it's a true sweetheart. #It's my favorite mandolin for O'Carolan tunes. #His work seems to be getting better and better all the time.
That is a beautiful mandolin. I almost jumped on it myself. If it would have had the fingerboard dots, it might be sitting in my living room now. I have yet to play a Davis, but all the ones I have seen pics of have been amazingly good looking. I hope to get to see some more at Winfield this year.
Shaun
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
When I talked to Bill the other day, I asked him about installing some dots. He said he has never had that request beforeDown the road, I may be looking to take a drive south to his shop for the installation. An inexpensive addition. If I decide to go this route, it would be more for cosmetic purposes. I use the position markers on the side of the neck - not the board.
Shaun - it's a good thing (for me) that you like the dots better than I do #
Bill Davis appears to be a builder with a pretty short learning curve. He perhaps found the right mix of craftsmanship and tone with his first effort. Like Jim says, they keep getting better. The satin Artist at Mass Street is incredible.
It was probably a silly reason for not buying it. But it just looked naked to me. I'm glad you're happy with your purchase. I just might have to snag the next one that comes along. Like I need another mandolin!
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
i have one of bill's 2002 f5's and it is a cannon. i've been drooling over that one at mass st for some time now. pickn, i had a chance to play the one you have while it was in colorado and it too is a beaut. enjoy it.
jd
Proud owner of:
Bill Davis F5 #10502
Martin 000-M
JD- What number is your 2002 F5? Which model is it?
I understand Steve owned this for less than a year. The gentleman I bought it from told me the tone really changed since he had it. The other day, I raised the action a bit and noticed an increase in the volume and bass end. Beautiful and complex overtones too. I imagine it sounds quite different now from when you played it. This Davis F is bound to just get better and better. I'm groovin!
pNg-
mine is #10502, pretty unandorned-unbound neck and headstock, no dots :-) its western red cedar top and walnut back/sides/neck. i'll try and get a pic up here at some point. i've had it since mar 02 and it has just gotten better and better. someday i'll get out to winfield and try and hook up with bill. i've never met the man face to face.
jd
Proud owner of:
Bill Davis F5 #10502
Martin 000-M
JD- You have #5 and I have #6. I wonder who else out there is in the fold? A couple of folks posted on this thread that said they had a Davis.
Do send some pictures of yours here! A Cedar top with Walnut sides and back. I'll bet that is a nice one.
I've not met Bill either but may take a trip his way to get some abalone dots installed
We have #7, Billy's only "chocolate" f. #He didn't want to do it, thinking the grain would get lost in the dark but those of you who have seen it know it worked out fine! #Sweet as it can be.
KK
Picture is in the "Family" thread of 'Post a Pic...."
Karen- OK, so now we know who has #5, #6 and #7! Yours looks great - not to mention the rest of the family. Do you have some pics that show more up close detail? Yes, these little pickers are tricky to photograph.
Mine was not built for me but #6 is exactly the way I would have ordered it.
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