Nugget Ajr

[sgrexa]

Hey Nick, with temps <20 deg.F I dream of SoCal often but do not get out there as much as I'd like. Hopefully we will get to play someday. If anyone around the Phila. area wants to get together to jam, send me a PM.

Sean

[SWS]

We'll after 7 months of owning this gem I finally am posting a few photos.

[SWS]

The top is Red Spruce, back is Sugar Maple. Schaller tuners, nut width is between 1 1/16" and 1 1/8",
At this time she is strung up with J75's, Tone wise I like the medium gauges better.

The very first thing I noticed was how light she is compared to my MT2.

I am still very very happy!

[sgrexa]

Very cool Scott, thanks for posting. I have put some mileage on mine over the last six months, it is a dream to play, featherweight and the whole thing vibrates like a beast wherever you choose to hit on the fretboard. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Enjoy!

Sean

[sgarrity]

I love everything about these except that tailpiece! I'd have to put a James on there immediately. Beautiful wood and sunburst on that one!

[fatt-dad]

Beautiful mandolin! Not sure about that tailpiece. Is it unique to Nugget?

f-d

[sgrexa]

I agree, you got some nicer wood then mine, love the curl on that back! I think he made some of these with Englemann and red maple but I haven't heard one of those yet. Yes, the tailpiece is Nugget's own design and while not everyone's cup of tea, it is a very efficient design. String changes are a breeze. Mine is made out of cast aluminum, which is nice and light like the rest of the instrument. I plan on replacing the green felt with black at some point in time. It doesn't pose any annoyances with my right arm rubbing against it or anything, otherwise I would consider something else, but I have no complaints.

Sean

[sgarrity]

Anybody have an up close pic of the top of the tailpiece?

[Tom Sanderson]

[Tom Sanderson]

[Michael Weaver]

Hmmm I know he was going for simplicity in design but that is pushing it for me. The rest of it looks beautiful though.

[sgarrity]

Thanks Tom. Very interesting. I wonder why he decided to have these made instead of going with something that was already available? Is he trying to keep the juniors as light as possible? I play with my forearm directly over the tailpiece. So ones like this that leave the twisted ends exposed just don't work for me. Gary Price had a design or two that left them exposed as well.

[Jim Garber]

I kind of like that tailpiece's simplicity.

BTW a few years back I contacted Sandy Munro (his rep) and asked if Nugget would make an oval-hole A-Jr and the answer was no but I could get an oval hole from him but it would be std model and into the 5-figure range. Still, someday I would consider this Junior, certainly if I start to condense my sprawling collection into more sensible size and go for quality vs. quantity. I have played a few Nuggets and they are in my radar.

[Tom Sanderson]

I'm not sure what his reasoning was when he designed them. I go back-and-forth between my Ajr and my F5 and I don't really notice any difference while playing them. My F5 has the traditional Gibson style tailpiece cover.

[bruce.b]

I love that tailpiece. Simple and elegant, exactly what it needs to be and no more.

[sgarrity]

And the perfect solution just showed up in the classifieds! Two of them actually..........

[SWS]

Anybody have an up close pic of the top of the tailpiece?

Well I typed up a reply and I don't know where it went but it's not here?

The long story short, I like the tailpiece. My arm doesn't usually rest or contact the tailpiece so it's no problem for me. I like the design a lot.

The photos well...the sun was just right, blue skies and digital photograph can enhance certain features you wouldn't normally see with the naked eye

[Tom Sanderson]

I recently bought this Nugget Ajr (#295) from Mike Kemnitzer. It was his personal mandolin that he picked from a batch of 6 he made in late 2013/early 2014. It is light as a feather and plays and sounds amazing. I think he has only made about 10 of these and does not plan on making anymore.

[Steve-o]

That's a beauty Tom. So what's your current Nugget count?

[Tom Sanderson]

Three at the moment. One for home, one for playing out, and one for a backup.

[Steve-o]

You are a lucky guy. I live near Mike K but only dream of owning one.

[Tom Sanderson]

I live near Mike K

Where do you live? I'm from Traverse City. I have a house there, and go back a few times a year. You can PM me if you want.

[SWS]

Tom,

Right-on man. So, do you still have the Ajr Prototype? If so which one do you like better. It looks like your new one has a 3-piece neck, what about the prototype. Are they both Adi/Sugar Maple?


Take Care

[Tom Sanderson]

do you still have the Ajr Prototype? If so which one do you like better. It looks like your new one has a 3-piece neck, what about the prototype. Are they both Adi/Sugar Maple?

Yes, I still have the prototype (#277). I'm not sure which one I prefer yet, they are different, but the same. The new one (#295) does have a 3 piece neck #277 does not. They are both adi/maple, but #277 was made from antique maple that was found in the Bohmann Guitar Factory when it was opened up in the 70's after being locked for over 40 years. Here's some info in that:
http://www.harpguitars.net/history/bohmann/bohmann1.htm

#277 has a one piece back which is not sunburst, only the top, also it has a full size pickguard and a nickel finish on the tailpiece

[SWS]

but #277 was made from antique maple that was found in the Bohmann Guitar Factory when it was opened up in the 70's after being locked for over 40 years.

Ohhh Yeah, I remember hearing something about that somewhere. I think there were a few made with the old antique maple.

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen it before

Thanks