my collection's complete

[Nick Gellie]

Hand-made instruments are a different breed though. My Flatiron A5-1 was an eye opener!

f-d

Can you show us a photograph of it? Was it x-braced or did it have tonebars?

[fatt-dad]

Can you show us a photograph of it? Was it x-braced or did it have tonebars?

it was x-braced. See OP.

f-d

[fatt-dad]

All the mandolins I've ever owned, as best I can recall. The Kay, A3, 1N, Montana, IV Kit, Cohen, Muth A and Ellis (just got today!) remain.

‘50s Kay
Aria PM-780 (marked “hand made,” f-style)
Gibson A-3
Alvarez A-100 (12-fret, a-model, f-holes, wood binding)
Framus Guitar-shape
Joe Hayes Unique with f-holes (folk art)
Ibanez A-5 (15-fret, snakehead)
Kingston Electric (hollow body)
Flatiron 1N
Montana A Oval (Romanian-made)
Kentucky A-180 f-hole (MIJ)
Kentucky A-160S (MIJ)
Vega VM-10 (MIJ, laminate)
Ibanez A-model
Framus A-model
Flatiron A5-1 (Carlson)
Hondo A oval hole
Alvarez A-400 (Martin cant-top clone)
Fender FM-61SE
gibson “opryland” (tourist souvenir)
Aria M-300 (2-point)
Yasuma YM-130 (solid wood, MIJ)
Kentucky KM-180B
Aria Pro II A-style (very disappointing, laminate)
Alvarez 2-point
Kalamazoo KM-11
Ibanez A-style (interesting distressed finish)
Ibanez D-hole
Kentucky KM-250S (MIJ)
Aria M-180
Stiver A5 (great!)
Washburn M-2
Muth F-5
Breedlove KO
A5 IV kit
Cohen A5 (redwood/walnut)
Muth A5
’24 Gibson A2Z
Phoenix Bluegrass
Ellis A5 Deluxe

[Nick Gellie]

Impressive collection you have had. I like the way you have balanced your collection between Os and Fs mandolins.

Well how does your Ellis A5 rate against the others in your collection? It would be great to have a video clip.

[John Soper]

I'm dying to know- our little snow storm kept me from getting over to try it out when it was at the Mutt's...

[fatt-dad]

The Ellis is a great mandolin. I think one interesting aspect is the 14-in scale length. It's beautiful and very resonate. Really fun to play!

Here's a photo along with my Cohen.



f-d

[dang]

Beautiful pair!

[fatt-dad]

. . . moving on.

The Ellis was released. I attempted the purchase of a Gilchrist Model 1, but it was damaged by UPS and returned for the insurance claim.

Today, I received a 1925 snakehead A or A-1. Looks like a '24 with the worm-under tuners. Serial number is gone. Sounds great, but it's in for setup. I need to update my family photo.

Still waiting on Wayne. . .

f-d

[usqebach]

If I can ask, why did the Ellis go? I've only played one briefly at Gruhn's but it really seemed much easier to play than anything else in the store. I'm taking a business trip to Nashville, and hope to go into Carter's Vintage Guitars and try theirs.

Also, how was the Gilchrist damaged? And does it appear the insurance will pay up without a hassle?

Thanks!

[mandroid]

I'm starting to need refrets on my collection..

[fatt-dad]

If I can ask, why did the Ellis go? I've only played one briefly at Gruhn's but it really seemed much easier to play than anything else in the store. I'm taking a business trip to Nashville, and hope to go into Carter's Vintage Guitars and try theirs.

Also, how was the Gilchrist damaged? And does it appear the insurance will pay up without a hassle?

Thanks!

I don't quite think the Ellis was suited to my playing. I go to large jams, I play old-time, I don't play bluegrass, but I like the power of an f-hole mandolin in these big-jam settings. The Ellis didn't work in the large-jam setting - FOR ME!

The Gilchrist was a big disappointment. Not the mandolin, the issue from shipping. The seller gave the Model 1 and its Calton case (mint green and quite cool) to the UPS store for packing. They packed it all right! I mean the Calton was double wrapped in bubble wrap, the enveloped case was floating in a sea of peanuts and all that was wrapped up in a cardboard box. Who'd a thought there'd be an issue?

Well, I didn't. I opened up that box and (finally) got to the mandolin. Tuned it up, played a few tunes and looked it over. Then I noticed a 1/4-in "nick" on the north side of the back - you know right at the tit that covers the neck. Then I noticed a seam separation from the sides and the back. Then I got that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Was I sold a damaged instrument? I mean how could such truama occur? I was mystified. . .

Being an engineer, I studied the situation. No doubt I called the seller (we'd already spoken, so I felt good about the dude and all). He assured me that he shipped an undamaged instrument, but I don't trust everybody. I was just baffled. . . Then I noticed the way a Calton is built. You see, below the accessory compartment there's a plywood underlayment. Believe it or not, if the mandolin were to suffer a sudden shock, the side foam on the Calton can yield enough for the tit of the back to come in contact with the plywood underlayment. No joke. Then I looked at the box. Well it was subtile, but the end of the box had three accordian pleats - a clear tell of some fall.

It all began to make sense. Thankfully, I had thought this through, 'cause UPS's first reaction was the seller shipped me a damaged mandolin. Yeah, he came out to me and I had all the packing goods and some photos. I think the seller's being made whole. Not real sure, but my photos and observations have seemed useful.

I think I would have loved that mandolin. They ain't cheap though. I'm into my new snakehead for less than a third the price of the model 1 and about 40 percent the cost of my a2z.

Not that it's about the money. . .

f-d

[yankees1]

Are you a polygamist ?

[Michael Weaver]

I like your honesty. If a mandolin doesn't work for you then dump it. I think it's easy to fall into the "I paid a lot for this so I'm going to make excuses for it and make it work". Life is too short. At least your collection is complete now....

[fatt-dad]

Are you a polygamist ?

27 years with the same woman. More than that with my A3.

I have an interest in playing different mandolins though and don't go to festivals. I'm willing to gain or lose a few hundred bucks a year with my hardware hobby. The missus knows that in general, I make sound purchases and rarely suffer a loss.

The kids don't get it. Then again what else do grownups do that they actually get anyhow. . .?

On a related note, I also practice and have a duet partner. He's pulling me into classical, Irish, Celtic and expanding my approach to old-time music. Fascinating to make duets with hammered dulcimer and fingerstyle guitar! Quite the challenge to learn Telemann and Bach! Speed is important, but technique seems to be where the body's burried. I'm getting better shifting positions and working the neck more.

Thankfully, my buddy Dave knows my setup and knows how to get my instruments right. He's got my new snake right now and it'll get a partial refret and work on the nut.

The next builder on my radar is Passernig. Don't know why, but for some reason, I really want to play one of his mandolins.

f-d

[Jim Garber]

Yes!! this thread will have its 2nd anniversary in a few months. This has to be the best-titled thread. Keep up the good work, F-D!

[John Soper]

F-D: Love the Ellis- it works for me in the group I play with... Keep me appraised of you additions, I don't mind seconds.

[fatt-dad]

shameless post to show my 1925 Gibson A. I just got it back from setup and new (stainless steel) period-width fret job. Then I put T-I Starks and had a go or dozen on it. Great fun! Contrasted it to my A3 (which I love and also has T-I Starks). Nice distinction. Folks talk about the "Loar" influence over on the oval holes. I do hear a difference. Both with the single transverse brace south of the sound hole.

Just a fun hobby night.



f-d

[pheffernan]

Today, I received a 1925 snakehead A or A-1. Looks like a '24 with the worm-under tuners.

Looks a lot like my '24, sans the original bridge and pickguard as well as seemingly much of the play wear:

[fatt-dad]

yes, the bridge is a replacement. The mar on the back shows it had the originally had the old-school clamp-style pickguard.

It does look nice for the age, but there are signs of wear. Couldn't believe how it had been previously played, based on the fret wear.

f-d

[fatt-dad]

the new family photo - july 2014.



f-d

[AubreyK]

Hey, Mr Dad - I love the mandos, but I am really digging the straps!?!?! (I'm a weaver, too... or will be when I have time again. I'm thinkin' 2021...)

Could you tell me more about them, please?

[JeffD]

Are you a polygamist ?

He practices polymandory.

[fatt-dad]

My mom bought the two multi-colored weavings on the folk's trip to Costa Rica over 25 years ago. This winter my daughter studied in Costa Rica. The missus and I went there during her spring break and I bought the purple one (the only one at the open-air shop on that day). My daugher picked up the green one during her later travels. I love these straps too! Thanks for noticing them. They've upstaged my shoelace braid strap, but I've used many of those too.

I'll share something interesting that I learned this weekend. I've owned the Muth for just about 2 years. I've tried the J-74s, and the FW-74 on it, strings that work on other instruments. To me, that Muth sounded thin and just not that powerful. I had Dr. Cohen do setup and such, but it still left me cold. So, on Friday I found a set of
Bush monels and tried them on the Muth. Wow! It found its voice on those strings! I usually use T-Is on my mandolins (all the others in the photo have T-Is on them). So, I'm getting used to the pick dragging over the rougher windings, but that'll be a quick adaptation. So, it's like finding a new mandolin in my house.

I know I'm not alone in having multiple mandolins (well guitars too). I'll go a spell on one and then grab another for a spell. So, to me it's like having my own music shop in the house. In a few more weeks I'll be off my Muth kick and refind my A3, my Cohen, my A or my pancake. What a fun luxury!

f-d

[fatt-dad]

Four years later. . .

The Muth (currently in for a K&K), Cohen, A3 get all my playtime. The Flatiron still goes to the beach. I've parted with the black-face A model Gibson. I gave my IV kit to a former colleague. It needed a neck reset for me to continue playing it. He'll likely go with extra lights and noodle on the sofa (young child in the house and such).

I still talk to Wayne several times a year and he still says he'd like to make a white-faced snakehead a-model.

The most recent nag has been to consider an f-model - something with some real estate on the nut. Also, to consider an octave mandolin. The latter being the greatest unknown, but the greatest reward too. I mean it could be really cool for my duet work.

On the sofa, I do play guitar, but prefer mandolin.

f-d

‘50s Kay
Aria PM-780 (marked “hand made,” f-style)
Gibson A-3
Alvarez A-100 (12-fret, a-model, f-holes, wood binding)
Framus Guitar-shape
Joe Hayes Unique with f-holes (folk art)
Ibanez A-5 (15-fret, snakehead)
Kingston Electric (hollow body)
Flatiron 1N
Montana A Oval (Romanian-made)
Kentucky A-180 f-hole (MIJ)
Kentucky A-160S (MIJ)
Vega VM-10 (MIJ, laminate)
Ibanez A-model
Framus A-model
Flatiron A5-1 (Carlson)
Hondo A oval hole
Alvarez A-400 (Martin cant-top clone)
Fender FM-61SE
gibson “opryland” (tourist souvenir)
Aria M-300 (2-point)
Yasuma YM-130 (solid wood, MIJ)
Kentucky KM-180B
Aria Pro II A-style (very disappointing, laminate)
Alvarez 2-point
Kalamazoo KM-11
Ibanez A-style (interesting distressed finish)
Ibanez D-hole
Kentucky KM-250S (MIJ)
Aria M-180
Stiver A5 (great!)
Washburn M-2
Muth F-5
Breedlove KO
A5 IV kit (donated away)
Cohen A5 (redwood/walnut)
Muth A5
’24 Gibson A2Z
Phoenix Bluegrass
Ellis A5 Deluxe
'25 Gibson A (or A1)

[JeffD]

Have you considered a resonator?

I say that because I find my rez is the only tool for the job in many cases. I don't pull it out all that much - unless its needed. When its needed, nothing else will do. Nothing.