my collection's complete

[fatt-dad]

Well, maybe. . .

Here they are, best I can photograph.

clockwise from upper left: My first mandolin, a Kay; an '84 Flatiron 1N (my current beach mandolin); '23 Gibson A2Z; '84 Flatiron A5-1; '12 Muth A-5; '12 Cohen A5; '20 Gibson A3; the IV kit (my second beach mandolin); the retired Romanian-made "Montana" (my first beach mandolin).





New for this year (shown above):





I love most of them (that neck joint on that IV kit and the Montana).

f-d

[jazzman13]

That Flatiron is just a boss!
A great collection.

[JeffD]

Woo hoo! Alot to love there.

[fatt-dad]

That Flatiron is just a boss!
A great collection.

I've enjoyed my Flatiron for quite a few years, but am not the original owner.





f-d

[John McCoy]

oops! double post

[John McCoy]

WW ! !

They're terrific.

Since I have premonitions, I now predict that within 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, and 7 hours you will contract a severe bout of scroll envy and feel compelled to acquire an equal number of F-styles. And then, of course (but I can't predict when), you will enter your bowlback period.

[GKWilson]

Geez Fattdad, I thought I had a problem.
I hear they have a 12 step program. But, I think you need 12 mandolins to start.
That's a Phatt collection.
Gary

[sgarrity]

Quite a collection!!

[EdHanrahan]

Why am I thinking about a batch of fresh-baked cookies? Yummm....

[cayuga red]

Congratulations Fats! Nice collection.

[Markus]

Do you intend to pass these down to your children?
If so, do you have any unmarried daughters?

[Jesse Harmon]

WW ! !

They're terrific.

Since I have premonitions, I now predict that within 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, and 7 hours you will contract a severe bout of scroll envy and feel compelled to acquire an equal number of F-styles. And then, of course (but I can't predict when), you will enter your bowlback period.

At the end of which you will leave the state of marital bliss and become a free man!

[journeybear]

Sure, you keep telling yourself, maybe someday you'll really believe it. Till then, you keep telling your wife that, maybe she'll quit needling you.

Now, I give you credit for at least saying so, and for amassing a nice range of instruments, even if they are all A styles, and even more so for having a white face - but no black top? No cherry finish? No Sheraton brown? And then, no F styles or bowlbacks? No mandolas, mandocellos, or OMs? No banjolins or steels? No electrics? Need I go on?

Well, of course, if you're satisfied with this .... good for you!

[brunello97]

I am not a man prone to envy, but if I were it wouldn't be over mandolins but because F-D apparently gets to go to the beach so often.

Mick

[Denny Gies]

Are you going to build an extra room on the house to keep'em in?

[JeffD]

Now, I give you credit for at least saying so, and for amassing a nice range of instruments, even if they are all A styles, and even more so for having a white face - but no black top? No cherry finish? No Sheraton brown? And then, no F styles or bowlbacks? No mandolas, mandocellos, or OMs? No banjolins or steels? No electrics? Need I go on?

Its a collection - not an assemblage. Besides, its a work in progress.

Seriously, FD shows some real good taste there. And, if he is not at work or at church, he better be playing music. Its not like he can't lay his hands on a mandolin.

[journeybear]

Its a collection - not an assemblage. Besides, its a work in progress.

Not sure what the distinction is ... ... but the main relevant factor is its completeness. Alleged completeness, that is. I have a feeling he may be just taking a bit of a breather from collecting, and is meanwhile presenting his collection in its current state of "completion." We shall see. There is certainly plenty enough to enjoy without adding more. But should he wish to continue, I had a few suggestions ...

[Gregory Tidwell]

I showed these photos to my wife and said, "See, honey? It could be worse!"

Honestly, I don't know what the heck it is with this instrument. I played violin for years and only wanted one. I played harmonica for years and only got a few keys and a chromatic. Then I pick up the mandolin and *POW* two years later I have the things hanging all over the house, many in varioius states of disrepair.

[Mandobart]

I showed these photos to my wife and said, "See, honey? It could be worse!"

That's exactly my sentiment. I tell my wife for a mid-life crisis (on my part) she is getting off easy!

Honestly, I don't know what the heck it is with this instrument. I played violin for years and only wanted one. I played harmonica for years and only got a few keys and a chromatic. Then I pick up the mandolin and *POW* two years later I have the things hanging all over the house, many in various states of disrepair.

Me too. I was totally satisfied for 30 years with one fiddle, one acoustic 6 string, one acoustic 12 string and one electric guitar. All acquired before I was married. Then I take up mandolin, and now its 2 mandos, one mandola, 2 OM's, a mandocello, one electric mando, and 2 violas (one is 5-string).

[Jim Garber]

Nah, I always was a collector. Stamps, coins, vintage postcards, instruments. Mostly I play a core group of instruments: maybe 2 carved top mandolins, one bowlback, a couple of Gibson flattops, one fiddle and one 5 string banjo. I obviously own a lot more but mainly if I had to sell off the others I would want yo keep the core group. of course, it is more fun to have the full herd and roam among them, a shepherd to my music.

[fatt-dad]

I do have a supportive wife. Please also bear in mind the IV kit, the Kay (given to me in 8th grade) and the Montana (worthless) are just wall hangers. I also maintain a mandolin fund, which is kept in balanced mutual funds. It took a bath a few years back, but the gains of the last few years has helped. I'd say the mandolins that I actually have real money in would cost way less than a Gibson Master Model or such. I know it's under 10 large. My mandolin fund is quickly becoming my new car fund. . .

I just like to document things like this and thought I'd share. I do like to play them though!

f-d

[Bob Clark]

Hi F-D,

They're gorgeous! How do you store them? Do you lock them away in their cases, or do you have a way to display them? If only some are on display, do you rotate the 'show'? I think they should be on display. They really are works of visual art as well as practical instruments. Congratulations on the beautiful collection. Keep growing it, it gives the rest of us something to aspire to.

Bob

[Tiderider]

Very impressive, I'd love to sample all of them. Is there any chance you could present a sound comparison for us to enjoy?

[fatt-dad]

I keep all of them in cases all the time. There are two exceptions, I hang the Kay and the Montana on my living room wall next to two or three baritone ukuleles. One of them is in my lap each day though.

I have thought of a Gil Model 1, but figure the A2Z is in the same ball park. Then again. . . .

f-d

[fatt-dad]

Very impressive, I'd love to sample all of them. Is there any chance you could present a sound comparison for us to enjoy?

I'm actually working to get some time in our church to play a few in such a large space. Maybe then? I really do want to see how they resonate in our old church and have a dude that's nuts about recording to capture the event.

Whether you enjoy the noodlings of a hobbiest is another question.

f-d