Mandolin Cafe Blog

A friend recently visited Italy for a day as part of a 12 countries in 14 days tour and said he saw all that was worth seeing. No need to return.

A common bistro meal in France consists of onglet (hanger steak). It's fabulous, affordable, and an absolutely wonderful meal in the hands of a competent cook. In the U.S., it's mixed in with stew meats or ground up for hamburger.

Feijoada is a remarkable dish made of throw-away cuts of smoked meats (think hoof and face meat, cheeks, parts...) and black beans (with side of white rice). The invention of slaves in Brazil, oddly, it's now considered a delicacy there, served in fine restaurants. Delicious.

And you reading this? Trust me, Lance Armstrong can beat you on a 40 lb. Huffy at any distance, on any day--time trial, mountain stage or single day classic. Your $5K tricked out road bike with titanium everything be damned.

What's all this have to do with mandolins?

If you're getting idea this piece is rambling all over the place and makes little sense, but some legitimate questions are getting raised, congratulations. You're getting the point. The relationship some people have with a mandolin creates a problem in paradigm for them.

Why are so many people interested in arguing the point that mandolins that are more expensive cannot be that much better--if better at all--than those that aren't? Oh yes, if it's twice the cost, it must produce twice the sound. Or better yet, march out that good ol' tired and tested line "twice as good." As if that's measurable.

Give me a break.

Musical instruments are about way, way more than the price tag. That applies from affordable to expensive. I happen to own a very expensive instrument, but relish the company of a vintage Gibson snakehead less than 10% the price of the former. I'm on the hunt for a 30s Kalamazoo (they're a steal!) at well under $750, but have something on order for close to 20 times that amount.

But let's get one thing straight, they aren't the same experience, and I have specific reasons why I choose to play one instrument over another. That my choice happens to be expensive and others may not be able to come to grips with that is simply not my problem.

Mandolins are not commodities based solely on price, and everyone is entitled to what pleases them. There are $20K+ mandolins I lust over, and those I wouldn't give a nickel for. There are $1K mandolins I'd be embarrassed to be seen with, and those I'd die to spend a day playing. Find ten musicians and you'd get ten different opinions on what they desire.

So, when someone feels the need to apply their problematic views with price comparisons in conversation, I head the other direction. Not interested. Why we make choices should be obvious.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the car wash to tidy up my 1996 model (paid for--easily worth $750) and then it's off to an early afternoon casual gig (in blue jeans) and then an evening performance in the Nutcracker orchestra (in a tux, no less), both on that pricey Nugget mandolin.

What a fool, when I could be driving my kid to school in a BMW instead.