View Profile: Ray(T) - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Aug-10-2022, 6:08am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Gibson F2 and F4. Difference in sound ? in Vintage Instruments

Yes, the restoration ones are fine; it’s the “normal” A style ones with “modern” spacing that have been known to be problematic. ... but how did you...

22 replies | 4751 view(s)

Aug-10-2022, 6:03am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Bluegrass Mandolin for a Newbie in Equipment

A rare beast indeed. (A music shop in Manchester that is!)

36 replies | 1499 view(s)

Aug-10-2022, 2:39am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Trouble with my mandolin not agreeing with my straps in Equipment

Are we talking here of the strap round your head or just over your right shoulder?

16 replies | 682 view(s)

Aug-09-2022, 3:11am

Ray(T) replied to a thread High e-string keeps snapping, help? in General Mandolin Discussions

I’d say it’s definitely something to do with the tuning post and it might be worth taking a file to it in order to round off any rough edges. I’ve...

19 replies | 995 view(s)

Aug-08-2022, 4:35pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread ID? F-style mandolin with Eagle front/back and wood trim in Looking for Information About Mandolins

That was my first thought but the front does look a bit plain for one of theirs.

9 replies | 484 view(s)

Aug-08-2022, 4:29pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Mandolin session in Edinburgh's Waverley Bar in Celtic, U.K., Nordic, Quebecois, European Folk

I think there’s one in Australia. Alan decidd to deliver it - personally! Mine is totally unique; it’s a 5 string fretless bass.

18 replies | 789 view(s)

Aug-08-2022, 10:36am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Mandolin session in Edinburgh's Waverley Bar in Celtic, U.K., Nordic, Quebecois, European Folk

Unusual guitar! It’s a “Northworthy” - the headstock inlay reveals the builder - Alan Marshall. Alan retired from building guitars a couple of years...

18 replies | 789 view(s)

Aug-08-2022, 8:30am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Bluegrass Mandolin for a Newbie in Equipment

Are Thoman now sorting the VAT side out for under £135 invoices? Most companies I’ve come across since brexit are either leaving it to the purchaser...

36 replies | 1499 view(s)

Aug-07-2022, 10:44am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Urgent Strings Question! (Help a beginner, please!) in Equipment

You might even prefer medium gauge strings! Other than intonation, the other thing to keep an eye on is neck relief. You might not notice it...

6 replies | 368 view(s)

Aug-07-2022, 10:27am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Bluegrass Mandolin for a Newbie in Equipment

It may look good for £45 but don’t forget to add shipping, VAT, carriers fees and hassle. There should be plenty of A style cases available - it’ll...

36 replies | 1499 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 4:36pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Advice on valuing my fathers Stefan Sobell mandolin in General Mandolin Discussions

Another quick word of advice - avoid selling it to someone in th USA. The paperwork involved simply isn’t worth the effort, especially if the...

10 replies | 1018 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 4:28pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Wrapping strings around tuners too many times restringing? in Builders and Repair

OK, tell us how you get them off again without using wire cutters?

35 replies | 1776 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 12:18pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Advice on valuing my fathers Stefan Sobell mandolin in General Mandolin Discussions

Yes, definitely contact Stefan. There are few, if any, dealers in the UK who I’d trust to value an instrument like this. Once you have an idea of...

10 replies | 1018 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 10:05am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Wrapping strings around tuners too many times restringing? in Builders and Repair

Yes. The string tends to keep it’s own tension after you’ve poked it through the hole. It’s a lot easier to do than to explain - I’m thinking of...

35 replies | 1776 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 2:39am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Stimudent in General Mandolin Discussions

I’m due to see my dentist next Tuesday. I’ll ask her if she knows anything about mandolins.

8 replies | 1005 view(s)

Aug-06-2022, 2:36am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Wrapping strings around tuners too many times restringing? in Builders and Repair

For years people have poked the string end through the hole, leaving an indeterminable length of slack, and then wound the tuner knob to take up the...

35 replies | 1776 view(s)

Aug-05-2022, 5:32am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Help identifying a mandolin banjo / banjolin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Shims? The rims on these often get distorted over time. Should have made it clear; the neck on the one in post #5 still doesn’t look original - I...

8 replies | 219 view(s)

Aug-05-2022, 5:17am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Crushed stone for headstock inlay? in Builders and Repair

Mike Vanden has used coral and stone in his guitar and mandolin inlays for some years - https://vanden.co.uk

10 replies | 673 view(s)

Aug-05-2022, 3:09am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Help identifying a mandolin banjo / banjolin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

As I said, the body and neck don’t look contemporary to me. Disassembly - easy enough - remove the strings and the eight screws into the wooden...

8 replies | 219 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 4:22pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Help identifying a mandolin banjo / banjolin in eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Difficult to say exactly what it is but I suspect that the body and neck aren’t contemporary. The body looks British whereas the neck doesn’t and the...

8 replies | 219 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 4:14pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Tax and import duty buying a mandolin from the UK? in General Mandolin Discussions

A worn case eh? A luthier friend of mine was apalled at the cost of importing a case from the US for a customer of his but he apparently insisted. ...

20 replies | 677 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 4:06pm

Ray(T) replied to a thread Wrapping strings around tuners too many times restringing? in Builders and Repair

It really doesn’t matter providing you’ve enough to allow the string to grip the post. The right number of even windings simply look better.

35 replies | 1776 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 11:47am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Tax and import duty buying a mandolin from the UK? in General Mandolin Discussions

I’ll echo the RIP for TAMCO. The other problem importing into the UK is that you simply receive an emailed bill from the shipping company. You pay it...

20 replies | 677 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 11:38am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Bluegrass Mandolin for a Newbie in Equipment

No reason why not but as your playing develops you’ll find that a heavier more rounded corner pick will float across the strings more easily. I...

36 replies | 1499 view(s)

Aug-04-2022, 6:45am

Ray(T) replied to a thread Bluegrass Mandolin for a Newbie in Equipment

You can’t go far wrong with D’addario EJ74 (they’re mediums)

36 replies | 1499 view(s)