Search:

I was limited by the short height available on the Martin mandolin (about 6/10”). I called Vern Brekke and he sent me what he thought would work within these limitations. It turned out be one as in...

A good discussion of both the Brekke and Henry mandolin bridges by mandolin maker Peter Coombe.

https://www.petercoombe.com/publications/jaamim4.htm

I grew dissatisfied with the stock bridge on my 1929 Martin Style 20 mandolin because of its lack of adjustability (it’s a one piece, two footed design) and I hope another bridge might mellow out the...

Took the 904B and Martin to the Breaking Up Winter old time festival in Lebanon, Tn this week. Some of the best old time music jamming on the planet. Both mandolins were great. I guess the Martin...

I’m pretty satisfied with the 904D at this point. It plays extremely well. The crystal clear tone is just perfect for Irish music. This mandolin has some pretty specific strengths.

The chords sound great on the 904D with Thomastiks, very harmonious and smooth; but much different than the “chop” of the 815, which is a quintessential bluegrass machine. My old Martin Style 20...

I tweaked the 904D some more today. Tossed the Martin Monels and replaced with Thomastik Precizion mediums, the same I use on my Martin. I like the smooth feel and the sound shows promise. Sure...

We had a good jam this morning and I took the opportunity to really pick the 904D a lot. The tone is excellent, the chord sound really sweet. It just doesn’t really pop at this point, but it did...

A band ate acquired a beautiful Collings MT2 which has caused me some mandolin envy. I decided to see if I could find a used Collings at a “reasonable price”. I ended up finding a used Collings MT...

It appears.that Bill played a 1929 Style 20, since that was the only year the model was made without fretboard binding. 101 were made that year.
I have a 1929 with very little little wear. Bob...

Still playing great at 1.5 years of ownership. I alternate this Mandi with a 2006 Charles Horner A with a more bluegrassy tone. But the Martin is easier to play and has an incredibly unique tone.

After a 2 year search to track this Martin puppy down, I've now had it about 2 years. When I received the instrument, it was unbelievably clean for a 90 year old instrument. The biggest flaw was...

I can give a thumbs up for Bob. He can handle diffucult Jo's like converting bar to modern frets.

You could strip the mandolin of strings and attachment and use rubbing compound to gloss the whole thing. A lot of folks have done this with their satin Martin's.

I don't know for sure, never having disassembled an Eastman neck, but I wonder if the rod has enough curve, with a filler piece glued on top, to make the neck straighten when the nut is tightened. ...

I owned a newer MDA-815 mandola. When I attempted adjusting, it reached its thread limit and I stopped. The neck was not perfectly straight, but functionally straight enough. I have traded off that...

Ran across another Eastman today with same. An old Eastman dealer friend of mine suggests a "design flaw".

I have encountered several Eastman mandolins with which I been unable to adjust the neck to adequate straightness. In other words, the nut bottoms out. Is it that the rod is installed incorrectly? ...

Since most old Gibson As vary in sound one from another, the Eastman MD-404 fits right in the family, kind of like a double first cousin. I've owned a MD-504, a MD-514, a Gibson A, an A-4, and...

I'm a lover of oval holed mandos, particularly old Gibsons. The first imprint itself on me was was a 1917 F-2. It was perfect tonally. Next was an Old Wave A that sounded great except for a...

My personal favorite so far is the Martin. It is an absolute joy to play solo, like when I'm in the practicing on the couch. The Martin sounds so clear and bell like, and is so easy to play. The...

I now have two vintage oval hole mandolins - 1920 Gibson A-4 and a 1929 Martin Style 20. Both are in excellent condition for 100 and 91 year old instruments. The Gibson has a well repaired and...

I would assume that originality of original hardware is nearly as important as an original finish on a vintage instrument. A new or as new tailpiece just wouldn't look right on a vintage piece.

I had found myself in possession of several instruments that I was mildly dissatisfied and/or bored with. Looking at the Carter Vintage website, I spied something which caught my attention; a 1920...

A fellow up here in the mountains invented a concoction he calls a banjammer which has a a dulcimer neck coupled to a little drum. In the hands of a skilled player it just sounds bad, but with a...