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I'd suggest thin and flexible for Celtic and tremolo. This isn't a 'one size fits all' thing. Ballet, tap and clog all use foorwear appropriate for their dancing style. But you wouldn't do ballet...

If you have the energy, there's an endless thread about this type of Flatiron
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/3496-Compulsive-purchase-Flatiron-1N

Mine is a bit later model, with...

The hang gliding looks fun:

(Though I'd suggest turning down the audio volume)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAXjKgjaBW4

Well, a traditional mandolin didn't have such an endpin, nor a strap button. Both are recent additions. Many mandolins have neither. Whether inspired by a guitar or a violin may be determined on a...

I thought "Troublesome Creek" was the name of the song, maybe that's blues rather than country.

Thanks for asking. Yes, I still have the shim. I was intending to fit a replacement adjustable bridge, so far that is a work in progress. The bridge I bought had insufficient curvature to fit easily,...

I think you just need practice. Repetition over and over of the correct movement. In that respect, it will take time.

However, when I had that sort of problem, such as picking the wrong string, or...

I'm sure we already got to the bottom of this one. I looked at that page, these were the chords:
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If you already play guitar or one of the other instruments, that could help, but the...

Which site is that? Could you link an example so we can see what you were seeing, please.

I'm pretty sure it is just a reflection. It looks a bit odd as most of us are not used to seeing our mandolins (or anything else really) in the artificial environment of the photographer's studio.

That does look good. Congratulations!

The only think I bought was a cheap set of feeler gauges which became my files for nut and bridge. Cost about £5. Oh, and a new blank nut after I messed up by going too low. ;)

I'm sure you're right about the way to interpret this particular tune. Thank you for sharing the full arrangement.

Some pieces arranged for tutoring have one mandolin playing a simple part, using...

Sure. I once saw one of triangular design, a tapering shape with flat top and bottom as well as sides. It was certainly playable and sounded ok in the context of an informal jam.

There's also this...

Yes, that sounds familiar. I have an Eastman 305, it's well-made and looks nice, but it's hard work to extract any sound from it. The recently-acquired Stradolin barely needs a light touch of the...

Anyway, I thought I'd add a quick sound sample, doesn't cover all the capabilities of the mandolin, but it's something. (mistakes included free of charge)

I think you might need another mandolin (case) so they get one each!

Another look at the bridge:
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and the catalogue pages shared by Jim Garber. He gave the catalogue dates as 1952 and 1953.
...

A couple of days ago the delivery man brought me this Stradolin.

I'm pleased with it, definitely satisfying to play. The bridge I think should be adjustable but for some reason the two parts seem...

Yeah, that can be a good motivation. When I was a kid, playing (rather badly) with a bunch of others of similar ability, we all played a single melody line, but in some cases it was a counter-melody...

I must admit, I so rarely hear other mandolin players (live, in person) use tremolo that if I do chance upon an example, I'm overjoyed, no matter what the quality. I used to look forward...

After cutting my teeth on some self-taught stuff, I started to play with some other beginner mandolinists.
The first tune I learned with them was Човен хитається.
...

Manuel, the waiter from Barcelona:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7CeTXoxyU

Sounds to me as though the nut height is not as good as it might be. But adjustments need to be done with care, easy to go too low which then requires more effort to correct.

The phrase "resort to tremolo" sounds rather as though tremolo was something distasteful to be avoided, rather than the joyful experience it can be.