What Mandolin Sounds Closest to Nugget Sound

I know, most will say NUGGET. However, it's very hard to find what I'm looking for and I've recently been told Mike is no longer making the A Jr. I love the understated look of the Nugget Ajr and the Nugget sound.

Of mandolins available today, what do you think would be the best choice for that look/sound? I'm looking very seriously at a Collings MT2-V with either Engelmann or Italian spruce top.

What do they sound Like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1cs7RIfhdo ?

Below are a couple examples on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=906JaK7oYEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP27E4KPCok

How much do you want to spend? I think you're on the right track with the MT-2V or maybe and Ellis A5

I've played 3, heard 4...the best example to my ears sounded/felt like a cross between a Gil and an Ellis...YMMV

Budget would be flexible based on mandolin and sound/condition.

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Originally Posted by KMaynard

Budget would be flexible based on mandolin and sound/condition.

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Then why not just get a Nugget?

I can't find a Nugget A jr for sale and Mike is no longer taking orders for this model. I've tried, trust me.

have you tried posting a wanted ad here in the classifieds? You'd be surprised what might come out of the woodwork...

I sent you a PM

The first clip has the better sound to me although it says it's a Gilchrist Model 1. Then again what has it been recorded on to make it sound so different to the other 2 clips of the Nugget?

Thanks Tom. I appreciate it.

Yeah, I know sound is very subjective. I've had the opportunity to play 3, 2 f style and one A 5 (not the A Jr.). They just have a unique feel and sound to them. They feel alive in your hands and the sound effortlessly projects the most resonant sound I've ever heard. It's like they become a part of you.

It's hard to explain.

Would a Collings Tim O'Brien model count?

If you want understated couldn't he build you any model more understated if it's custom or is body shape that different, I'm just brainstorming I'm not familiar with Nuggets.

Lawrence Smart makes some outstanding mandos, not "too" hefty in price.

http://www.lawrencesmart.com/mandolins.html

The first mandolin in the top video in post#3 has the fret dots lower in the fret (not the middle). That is cool.

I would not judge the tone from those couple of videos because of sound compression in the videos, type of plectrum used and style of playing. First one was played in the upper register and the other one was like a mandolin on steroids.

Plenty of A mandolins sound like that for much less spondoola. Nugget A Juniors are probably great mandolins but I would play a lot of others before one bought a Nugget.

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Originally Posted by AlanN

The first mandolin in the top video in post#3 has the fret dots lower in the fret (not the middle). That is cool.

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That is not a Nugget, it was made by Marty Jacobson. The Nugget is later in the video.

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Originally Posted by KMaynard

Yeah, I know sound is very subjective. I've had the opportunity to play 3, 2 f style and one A 5 (not the A Jr.). They just have a unique feel and sound to them. They feel alive in your hands and the sound effortlessly projects the most resonant sound I've ever heard. It's like they become a part of you.

It's hard to explain.

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As I (and others) have posted in another thread about someone looking for "THE sound" — you are really the only one to make the decision here. If you have the Nugget sound ingrained in your brain and can accept no other, than nothing any of us can say here would give you any help. Mike is still building AFAIK so I am sure that he would build you one of his plainer models but it will just cost more than the A Jr. Otherwise, just play as many mandolins as you can and find the one that works to your ears. Also, bear in mind that videos or hundreds of suggestions from the mandolin community will never be the final arbiter of your decision. There is no substitute for your actually playing an instrument. What else can we say?

Absolutely and I never really judge sound by recordings because to many variables to consider. I have had the opportunity to play 3 nuggets and they are something special. At least to me they are. The feel and responsiveness are as important as the sound in my opinion.

Thanks for all the feedback. I may post a wanted ad to see if anyone happens to have an A jr they want to get rid of. If not, then I think I'll try and play a few examples of Collings MT2V with different top wood.

KMaynard:
I wonder how much Mike is getting for his most basic instrument. It might cost more than what he was charging for his A Jr but might be worth saving the extra for rather than settling for something that probably doesn't sound like a Nugget.

Interesting. I see now that Sandy Munro's site is non-existent and Mike has a simple web site here. I do see this message on Sandy's homepage: "We are under temporary maintenance and will be back online soon..." I wonder if he is still handling Mike's sales.

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Originally Posted by Jim Garber

KMaynard:
I wonder how much Mike is getting for his most basic instrument. It might cost more than what he was charging for his A Jr but might be worth saving the extra for rather than settling for something that probably doesn't sound like a Nugget.

Interesting. I see now that Sandy Munro's site is non-existent and Mike has a simple web site here. I do see this message on Sandy's homepage: "We are under temporary maintenance and will be back online soon..." I wonder if he is still handling Mike's sales.

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Thanks, Tom. Yikes! So the std A-5 is $4,000 more than the A Junior which he will no longer make.