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Admittedly, a few REALLY expensive instruments were in a cabinet. But that did NOT include the $40,000 D'Angelico archtop that I got to savor for 10 or 12 minutes!

Rather than just above the nut, I tie on thru the tuners to avoid fretting-hand interference.

Absoluely! Stan had a central room with maybe 180 mandolins hanging. One chop chord easily summoned a choir of heavenly voices!


So glad I did. The more time passes, the more my "Mandolin...

When considering a specific upgrade, I'd checked in at the front counter so that they'd know I brought an instrument into the store. I'd have a harder time "setting up shop" with a music stand,...

You want "rare"? A college roommate, in the mid-60s, owned a Ford Taunus. Nope, not a US-built Taurus, which didn't exist yet, but a German-built small sedan. He'd boast that nobody EVER re-sold...

IMHO, do yourself a favor and work on being adptable to a variety of neck shapes. Plus, width & string spread aren't everything: radius & back architecture also affect how the fretboard feels in...

FWIW, I did my own casual survey 8-10 years ago, across guitars & mandolins, and found that it took 20 to 30 years for a high quality, highly regarded brand-name instrument to equal its original sale...

Two thoughts, seemingly almost trivial, but they helped me thru your current stage of confusion:

1- When I was at your point on guitar (uhm, six decades ago?), learning "up the neck" first...

Just taking a shot here:

My mandolin orchestra owns an older Gibson mandocello that's v. difficult to tune, even after I lubed the tuners. Haven't really had time to get back to it BUT...

The...

When I saw Mandolin Orange in North NJ 5-6 years ago, Andrew Marlin was playing a Poe. It should be in some of their earlier videos. WAY nice, in my humble opinion!

If my experience with the Bloomfield (NJ) Mandolin Orchestra is any help, what brand/model/style/age of instrument is about the least of considerations.

First, you need players. Then, players who...

Uhmm... Bought a couple of barely-used guitar case covers from Mr. Dudenbostel, including an interesting 15-minute phone call. Does that count?

From a respected Cafe member (both the book and the website!):

http://jazzmando.com/gijm_20835bcd.shtml

Appears to be high quality, heavy materials. Reminds me of a Sully's Strap (NFI). He has a variety of designs, but usually stamps them with his oval logo.
...

Since it's Gerard's first post, let me summarize what most of us are probably assuming. I know of four primary reasons why a bowlback may have too-high action, some noted above:

1 - The bridge is...

FWIW... Before getting into mandolin, and wanting to NOT sound like the other guitars in a jam, I'd sometimes play 12-string capoed a bit up the neck, say at 7 or higher. Sounded sort of like a...

Whoa, THANKS!! You just pushed me into an hour of combing thru Google Maps' sattelite views. Seemingly off topic, but ...

I spent a big chunk of my adult life, even met my wife, as a whitewater...

Low-tack paper tape might be a quickie substitute; could also help around the neck.

Sherry, your trepedation is understandable but, in the grand scheme of things, reminds me of some folks' fear of...

Absatively!! After all, don't clean cars always run better than dirty cars?

Suggest going to StewMac's site and look up their Fret Rocker, with instructions. THEN use a credit card to perform the same fundtion: less-than-surgical precision but still highly informative.

Uhmm... The onion makes you cry AFTER you cut it??

Except for the way-overstated price, you're describing my '17 Gibson A-1. IMHO, there's somthing really special about playing a 100+ year old instrument.

Well said, Bob!

Let's be realistic: If you MUST look at your instrument, you're either a beginner (as were we all) or haven't progressed far from being a beginner.

From the opposite view: ...

Happened to me too, but a bit of picking-wrist pressure keeps everything in, uhm, harmony. And probably a good reason to partonize Cafe member Doug Edwards for his excellent armrests:...

For what little it's worth (and some will surely disagree):

In the 6 - 10 years that Snarks have been around, I've found them to be somewhat frustrating. Not sure why, as I've never used one of...