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Their are many great builder's today that I would consider in the "upper crust". I have an A.L. Smart and a Brentrup that are wonderful mandolins. I have buddies that play Hiedens and Gibson Ferns...

I have luckily played Shaun's Red Diamond, Brentrup and Heiden. All were superb mandolins and it's all within the realm of personal preference. One thing I do rememeber thinking about the Heiden...

"Midnight special" by CCR fits in well in a BG circle.

I have several nice ukes. Nothing is better than an old Martin soprano. The style O is plentiful and can be had for $500 or so.

1. TR and the BG Album band
2. Monroe
3. Flatt & Scruggs
4. Hot Rize
5. Larry Keel

I went in 2006 and had a great time. The only drawback to me was there are so many stages and so many great acts performing at the same time that you have to make to hard desicions. I was just there...

If I'm playing a song that I know well or one where the melody jumps out at me I prefer to stay close to the melody. If I don't know the song or the melody doesn't jump out at me andI get a nod to...

I'd recommend listening to a lot of great bluegrass and learning the songs you really think are great. Flatt/Scruggs, Monroe, Stanley Bros are a treasure trove of timeless songs. Listen to Tony Rice...

I played with Brian T this weekend and his RW sounded outstanding (Brian might have had something to do with that:) I played it briefly and it had a great chop and played like silk. I certainly think...

I sure enjoy my Collings mando. Mine not only has good tone but the playablity is excellent. The price for an MT is a good value as well (IMO).

I saw/heard David play that mando at the Roanoke BG week-end a couple of years back. I thought the tone was so amazing that after the show I ask him what kind of mandolin he played. He was very...

Tim's skill as a singer, song-writer and a multi-instrumentalist put him up there with the all-time greats in the acoustic world. John Hartford was another who could do it all with such majesty and...

Can't pick just one. I watched both John Rieshman and Sam Bush play from about five feet away and that about's as good as it gets. Also love the Tim O'Brien, R. Skaggs, Mike Compton, Dawg (playing...

John, that is a very classy and dignified tribute page. His instruments are certainly very beautiful but I've never encountered one in real life. Maybe someday. Seemed to be a great guy as well. Chuck

I have a 1977 Martin A and it has a pleasant warm and sweet tone. It's very good for strumming and picking out old time tunes but it is not loud enough for a big OT or BG jam. Good to have as a...

Great job, Hans, as usual. It's almost as cool as my L-21V http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Keep up the good work. Chuck

Beautiful mando. My L21V is also of Bosnian maple. Chuck

After a 2.5 year wait Lawrence Smart is ready to build my mandolin. Pretty exciting stuff. I'm going with an A model w/ Englemannn top and one-piece Big leaf back. Shoud be ready by late-winter/early...

Watermelon Park Festival is one of my favorites. I got to jam with Larry Keel's band mates (Mark and Jason) and sing one song with Larry. The caliber of pickers (like Will Lee and John Flowers) in...

Agree with Lawrence. At least experience what it's like to play it as a uke before you convert it to a nylon-stringed mando. Uke's are joy in and of themselves. cheers, Chuck

I played my first Hutto at the Charlotte show last weekend. It was an F style from 1993 and the asking price was $9K. It was an awesome mandolin. Strong and woody and easy to play. Chuck

Beautiful work, Hans, as always. Chuck

Buying a custom made instrument takes a lot of patience. I got my Brentrup on the secondary market (instant gratification). I have been on Lawrence Smart's list for about 2 and a half years (during...

Congrats. You will love it. Mine is amazing and interestingly the only Brentrup I've ever seen or played. Chuck

Russ: Congrats! Is the tone more Nugget or Collings or totally unique (I would guess the latter to be the case).
Anyway, enjoy your great mandolin. Chuck