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A lot of comments seem to imply, "there were a lot made, so they aren't rare." This is true. In the teens especially, Gibson was making a LOT of mandolins to supply the public demand, and they...

This is why the Cafe has to be one of the most interesting places to hang out on the web.

Bottle Hill lives!

If you love mandolins (and let's face it, don't we all?) I recommend going back and listening to the live Mando Boys recording "Holstein Lust". Powerful playing and stellar arrangements. I have...

Add to that the fact that MANY modern acts, especially in bluegrass, play tuned up a half step, to create a brighter tone. This changes the tonality of the instruments themselves, in particular when...

I always thought of the Virzi as a marketing gimmick, until I had the opportunity to see Tony Williamson demonstrate a number of Loars at MerleFest a couple of years ago. He played the instruments...

I had inherited an old Rex bowlback from my great uncle, and became infatuated with the sound of the mandolin. Very quickly, I realized I needed something better, but I was broke. What to do?...

It's nice that the mandocello community is receiving some recognition. I am always surprised that most people have no idea what it is (or maybe as equally surprised more people dont play it). ...

This mandolin looks like other As that went back to the factory for a rehab. Sunburst is certainly 1930s, and the inlays could have been done at that time, or perhaps by an independent repairman to...

"Beautiful Star of Bethlehem". Always think of the Emmy Lou album.

The TKL works great. An excellent case all around.

Everything that Cumberland sells is top notch.

On an instrument with a short scale, I have had good luck using the D'Addario mandola set.

I was a guitar player who also performed solo in college. Started playing dulcimer as my interest in Appalachian/old time grew. I inherited an old Rex roundback from a great uncle about the time I...

I would agree it's a L and H product. Looks to be very high quality, and an early build (late 1890s -- early 20th cen.) It's a shame that beautiful purfl
ing is missing, but could be a real fine...

I owned a 1929 Style 20, the first year of production. Hands down, this is the best mandolin Martin ever made, a wonderful design that performs admirably. I regret that I sold it! It even had the...

Good question. The ebb and flow of the music means the tempo is not strict. Of course, you've got to keep the time.......no matter what. But, imagine being able to create space between the phrases...

Reels are 4/4. Jigs are 3/4, double jigs (more common) are 6/8.

Be aware that in Irish music, it's just not the tempo -- it's the feel of the rhythm, what the Irish call "lift." Once you are...

I highly recommend both of Cathal Hayden's solo CDs, especially the latest one, "Hooked on Banjo." Even though he is a superb fiddler, he is a monster on banjo.

The Angela Usher disc is lovely,...

Octave mandolin, sitka spruce soundboard and ovangol back and sides. 22 3/4" scale length. 184613184614

I am one of those rotation guys. I have a number of instruments, but with my mandolins, I do try and play them all in a roundabout manner. I will latch on to one for a while, and then switch just...

Saw a recent post by Altan, and it appears Ciaran was using a guitzouk as opposed to his Sobell. Any body know what this is????

I use the standard D'Addario set for my '16 mandolin, but my '12 mandocello is currently strung as a bouzouki, with the D'Addario Irish bouzouki string set with the exepetion of nickel wound .018s...

I picked up a 1908 F 3 point (black top) a couple of year ago. Paid a bit less, didn't need any work, and it is a true HOSS --- even has some bark to it! These torch and wires are something...

Years ago, I was having trouble with bronze wound A strings breaking on zouks, be it long or short scale. Roger Landes turned me to nickel wounds, and it's been the ticket ever since. I use...