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Hi all, I'm writing to share my recently rediscovered Macrostie instrument, pre-Red Diamond, Rosewood back and side, European spruce top A from 1978. I just got off a lovely call with him after...

Here is a little impromptu solo crosspicking on the classic "Angeline the Baker."


https://youtu.be/nN8TjJVHUSY

Thanks for watching!

I just wanted to pass along a "good news" story. A month ago I was looking for some instruments to donate to a local veterans organization in the hope of getting some of them started playing. A...

'Chinquapin Hunting'-on my new to me slightly road worn 2020 Northfield F5S. Fun, informal jam with my housemates.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atXB3MomXw8

Forty-four years ago I purchased a Gibson F-5, Serial #A17518, from Stutzman's Guitar Center here in Rochester. My first (turned out to be my only) bluegrass band had just broken up, but I knew that...

Hello and Happy New Year!

I wanted to start off my saying I am not a fan of the word shootout because it gives the connotation that I am comparing these mandolins which isn't/wasn't my intention....

...and tone bars shaved and a wider fingerboard added (to accommodate Mike's big fingers), plus plenty of normal wear and tear.

I once "played" Mike's loar (...said as if I can actually play...

Just got done listening to Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall's CD of Bach inventions and felt inspired to play one. You can even watch it in 4k!



Enjoy and keep on picking!

If the pin goes in all the way there is a good chance that it will not be tight enough in the hole. Ideally, the taper of the pin and the taper of the hole match perfectly and the taper causes the...

(not sure how interesting this is, but I felt like writing it today)

It was 40+ years ago that I (at about 14 years old) was given a junky old mandolin from my grandfathers attic. After arming...

Geez, the mandolins I bought all seem to have acoustic blemishes: fluffed notes, unreliable timing, slow tempos, haphazard chords...

Couldn't be my playing skills, could it? Those "blems" aren't...

Here's one from Mel Bay:

https://youtu.be/zaN4Ia_sDIg

Showed up on Facebook posted by a fiddler friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRIRTQ_k-Sg

I think think the joint would be less compromised by having some long grain across the joint, plus fingerboard removal is going to entail quite a bit of touch up. It could be a pretty small window....

I just watched the new documentary "Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind," which I highly recommend. It is excellent.

He says something that really grabbed me about the guitar sound he goes...

I finally started to record some comparison of my A style mandolins from each of these master builders. This is Gilchrist 522 and Heiden 92, 2001 and 2018 builds respectively. The Gilchrist is Red...

"......And A-5's, by nature, are different animals than F-5's......"

Play the Griffith Loar one time and you will never make this statement again! And yes, I have...;)

Over the past six years I’ve taken some photos on my visits to Michael’s shop. Here are just a few of them. Figured anyone that likes Michael’s instruments would enjoy...

Here is a transcription of Sam's first solo on that recording.

190160

Hagerty #7

red spruce top
Back, neck and sides are big leaf maple
1 1/8 bone nut
Cumberland Acoustics bridge
Compound radius fretboard 6.5-12
Parallel bracing
Waverly tuners
James tailpiece

Dennis tells us the winner of the Northfield Mandolin was Paul Lafiasco from Florida. Lucky guy!

This is posted on The Mandolin Store's website:

"The winner of this years Black Friday Northfield mandolin giveaway is Paul from Deltona Fla. I want to thank everyone for entering and shopping...

That’s not what my wife would say. It about put me out in the street and in lots of trouble! :)

This is a recently finished flat top mandolin that is a bit unusual. It was experimental so I had no idea how it would sound. The back and sides are of Macassar Ebony, top is Red Spruce, neck...