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I guess it’s partly due to what one is used to seeing and hearing. That said, the only mandolins I had seen and heard before I started hanging around Mandolin Brothers at the turn of the century,...

You know, it’s really tradition and the determination to imitate Earl Scruggs and his successors that has kept the tenor out of bluegrass. Here’s Don Reno (the inventor of the “single string” style...

Congratulations on the Big Muddy! I have a Mid-Mo M-0; I love it. Yours sounds magnificent!

Sticking to the music, not the man or the mythology surrounding him; no, I am not afraid of Bill Monroe. I remain afraid of Earl Scruggs, despite enjoying his playing immensely, for musical reasons...

I find that every instrument I play (guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo; it’s been awhile for violin, but I will get back to it) reinforces the other. Of course, there are differences; tuning and scale...

Fascinating thread. I too came to the mandolin after decades of (self taught, albeit taking a couple of theory courses in college before taking up the instrument and then reading every issue of...

Welcome!

I’ve talked about my Snakehead A Jr. here’s an improvisation that demonstrates how it sounds:

https://youtu.be/Gs5-OzO33FE?si=OiEPHlxj4_G1_DRc

Old thread, but I have had one of these since 1986, using it to amplify my Yamaha dreadnought. It’s magnetic, pretty much a thin humbucker. It’s pretty warm sounding. I hadn’t thought of using it for...

I try to play jazz on both of them. Only a couple of weeks ago I sat in at one of the Saturday afternoon jazz jams at Smalls in Greenwich Village, NYC. I used the Mid Mo for that, and it could be...

As much as I love my Mid Mo M-0, the 1924 A Jr. Snakehead I bought last year got me playing mandolin every day. Wonderful instrument.

I think instruments of this kind are relatively undervalued,...

I’ll say it again: Bravo!

I love my tenor (Deering Goodtime 2, 19 fret). I rather presumptuously taught myself how to play on a coffeehouse gig I had (the venue didn’t survive the pandemic lockdown, unfortunately).

I also...

Fascinating thread. I came across something similar to the OP when I took up banjo: I flat picked it, rather as the Vaudevillians did before four string banjos were developed. I made the mistake of...

Thanks, Paul; nice playing too! The tone reminds me of my L Jr. guitar for the reasons you cited: Very much focused on the fundamental, not shimmery overtones. I like it. Hopefully I can get to...

RetroFret has a couple of Kalamazoo A-styles for sale, a KM-12 and KM-22. I know these are pressed tops (“Arco Arched”), but I just saw a clip of Jake Wildwood playing a KM-12 and it sounded pretty...

I have to re-read this one; I have had it in my home library for many years, and it’s been awhile since I’ve read it. A couple of others along similar lines are Zen Guitar (I am blanking on the...

Only two: A Mid Missouri M-0 bought new back in 2001; and a 1924 A Jr. Snakehead. I am debating getting something with f-holes, definitely vintage (though I am also tempted to get another A Jr.).

So I went back today with my flattop and, with the help of coffee and Bourbon and encouragement from patrons at the bar, I sat in. People lined it. I will be back tomorrow.

The Griffith A5 being held in such high esteem, I wonder if Gibson themselves would ever release a replica. If other luthiers examined it, surely Dave Harvey could.

As for me, I think I found my...

I started with a Mid Mo back in 2001 when I was about 36; I got more serious about it last year when I bought a vintage A Jr. Probably unlike most, I didn't come to it from bluegrass or the desire to...

Too loud to hear a mandolin without amplification; but it’s a fun spot. Since I don’t have a pickup on the mandolin, the Les Paul is called for. But it’s an amazing atmosphere.

RetroFret has one in stock:

https://www.retrofret.com/product.asp?ProductID=8526&name=Gibson-Style-J-LOCAL-PICKUP-ONLY-Mando-Bass-1920

Maybe I will try it soon.

I have a vintage Gibson, a Snakhead A Jr. I also have an L Jr. guitar of the same vintage. The lack of truss rod hasn’t been a problem. The necks are dead straight after 99 years, beefy but...

The bag looks similar to the one my Mid-Mo resides in. I have to try this.