Took a quick stroll through the SOL social page and didn't notice a Strad-O-Lin "De Luxe." Couldn't find any in a web search either. Have we seen these before? Aside from the peghead stencil I can't...
Type: Posts; User: Doug Freeman
Took a quick stroll through the SOL social page and didn't notice a Strad-O-Lin "De Luxe." Couldn't find any in a web search either. Have we seen these before? Aside from the peghead stencil I can't...
This old thread was super helpful to me just now in cleaning up a James nickel plated tailpiece. It was very dark and unevenly dingy from thick oxidation, worse than the attached "before" pic would...
Astonishing looking maple in that batch!
The uke family instruments tuned in fifths can work quite nicely, especially for baroque music. Here are a couple links for ideas and inspiration:
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They have in fact changed in the last year: they now have a matte finish, and they measure a little thicker on a caliper, though that can be due to warpage. Out of the last dozen I bought (and...
I stopped by their NAMM booth again yesterday and while the Bourgeois A model is aesthetically beautiful, it struck me as not offering much beyond the existing Eastman mando line. I also briefly...
Also in the Eastman/Bourgeois booth is the new upgrade to the Eastman octave mandolin series—MDO-605. Didn't play it, hear it, or even see its flamed maple back, but it looks pretty nice. Has a...
I ended up with a Crossrock fiberglass F5 case for it, which is a little roomier and I like it. It doesn't offer Calton or Hoffee level protection, but is a pretty decent option for a fraction of the...
Hey Travis, glad to hear you're pleased with and enjoying your BRW! If you're considering a Calton case you might want to check for fit beforehand. When I got my FT-MS #99 I found out pretty quickly...
I’d been talking off and on with Calton for almost two years about the mando case re-design, and asking when it would be available in textured bronze glitter. I pinged them again in October when I...
This particular size isn't real common, doubtful the big box stores would have them. I got them from a seller on eBay. Just search "7/8 OD X 3/8 ID X 1/16 thick" and you'll find them. Re the Fender...
Grolsch-style rubber washers are great for holding leather straps to a guitar strap button, but they're too big in every dimension (especially thickness) to fit well on a mandolin strap button....
Thanks again, Jim, glad to find out where the article came from. Ben underwent a career change some years ago and hung up his chisels. Super talented guy. Will be interesting to see if her resumes...
Thanks Jim, but it’s not that one. Nor is it the Ben Wilcox feature in Mandolin Magazine from Fall 2005. Can't think what other magazines would do a feature article on a mandolin builder.
Pretty sure I came across this photo posted on Mandolin Cafe some years back, but can't seem to locate it now. Would like to figure out what magazine this feature article on Ben Wilcox appeared in....
Figured out a use for the backpack strap pouch, which has a thin layer of foam padding on the inside: removed the zipper, rolled it up, and placed it in the peghead area for some additional support...
Larrivee guitars ship from the factory with crumpled brown packing paper wrapped loosely around the peghead, which works surprisingly well. The idea is to have the peghead insulated by a not too...
Maybe a question of degree. Might trust the Crossrock in baggage with a $1,000 mando, but if it were a $20K F5 I'd invest $1K in the new Calton with more peghead and scroll space, shear-proof...
First off, thanks to OP for the heads up. I'd been watching these over the last year or so, but now finally pulled the trigger, especially in light of the $125 Amex gift card offer on Amazon. At $105...
That was the final step in the process in my mandolin importation in July 2019. I reached out to the builder, who kindly provided me with the types and weights of woods used in the construction, and...
That mandolin—same pics and description—was listed on eBay back in February 2020. I kept screenshots of the auction.
Key takeaway being how well-conceived and enduring his earliest design has proved to be. Just tweaks ever since.
Thinking the Gil is #770.
Looks great, thanks! They finally nailed it!
That is great to see! How is the peghead/scroll clearance now? Inside pics maybe? And is that textured or smooth glitter?