BEAUTIFUL,COOL AND UNIQUE AS ALWAYS!!!
Walter JUNE mandolins and guitars
Here's the new "Sprite-B" that I've been working on with Randy Jones (from Lonesome River Band).
Our target was to build a woody powerful bluegrass machine. To that end, we decided to go with a really tightly grained one-piece Sitka spruce top (that I had been baking in the Wedgewood stove), a really hard back, neck and side set of Sugar maple, and some tweaks to the body depth, tone bars, truss rod.
Randy also prefers the heavy cast anchor of an Allen tailpiece. We tried the Golden Age tuners . . . still a little stiff and herky-jerky feeling.
I'm looking forward to hearing what Randy does with this new kid . . . and building a few more to these specs!
Steve
Finally, here is my Sprite #007 -- the one that got this ship sailing and that I get to play every day!
They say you're not to pick favorites among your children . . . but I can't help it with this hard-working little treblemaker!
If you have stopped by the Sorensen booth at IBMA or at a festival or jam, you've probably gotten to pick on this one. Man, I've gotten to enjoy hearing some fine players work this sweet baby!
I've had some fairly heady offers to take her off my hands, but 007 stays with me.
Steve
Taking nothing away from the traditional F-5, but your absolutely right. When you move away from that design, you meet a entirely different group of people that are really into trying new things. There are actually folks out there that are not totally bound by a near 100 year old tradition and that makes room for all of us and allows advancement of the instrument to take place. Beautiful work Steve...
Jim
Last edited by Mandoborg; Nov-06-2014 at 8:09pm.
One of my absolute favorite designs going, and I really love some of the fresh new twists you're trying! Great work, Steve, The Sprite is a winner in any guise!
Music speaks to us all. And to each of us, she speaks with a different voice.
J Bovier A5 Tradition
Love my Sprite! Quick iPad shot:
Shots from a pro (Steve):
It changes with the light, it's actually not as red as it appears in my shot, or as dark as it appears in Steve. It's kind of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-glue.
It actually looks more like the Sprite that was reviewed by Ted Eschliman on JazzMando.com. The aesthetics grabbed my attention, the review lit the flame. It wasn't long before I made the call.
Thanks Ted.
Thanks Steve.
The article:http://jazzmando.com/sorensen_sprite_mandolin.shtml#
Congratulations John! Beautiful mandolin, you're going to have a lot of fun with that.
All works of art, very nice.
Jacobson #24
Kentucky KM-620
Michael Kelly
Fender
Gold Tone Banjo
To me, Steve combines two things in a perfect way:
the continuation of useful traditions and a nose for fresh new ideas and shapes.
The Sprite is an excellent example for this.
But: you shouldn't only look...you'll have to play and feel it.
The old question, what instrument would you take along as a castaway
to the "famous lonely island" can now easily be answered...;-)
Hmmmhhh...the blue one...would probably match the x-mas decoration...should I talk to my wife???
Don't play what's there, play what's not there. - Miles Davis
Steve, that is one fine mandolin design! I love it!
Steve, I'm really interested in your Sprite B, did it meet your expectations? Please provide a sound clip when you get a chance. Beautiful mandolin, thanks!
"You must answer when the siren calls."
That's what it's all about!
And no earplugs will save you...;-)
Mark,
Hopefully Randy will have some sound/video here in the next little while. I was really pleased with the balance of woody "woof" and screaming trebles the SpriteB had from the first second it had strings.
At IBMA, we A/B-ed it with Don Julin's two 1980s Nuggets . . . the tone, balance across the strings, and focus was very similar, but Don's Nuggets definitely had more complexity and power. Since the SpriteB was only three days old (including a travel day from CA to NC), I was dang pleased with the comparison.
Steve
Thanks for the reply Steve, looking forward to the video. There's something about your Sprite two point that really does it for me and creating a powerful Bluegrass version is right up my alley. It would be at the top of my list for my next acquisition.
The Sorensen Sprite. Man what a cool design and wonderful to play. The balance of the mandolin is great and they have a wonderful feel. I always enjoy the woody tone and old time ring. Full crisp bass, strong mids and clear trebles the rings all over the fretboard. Here is a couple of pictures of mine.
U of the Blues
http://www.uoftheblues.com
Here is a bit of up-close time with Randy Jones and the Sprite "B". I've been working with Randy for the past several months tweaking top graduations and tonebars to get the tone and response curve that fits his style.
Here's his first intro video --
And here is some straight up picking --
Steve
Last edited by Steve Sorensen; Apr-16-2015 at 4:34pm. Reason: typo
Love the blue Steve.
Last edited by Pete Jenner; Apr-23-2015 at 11:56am.
Still, to my eye, the coolest model out there.
I just can't get enough of watching Randy Jones pick on these things. Here's a little bit from last spring --
Dang, I wish I could work 'em like that!
Steve
It sounds unbelievable, but listening to it brings me to the realization that there aren't enough hours left in my life to be able to make anything sound as good as that five-minute stretch.
At least I might get a chance to play with some nice toys!
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