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Thread: In Praise of Michael Heiden

  1. #76
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Bradshaw View Post
    It's pretty one.Click image for larger version. 

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    Wow Bill... that looks superb! Glad that all came together for you...!

  2. #77
    Registered User Bill Bradshaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Sorry I missed you up there. Yes, it all worked out eventually. I appreciate your thoughts and advice during the process. Hope our paths cross again some time. BB

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  4. #78
    Registered User Benski's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Heiden A50 (one of the 15 Heritage models made in 2009) lives here in NJ with me. All I can say is that it just sings. Beautiful workmanship, wonderful balanced sound with that hard to find mix of room-filling volume and tone. Simple yet elegant. A real gem that I'm fortunate to own.

    (Sorry about the pics...don't know how to rotate them)

    Cheers
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    Last edited by Benski; Sep-18-2018 at 10:12pm.
    2017 Ellis F5 Special #438


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  6. #79

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Love the back on the Heritage. Wow! Thanks for posting!
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  7. #80
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    That's a gorgeous A5, Mary. What top wood does that one have? Enjoy!

    Denman John--tell us more about that one. Top wood?

    Still loving my red spruce A-54 that started this whole thread. It gets better every time I play it. Perfect setup, perfect neck for me, best mandolin I've owned and I've owned almost as many as sgarrity.
    Long story short ~ we went to Michael's shop at the end of August to meet him and get some work done on my son's Apitius (EVO fret job, new bridge/saddle and nut, scooped the florida, and a wonderful setup,). Not only is Michael a great guy and does excellent repair work, he also builds some incredible mandolins (preaching to the choir here). We made the mistake of playing the mandolins that he had there at the time The one I posted was really special and we talked a lot about it since then. My son has saved up for the past few years doing summer jobs/busking and decided to buy it ~ he'll also have to sell the Apitius. We had been e-mailing back and forth since then and finally pulled the trigger yesterday. It should be here early next week.

    It has an engelmann top.

    Here are a couple of more pictures...

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    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

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  9. #81
    Pete Brown
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    I came across this video recently on the Peghead Nation website. Wow, I just love the look and sound of this instrument!

    2007 Heiden Heritage F-5
    Last edited by Pete Brown; Sep-19-2018 at 6:05am. Reason: Typo
    Cheers
    Pete
    _______________________
    Wood With Strings

  10. #82

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    .....the waiting is the hardest part. I sent Michael my payment....overnight (I'm not impatient, am I?).
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  11. #83

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    My A has arrived! It is Adirondack-topped, waverlies, one-piece back. I’ve owned a lot of instruments, but nothing as lively as this. Plenty of volume. I am looking forward to hearing it mature.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  13. #84

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    It's staying, then? Enjoy every note!

    The thing I like most about mine is the clarity of the notes, the pure round tone, and the responsiveness. Nothing I've owned has had anything quite like that.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  14. #85
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    The Heiden arrived on Friday and it's been played pretty much nonstop since. It was so much fun jamming and passing around mandolins the first night. I remembered it being a great mandolin, and I'm even more impressed with it now. What an incredible mandolin! It’s very lively and notes really pop. It's hard to describe sound, but I will say that it feels and sounds right ~ everything you want in a mandolin. So much depth to explore … you know what they are like ;-)

    Mary ~ What serial number is yours?

    This one is F128 built in 2015
    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

  15. #86

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Mine is A87. I believe it is dated 2017.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  16. #87
    Henry Lawton hank's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Congratulations Mary. You might need to modify your advice as per post #82.
    "A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
    CHAO-PIEN

  17. #88

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Quote Originally Posted by hank View Post
    Congratulations Mary. You might need to modify your advice as per post #82.
    Sometimes a leap of faith is your only option.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  19. #89
    Bob Remington bobrem's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    I had #21 (Engleman top, 1995) and #66 (spruce top, 2002). I now have a Gilchrist A (1997) but still miss the Heidens.

  20. #90
    Henry Lawton hank's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    I’m with you. I would do the same. My 1923 F4 from KB Waltham required mine as well.
    "A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
    CHAO-PIEN

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  22. #91
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	171415 . Couldn't help joining the choir with a photo of my beloved F Artist #129 . Hard to put this thing down
    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
    2015 Heiden F Artist
    2019 Ruhland F5 #35

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  24. #92
    Registered User rockies's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Well I'm off to Michael's on Monday morning (Oct 1), taking the new guitar down. Michael is going to reshape the neck a little for me. I've been playing it every day and love it, so hate to ne without it while it's being worked on. I'll look around the shop to see what mando's are in progress. Last time there it was some manocello's so they must be near completion now. Looking forward to the visit.
    Dave
    Heiden A, '52 Martin D-18, Taylor 510, Carlson Custom A with Electronics

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  26. #93

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Hey Dave, say hi to Michael from all of us.

    Evan, got a back pic?

    Denman John, that's a cool story about how you got the mandolin from Michael.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  27. #94
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Hi Don! Sure, thanks for asking. It's a Vermont sugar Maple 1-piece. The top is spruce from Labrador Canada. I'm a native Vermonter and Labrador has been a family trout fishing destination for 3 generations so I share some DNA with this Heiden!Click image for larger version. 

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    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
    2015 Heiden F Artist
    2019 Ruhland F5 #35

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  29. #95

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Thanks, Evan.

    Here's one I owned for awhile. I couldn't get along with the nut width which broke my heart. It was the most beautiful mandolin I've ever owned--and wonderful tone from the Engelmann top. I've never seen cross grain/silking like it had. It was #A60 from 2013.

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    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

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  31. #96

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    Here's one I owned for awhile. I couldn't get along with the nut width which broke my heart.Click image for larger version. 

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    Heiden makes a handsome mandolin. How narrow was the nut? As you may recall, I had a super-narrow Gilchrist that I ultimately couldn't handle. And I feel like I can adapt to almost any fretboard weirdness.

  32. #97

    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    It has a regular 1 1/8" nut and a perfect neck for most folks. An old left hand injury makes me only able to play 1 1/16" nuts or narrower with shallow slim neck profiles. Anything else is playable, but eventually the left hand starts telling me to stop or else it will stop me. I'd get along fine with that Gilchrist unless it has a deep V neck.

    Keeps the MAS at bay when I know 99% of the mandolins out there won't work.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

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  34. #98
    perpetual beginner... jmagill's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Here's some eye candy for you Heiden fans: photos of three of Michael's spectacular Heritage model F5s, displayed by their owners. Click to enlarge.

    Michael's made perhaps 20 or so of these using tops salvaged from a 100 year old building and it's rare to see one in the wild, much less three together. Emory's was only a few weeks old; mine is from 2009 and John's is from 2007. When John learned that Emory would be getting his just before the Gathering, he decided to bring his Heiden along with his Loar just so we could get these pics and send them to Michael.

    L-R: John Reischman, me, Emory Lester, taken at this summer's Mando & Banjo Week at the Swannanoa Gathering

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    Jim Magill, Director
    The Swannanoa Gathering
    Warren Wilson College
    PO Box 9000
    Asheville, NC 28815-9000
    828-298-3434
    jmagill@warren-wilson.edu
    www.swangathering.com

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  36. #99
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Jim,
    I think there were at least 2 other Heidens present that week, although not Heritage F5s.

    One was my Engelmann topped two point, one of the only two 2-points that Michael has made to date.
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    Don,
    I'm glad you sold that Engelmann A model. It was breaking my heart that I couldn't find a good enough reason to buy it from you!!
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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  38. #100
    Registered User Mark Seale's Avatar
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    Default Re: In Praise of Michael Heiden

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    It has a regular 1 1/8" nut and a perfect neck for most folks. An old left hand injury makes me only able to play 1 1/16" nuts or narrower with shallow slim neck profiles. Anything else is playable, but eventually the left hand starts telling me to stop or else it will stop me. I'd get along fine with that Gilchrist unless it has a deep V neck.

    Keeps the MAS at bay when I know 99% of the mandolins out there won't work.
    If this is you with MAS at bay, I can't imagine what full on MAS must look like...

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