Pocket Mandolin Doug Unger

[Tom Mylet]

Doug Unger, an old friend who builds mandolins and banjos, recently sent me this photo of a half a dozen Pocket Mandolins he's been working on. I thought someone here would find these of interest.

Usual disclamer: NFI-In fact, I have no idea if any of them will be for sale, are already spoken for, etc.

[Jim Garber]

Hey, those are great. They are almost like mandolins in the funhouse mirror. I esp like the "f-model". I wanted to visit Doug when my daughter was in college out in OH -- we have mutual friends -- but never got around to it. Fun stuff.

[billhay4]

Very cool. I'd like to hear one of those.
Thanks for posting.
Bill

[JEStanek]

That 3 Point is a riot! In a very good way. Like Jim said, a fun house mirror.

Jamie

[Tavy]

Those are amazing - love all the inlay work!

[Charlieshafer]

I want them all. Even though the photo's small, you can see the level of detail and workmanship. And yeah it's pretty clear he has a great sense of humor!

[multidon]

Where in the heck do you find those lyre tailpieces?

[Bill Snyder]

Doug Unger has been mentioned on the Cafe a few times before. HERE is a previous thread on one of his instruments (full size) at Elderly's.

[testore]

This guy has a few screws loose, and I'm jeleaous!! These things look great!

[CWRoyds]

Those are very cool looking.
I especially like the one on the far right and the one with the scroll headstock.

[Jim Garber]

He calls them pochettes. The original pochettes were pocket violins. My favorite photo from the back rooms of the Metropolitan Musuem in New York is a drawerful of them.

[darrylicshon]

I think their cute, did you say he lives in Ohio,do you know what part i have a lot of friends and family in Ohio, would like to know more maybe get one

[Bob Andress]

Doug lives in Peninsula Ohio. He and my uncle were college roommates so I looked him up when I was in his neck of the woods last year. Really cool little workshop. Great guy and talented artist. He's well known for his inlay work.

[Bill Snyder]

It is several years old but here is a 2004 article about him. It includes a video of him.

[Bertram Henze]

This is somehow resembling either "Darling I shrunk your mandolins" or Beetlejuice

[Jim Garber]

I think their cute, did you say he lives in Ohio,do you know what part i have a lot of friends and family in Ohio, would like to know more maybe get one

I don't know what he gets for these little guys but his mandolins and banjos go for pretty good money.

Here's a (sort of) A model for $9500 at Music Emporium. Exquisite old style inlays.

Picker's Supply has an A model from 1981 fro $5000.

Folkways Music has a 2005 A model for about the same price.

[Pete Jenner]

Regardless of price you'd still need deep pockets for these.

[Charlieshafer]

Regardless of price you'd still need deep pockets for these.

Boooo.

[oldwave]

I own one of these and its an incredible piece of art. It sounds very complex and of course has a very light bass response. They are wonderful. They are for sale I know also. PM me and Ill get you his contact information if you are interested. I also will post some close ups soon.

[Jim Garber]

Contact info in the Builder's DB:

Name:Unger, Douglas
Company:Douglas Unger, Luthier
Address:1727 Main Street

Peninsula Ohio 44264
Country:United States
Link:Web site
Phone/fax: (216) 657-2385
Comments:Referenced on several sites, but no individual web presence.
Update:January, 2014