More Cool Stuff from the Musical Instrument Museum

[Petrus]

The non-mando up there is a 1938 electric tenor banjo, by Gibson.

The mirror mando is an F5 master model used on stage by country musician Kix Brooks. The black mando is a Paris Swing prototype on loan from John Jorgenson.

[Petrus]

Yet more cool stuff. Mostly mando.



The Coombe mando is in the Australia display, appropriately enough.

[rubydubyr]

Cool pics, Petrus. Thanks for sharing. Where is the mandolin museum at?
And not to hijack this thread, but why might people want a mando with the metal on front? (I don't know what its called.) I would think that would make it sound clangy-clinky rather than have the rich wood tone.

[Petrus]

mim.org, Scottsdale (actually Phoenix.)

[Paul Busman]

Those are resonator mandolins, and some people like them for that quirky sound. I wouldn't mind one myself if I found a used one at a terrific price. There are resonator guitars too.

[JeffD]

And not to hijack this thread, but why might people want a mando with the metal on front? (I don't know what its called.) I would think that would make it sound clangy-clinky rather than have the rich wood tone.

Because they are so darn loud. You can kill a fly on the far wall with an F#m chord, with no additional amplification. I use mine in large pick up bands playing for contra dances. They generally put me in the front row on stage, because nobody wants to stand in front of me.

[mandroid]

#2 in 1st post is a Dobro, the video above is a National type with a Metal Body ,
the new run of Nationals sold Now is a Wooden body.
example in the Classifieds : Ad Number 84367

theres a Metal Bodied 30s National in the classifieds too : Ad Number 84543

Use 2 approaches... National the bridge is directly in the center of the metal cone,
Dobro ihe bridge is on a spider of cast aluminum with a screw Post
connecting its bridge to the metal cone Below.

[rubydubyr]

Jeff and Paul: thankyou very much for the info

[Petrus]

Yeah, they're called resonators. I have one like the one in the video (Recording King RA-998), also a RK resonating uke that I've strung with metal strings GDAE. The Dobro actually has some fine carving on the wooden part of the body that you can't see well in the photograph. They also cost about 2-3x as much as the RK.

[zedmando]

I've seen other stuff from the MIM online--and it's cool.
If I ever make it down that way, I am definitely going to fit it into my activities.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

[SincereCorgi]

Those Paris Swings are still the reigning champs for tackiest headstock graphics. Some neat stuff though, good post.

[carleshicks]

I'd like to smack whoever glued all those mirrors to that fern. Lol.

[Petrus]

I'd like to smack whoever glued all those mirrors to that fern. Lol.

That would be Kix Brooks of C&W stars Brooks and Dunn, who had several chart-topping hits in the '90s.

[Petrus]

I've seen other stuff from the MIM online--and it's cool. If I ever make it down that way, I am definitely going to fit it into my activities. Thanks for posting the pictures.

My pleasure! I'm involved with the MiM on a part-time basis during the cooler half of the year; when the Inferno comes on (mid-June through September), I light out for the coast. I'm trying to get taken on into their restoration department, at least on an internship basis if not a paid position. I just help out with guest services & occasional artist gofer when there's a concert at the theater (I got to assist w/Sarah Jarosz and Caravan of Thieves last year; looking forward to Hot Rize in April.)

Some of the more interesting things I've seen there: this contraption that plays the violin when you put a coin in the slot:



And this "phonographic cornet" or player trumpet, which plays a song using a punched roll. No idea how it's supposed to work, but apparently they did.



The conservation lab:




Most of the items on display are strictly look-don't-touch (and I suspect the mandos I saw in the displays were not set up at all) but they have an "experience gallery" which a bunch of cheap drums and a few Little Martins and Deering Goodtime banjos for people to play around with. I actually got to play on a full gamelan set up. (Sorry, there's no gamelan smiley.)

[zedmando]

Some of the more interesting things I've seen there: this contraption that plays the violin when you put a coin in the slot:



And this "phonographic cornet" or player trumpet, which plays a song using a punched roll. No idea how it's supposed to work, but apparently they did.



The conservation lab:

Cool.

I may have to make plans soon...

If you like the player instruments or mechanical ones, if you ever get up to Revelstoke BC, there's a little place that may interest you.
Nowhere near the size & scope of the MIM, but still cool--
It's the Revelstoke Nickelodeon Museum.
I even got to try some stuff out--and they had a player harmonica--which was cool.

[Jim Garber]

We visited there last summer... my niece decided to get married then. Great museum. I had posted pics from my trip there on another thread somewhere -- can't find it at the moment. One whole floor is dedicated to world music instruments by each country and area. They also provide videos or sound files for almost every exhibit so you can see and hear the instruments played.

[zedmando]

Can I get GAS for a museum?

[Petrus]

More older stuff from the museum.

[sherrie]

I spent a day at MIM a few years ago. It was a great experience. If you're ever down that way and can spend a DAY there, do it. You need the whole day. Or more.

[mandroid]

Those two blue things mounted from the ceiling ? airconditioning or vacuum cleaners?

[Timbofood]

I agree Carles, instrument "defacers" of that sort need some sort of "teaching"! Where I understand the "need" for personalization, that's pretty tacky.

[Petrus]

Those two blue things mounted from the ceiling ? airconditioning or vacuum cleaners?

Some sort of dust removal system, I'd wager!

[zedmando]

I spent a day at MIM a few years ago. It was a great experience. If you're ever down that way and can spend a DAY there, do it. You need the whole day. Or more.

That's my plan if I get down there some day.

[Jim Garber]

A few more of my favorites from my visit last year.

Two Brazilian instruments used in choro by Rogerio Santos; an Octo-Bass (huge) and part of the collection of African mbira (thumb pianos).