Re: Finding shops in California
"By the end of this summer at latest, I'll have saved up enough to get a serious mandolin."
Will you be specific please regarding the dollar amount you will be ready to spend? In #5 above Brick's comment says it all--$500.00?--$5000.00-- $50,000?? Each of these presents a very different selection for you. For us, as a community, to advise you your budget is a critical element in the equation.
The above references to Sylvan and Gryphon are good but I haven't seen, "dozens upon dozens of mandolins" ANYwhere! That would be a Mandolin Dream!! Actually, come to think about it, Nashville has a couple of stores like that! Carters & Gruen's for example.
BTW, More Music in Santa Cruz has some very special mandolins available by request but by all means dicker and dicker HARD if you shop there with Dave Handloff. He is a wonderful guy with the highest prices imaginable in his mind. He does have some wonderful mandolins in stock. http://moremusic.com
Beyond that, only buy the mandolin that knocks your socks off!!
Billy
billypackardmandolin.com
Billy Packard
Gilchrist A3, 1993
Weber Fern, 2007
Stiver Fern, 1990
Gibson 1923 A2
Gibson 1921 H1 Mandola
Numerous wonderful guitars
Bookmarks