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Thread: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

  1. #1
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    Default Steve Earle and his Gibson mandolins

    Pretty cool segment of Steve Earle discussing his Gibson mandolins.
    Also, is he George Gruhn's brother? Can anyone else see the similarity? lol



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    Last edited by Demetrius; Aug-27-2020 at 10:56am.

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    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    “God knows what was done to the sides - someone refinished it with a mop or something....”


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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    I don’t think I’ve seen anybody play a mandolin with a thumb pick. ... “Some bad stuff happen” indeed. : ( But fun video. Thanks for sharing.
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Back in the 1950's the Great Don Reno recorded a few tunes on mandolin while using his banjer picks!

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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Romkey View Post
    I don’t think I’ve seen anybody play a mandolin with a thumb pick. ... “Some bad stuff happen” indeed. : ( But fun video. Thanks for sharing.
    Actually it is a flat pick that is attached to be able to be worn like a thumb pick. I have something similar, tho rarely use it, for when I play dances for extended periods of time and my grip gets tired or is sore from work.
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Steve is most definitely "The Man". What a true eccentric. And I mean that as a compliment. Have seen him several times live- and each show was completely different. That old Gibson A that he played Galway Girl on is exactly like my 1917 Gibson A- including the missing pick guard. Rock on Steve.
    Chief. Way up North. Gibson 1917 A model with pickup. JL Smith 5 string electric. 1929 National Triolian resonator mandolin with pickup. National RM 1 with pickup. Ovation Applause. Fender FM- 60 E 5 string electric (with juiced pickups). 1950's Gibson EM-200 electric mandolin. 1954 Gibson EM-150 electric mandolin. Custom made "Jett Pink" 5 string electric- Bo Diddley slab style. Jay Roberts Tiny Moore model 5 string electric.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Romkey View Post
    I don’t think I’ve seen anybody play a mandolin with a thumb pick. ...
    I believe that Wayne Henderson plays both guitar and mandolin using a thumb pick and at least one finger pick.
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    A few months before the inaugural Mandolin Symposium in 2004 I got a hairline fracture in my right thumb playing basketball and it was immobilized in a splint. The splint came off a few weeks before and at that time I couldn't squeeze enough to hold a pick. As I backup I got a couple different thumbpicks but by the time of the Symposium I was able to hold my pick, whew!

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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Russ Jordan

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    I had the honor in the early 1980s to spend 3 weeks with Wayne Henderson at Augusta Heritage under his tutelage learning to build a guitar. I also got to play music with Wayne and just hang out. My only regret was never building a guitar after that one or even becoming an amateur luthier.
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    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earle and his Gibson mandolins

    [QUOTE=Demetrius;1785239]Pretty cool segment of Steve Earle discussing his Gibson mandolins.
    Also, is he George Gruhn's brother? Can anyone else see the similarity? lol

    He does remind me of George!

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    Registered User Steve Roberts's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earle and his Gibson mandolins

    Great video but the end is a real grabber.

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    Registered User Murphy Slaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Very cool...
    1933 Gibson A-00 (was Scotty Stoneman's)
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    Registered User Gan Ainm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Having time on my hands after a bit of surgery, I stumbled on the YouTube of the mando demo's after watching the Steve Earle Ghosts of West Virginia concert video, a nice acoustic solo show.
    When he mentioned his son's name I was gobsmacked to hear of his death, just a few days earlier.
    Mandolin therapy I guess. Suspect a lot of us have resorted to that a time or two.
    R.I.P.

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    Registered User Erin M's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Romkey View Post
    I don’t think I’ve seen anybody play a mandolin with a thumb pick. ... “Some bad stuff happen” indeed. : ( But fun video. Thanks for sharing.
    All that jewelry on his right wrist makes me cringe a bit with thoughts of it chewing up varnish and wood. Either way, big love to Steve Earle - another of the many reasons I wanted to play mandolin.
    "Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn

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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    “Some bad stuff happen” relates to his son Justin Townes Earle passing away. A very cool video considering the situation. My heart goes out to the Earle family. J.T.E. R.I.P.

  20. #17
    Registered User Erin M's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve 2E View Post
    “Some bad stuff happen” relates to his son Justin Townes Earle passing away. A very cool video considering the situation. My heart goes out to the Earle family. J.T.E. R.I.P.
    Oh no! I didn't get the reference (haven't been too engaged lately with all manner of chaos going on where I live). Sad news; all my love to Steve and family.
    "Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn

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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve 2E View Post
    “Some bad stuff happen” relates to his son Justin Townes Earle passing away. A very cool video considering the situation. My heart goes out to the Earle family. J.T.E. R.I.P.
    I also missed the reference in the video. Amazing that he was able to pull it off considering his loss.
    Chief. Way up North. Gibson 1917 A model with pickup. JL Smith 5 string electric. 1929 National Triolian resonator mandolin with pickup. National RM 1 with pickup. Ovation Applause. Fender FM- 60 E 5 string electric (with juiced pickups). 1950's Gibson EM-200 electric mandolin. 1954 Gibson EM-150 electric mandolin. Custom made "Jett Pink" 5 string electric- Bo Diddley slab style. Jay Roberts Tiny Moore model 5 string electric.

  22. #19
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    It's really unusual to see someone to 'get it right' when it comes to Martin and Gibson history, and he does. And recording the Gibson one so soon after the passing of Justin Townes Earle is just heartbreaking. There's a lot of sadness out there and you can see here how the love of the music and the instruments and the people helps to balance the that, if only a little bit.
    BradKlein
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  23. #20

    Default Re: Steve Earl and his Gibson mandolins

    Never knew about the burnt cow bone for the black pigment. Glad I wasn't around. Just sawing it is bad enough.

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