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Thread: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

  1. #1
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Hey everyone,

    I haven’t posted much in the last year as COVID kind of drained me of music after a bunch of jams/gigs and festivals were cancelled. Around Christmas something kicked in and I’ve been playing a lot more. Jams are still few and far between, but I’ve been working on solo Telemann and Bach pieces to keep me interested and busy.

    I have a Kimble A style oval hole (#168) mandolin that I’ve had for about 7 years as my only mandolin and love it. I’ve put thousands of hours into it and it has matured very nicely. To be totally honest, I am thankful for such a wonderful mandolin and don’t NEED anything else, but WANT is a totally different animal.

    Lately I’ve been thinking about getting an A style mandolin with f holes to go along with the oval. My first thoughts are Will Kimble or Michael Heiden from personal experience, as my son plays a Heiden F that I really like ~ except the point that digs into my leg when I play it sitting down. For the most part I’m mainly a living room picker and play by myself, but did get out to jams a few times a month before the pandemic.

    Would getting a Kimble with f holes (A or 2 point) be a good match, or would there be too much overlap? All the Heiden mandolins I’ve tried have been phenomenal, but that comes in at a pretty penny. I will most likely be looking at a used instrument and still need plenty of time to save up for it (unless Bitcoin goes to the moon this summer).

    What else should I be looking at? Pictures always help!
    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

  2. #2
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    I bought my Kimble A5 in 2008. The choice was between that and an almost identical Heiden. The Kimble sounded warmer and I preferred the way it sounded - even my wife thought it sounded better! The Heiden was around £3500 more than the Kimble. I’ve since bought a Kimble F and that’s a killer. I quite like the way it digs into my leg!

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  4. #3
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    You know what I'm going to say.....

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  6. #4

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Buy what you can find.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  8. #5
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Bitcoin to the moon!! Haha if not in this bull run, absolutely in 4 years
    I’ve always wanted a Kimble mandolin. Everyone I’ve played has been a beast. And I think his aesthetics and designs are second to none and completely unique. Anytime I think about buying one though I just pick up my Harvey Fern and bam! MAS is gone.
    Good luck with your search John.
    Ty Stevens
    Hendersonville, NC

    2012 Northfield Big Mon #179
    1924 Gibson A jr.
    1993 Flatiron 1N

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  10. #6

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Buy the Gil Model 3 that just hit the classifieds
    Chris from Tucson
    2007 Heiden Artist F5 #F102
    1919 Gibson A3 #49762 (found on eBay for $15!!)
    2022 Austin Clark Octave #159
    1922 Gibson H1 Mandola #70063
    1972 Martin D-18 (modified by Bryan Kimsey)
    2024 Klos Carbon Fiber (on order)

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  12. #7

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Ellis.....

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  14. #8
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Gray View Post
    Buy the Gil Model 3 that just hit the classifieds
    I wish I could.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  15. #9
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by sgarrity View Post
    You know what I'm going to say.....
    I recon your thinking you want to straight up trade your Heiden for my Kimble
    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

  16. #10
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    I’m sure that Gil an excellent mandolin, but it’s too rich for my blood.

    Ellis make great mandolins, but unfortunately I haven’t found one that speaks to me personally. I can understand why a lot of people like them though.

    Any other suggestions?
    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

  17. #11
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Denman John View Post
    I recon your thinking you want to straight up trade your Heiden for my Kimble
    Quote Originally Posted by Denman John View Post
    I’m sure that Gil an excellent mandolin, but it’s too rich for my blood.

    Ellis make great mandolins, but unfortunately I haven’t found one that speaks to me personally. I can understand why a lot of people like them though.

    Any other suggestions?
    You guys are a Heiden family...track down a Heiden A!!
    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
    2015 Heiden F Artist
    2019 Ruhland F5 #35

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  19. #12
    Registered User Mark Seale's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    You can’t go wrong with either the Kimble or the Heiden. I know of a very good A Heiden that’s available if you want to send me a PM.

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  21. #13

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    ^^this^^ I'm sure both would be awesome. If I were as close as you are, I think I'd go visit Michael Heiden.

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  23. #14
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Tyler White had a pretty one listed on his website . . . briefly. I hope someone here snagged it.

    http://www.whitemandolins.com/shop/m...-mandolin-2001
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
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  24. #15

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    That was a while back. It reappeared after that and was resold.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  25. #16
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    It was listed as available on Friday and “Sold Out” as of last night. Perhaps that explains why Tyler didn’t respond to my inquiries.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  26. #17

    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Denman John View Post
    I’m sure that Gil an excellent mandolin, but it’s too rich for my blood.

    Ellis make great mandolins, but unfortunately I haven’t found one that speaks to me personally. I can understand why a lot of people like them though.

    Any other suggestions?
    There are MANY really wonderful mandolins. As you mentioned it all come down to finding one that speaks to you. Good luck in the search.

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  28. #18
    Registered User doc holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Well DJ, A Heiden, in addition to all the tonal attributes, could save you some cross-border shopping.......

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  30. #19
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by doc holiday View Post
    Well DJ, A Heiden, in addition to all the tonal attributes, could save you some cross-border shopping.......
    Very true Doc. While Michael flirted with retirement last year, I've heard he's in full swing again building a lot of A model mandolins. I do know of a great used
    Englemann A Artist model for sale here in the US (and shipping shouldn't be a big deal) - No financial interest at all...it just happens to be someone I know
    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
    2015 Heiden F Artist
    2019 Ruhland F5 #35

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  32. #20
    Registered User j4music's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    I don't think of the point as digging into my leg. I think it as anchoring the mando and keeping it from sliding around. All the above suggestions are great. Have fun; you can't go wrong.

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  34. #21
    Registered User lowtone2's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Denman John View Post
    I’m sure that Gil an excellent mandolin, but it’s too rich for my blood.

    Ellis make great mandolins, but unfortunately I haven’t found one that speaks to me personally. I can understand why a lot of people like them though.

    Any other suggestions?
    I'm very satisfied with my Black A5. Very different price point from what you're looking at, but, at the risk of embarrassing Mike, not different quality.
    Last edited by lowtone2; Mar-21-2021 at 7:00pm.

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  36. #22
    Registered User tree's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Don't discount a Hamlett, they seem to be under the radar unless you own one.
    Clark Beavans

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  38. #23
    Registered User Jackson84's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Hey Patrick! Yes, that one on my website sold very quickly and was such a great sounding mandolin. I'm sorry you didn't get my response - I had sent an e-mail over on Saturday letting you know that I had made an error with my inventory and that it had in fact sold. Maybe it's in a spam folder?

    I second the advice Evan gave on snatching a Heiden A model if ones available.

    Tyler

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  40. #24
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Jackson84 View Post
    Hey Patrick! Yes, that one sold very quickly and was such a great sounding mandolin. I'm sorry you didn't get my response - I had sent one over on Saturday letting you know that I had made an error with my inventory and that it had in fact sold. Maybe it's in a spam folder?
    Hey Tyler! Thanks for following up with me here. You are correct that your response for some reason ended up in my spam folder, and I apologize if my post came off as unfair or critical.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  41. #25
    Registered User Jackson84's Avatar
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    Default Re: A style Kimble, Heiden or ...

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Hey Tyler! Thanks for following up with me here. You are correct that your response for some reason ended up in my spam folder, and I apologize if my post came off as unfair or critical.
    No not at all! Just wanted to make sure that you heard from me. Hopefully another one will become available for you to grab. They're great mandolins.

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