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Thread: Sorensen Sprite!

  1. #1

    Default Sorensen Sprite!

    Took delivery on a brand new Sorensen Sprite a few weeks ago. Still getting accustomed to it, but damn what a beauty she is!

    https://youtu.be/TfEpItVHMBA

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  3. #2
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    That is a beauty!

  4. #3
    Dave Sheets
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    What a nice look to that mandolin, all the figured wood and the cream top. Very tasty.
    -Dave
    Flatiron A
    Way too many other instruments

  5. #4

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Wow...beauty!

  6. #5
    Registered User Lucas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Congratulations! I also own a Sprite (#93) and love the sweetness of the tone. Yours has quite a unique appearance. I've never seen a blonde Sorensen. Interesting inlay in the headstock. What is the meaning of the Chinese character?

  7. #6
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Congratulations on joining the Sorensen club. My Sprite keeps getting better and better, or I keep getting better and better at pulling the tone out of it.

  8. #7
    Registered User Frankdolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Sweeet !

  9. #8
    Registered User
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Wow! That is one fine looking instrument - the combination of woods and trim is amazing. It sounds really great in your video - thanks for sharing! I've occasionally lusted after the sprite, but I had the impression the neck is made with a sharp V, which I don't like much. It looks to me like yours has a more rounded shape on the back of the neck - is that right?

  10. #9

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by Lucas View Post
    Congratulations! I also own a Sprite (#93) and love the sweetness of the tone. Yours has quite a unique appearance. I've never seen a blonde Sorensen. Interesting inlay in the headstock. What is the meaning of the Chinese character?
    pronounced "dan", means to play a stringed instrument - perfect for me

  11. #10

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by Alfons View Post
    Wow! That is one fine looking instrument - the combination of woods and trim is amazing. It sounds really great in your video - thanks for sharing! I've occasionally lusted after the sprite, but I had the impression the neck is made with a sharp V, which I don't like much. It looks to me like yours has a more rounded shape on the back of the neck - is that right?
    basically a C shaped profile (by special request). The V's have always driven me nuts.

  12. #11

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by John Soper View Post
    Congratulations on joining the Sorensen club. My Sprite keeps getting better and better, or I keep getting better and better at pulling the tone out of it.

    In the short time I've had it, it's a combination of the two - I keep finding more nuance in the tone, and need to work on getting that into my hands. It loves a light touch, but can take anything I dish out. Between all of that is the magic

  13. #12
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Dan, that is a beautiful mandolin. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

  14. #13
    Registered User
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Gorgeous.

    What can you tell us about the pickguard/finger rest?

  15. #14

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by AlanN View Post
    Gorgeous.

    What can you tell us about the pickguard/finger rest?
    the same material as the rest of the instrument: claro walnut bound by curly maple with perfuling on the top and sides of the piece - the same pattern as the body, neck and headstock. It's attached to the fretboard via a single brass screw on the side. I normally have no use for a pickguard, but in this case it adds significantly to the design and the beauty, so it stays attached, afaic

  16. #15
    Resident Hack
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Beautiful!
    I do love the twin points
    What I play
    2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
    Eastwood 'Ricky'
    Morgan Monroe RT-1E
    Epiphone Genesis guitars
    Various Basses

  17. #16

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by danW View Post
    pronounced "dan", means to play a stringed instrument - perfect for me
    I clicked on this thread because I am a fan of the Sorensen Sprite, and that one is a beauty! I also love the Chinese calligraphy on the headstock: very unique and well done.

    However, I hate to rain on your parade. The two characters together in that order are a noun and mean "ball; pellet; bullet; bomb". I consulted several of my Chinese-English, English-Chinese dictionaries, and that is what I came up with. The two characters are pronounced "dan" (4th, falling tone). The Chinese use the character "ba" (first, rising tone) to indicate "to pluck" a stringed instrument. That character is: .

    But to steal from Shakespeare: a Sorensen by any name still sounds awesome!

  18. #17

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by James Vwaal View Post
    I clicked on this thread because I am a fan of the Sorensen Sprite, and that one is a beauty! I also love the Chinese calligraphy on the headstock: very unique and well done.

    However, I hate to rain on your parade. The two characters together in that order are a noun and mean "ball; pellet; bullet; bomb". I consulted several of my Chinese-English, English-Chinese dictionaries, and that is what I came up with. The two characters are pronounced "dan" (4th, falling tone). The Chinese use the character "ba" (first, rising tone) to indicate "to pluck" a stringed instrument. That character is: .

    But to steal from Shakespeare: a Sorensen by any name still sounds awesome!
    It works in Japanese (who "stole" it from Chinese), which is where I lived at the time and used it as a signature . You are correct, though "pluck" is the proper interpretation. Chinese is Greek to me.

  19. #18
    Registered User Steve Sorensen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Japanese traditionally use the Hanzi Chinese characters, for perhaps once similar ideas, but not necessarily for the same words now.

    As Dan was saying, he has spent quite a bit of time in Japan and liked the idea that the Japanese Kanji symbol for "dan" which can mean to pluck or strike an instrument . . . ironically both fits his name and his passion. The Kanji character is --

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    We used a stylized brush stroke version of the characters in some of my last pieces of blue Paua Abalone . . . which is getting harder and harder to find in this quality without worm damage.

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    Luckily, I had both Dan's knowledge and my wife's many years of speaking and studying Japanese in college to make sure we got it right.

    This was a delightful build indeed.

    Steve
    Steve Sorensen
    Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co.
    www.sorensenstrings.com

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  21. #19

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Sorensen View Post
    Japanese traditionally use the Hanzi Chinese characters, for perhaps once similar ideas, but not necessarily for the same words now.

    As Dan was saying, he has spent quite a bit of time in Japan and liked the idea that the Japanese Kanji symbol for "dan" which can mean to pluck or strike an instrument . . . ironically both fits his name and his passion. The Kanji character is --

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    Luckily, I had both Dan's knowledge and my wife's many years of speaking and studying Japanese in college to make sure we got it right.

    This was a delightful build indeed.

    Steve
    And your inlay work was awesome. I studied Chinese calligraphy before moving to China and know how hard it is to get the brush strokes to "breathe" the correct way. Anyway, thanks for the explanation.

  22. #20
    Registered User Steve Sorensen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Here are a few shots to give a better idea of what we cooked up --

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    The finish is a oil varnish followed by many French Polishing sessions with Shellac. The claro walnut grain filling was through French Polishing with pumice only.

    I realized the top,which is from an Englemann Spruce billet I bought back in 2010, is so creamy, silky, and fine-grained that it almost looks painted. What a treat to have wood like that in the "Library".

    Steve
    Last edited by Steve Sorensen; May-02-2021 at 1:20pm.
    Steve Sorensen
    Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co.
    www.sorensenstrings.com

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  24. #21
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Steve, that is officially, my favorite mandolin that you’ve built. You knocked it out of the park brother!

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  26. #22
    Registered User Sherry Cadenhead's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Beautiful instrument!

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  28. #23

    Default Re: Sorensen Sprite!

    Sure is a Beauty. The Sprite I played at The Mandolin Store in Surprise AZ a few years back was totally a standout. Big tone and a bold style.

    Scott

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