I actually received Stanley A5 #68 a couple weeks ago and have been getting to know it. The label is signed October 31, 2013, so it's 8 years old today. I guess Chris Stanley decided an orange/pumpkin colored mandolin should be dated on Halloween.
It has many characteristics of the Griffith A5 Loar: the larger A oval body shape, the forward shifted bridge along with the forward shifted and angled ff holes, the bridge sits in front of the peak of the arch on the top. While it looks a bit like an odd duck, those things and the way he carved and braced it certainly give it The Tone to my ear. A couple people I pick with think it's something very special. After hearing it from the other side last night, I agree. It's a stout, powerful, mandolin with some extra sauce to the tone.
I've owned another Stanley A5 (now owned by Wayne Benson) and a Stanley F5. Those were both earlier builds, and Chris certainly got more things right on this one to my eye and ear.
The original owner ordered it with the finest woods and hardware (Waverly tuners & James tailpiece), but with the most simple finish and appointments (no inlay, no fretboard dots). I'll post some pics of it later.
I'll eventually get some bigger EVO frets installed like those on my Heiden A5 so it plays more like what I'm used to, but I can live with it like it is until I wear these tiny frets out.
Too bad Chris isn't building any longer. Glad to I had the chance to get this one.
Monroe tunes sound especially right on it. A little Old Dangerfield.
https://youtu.be/wKcBY9zCBHY
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