Re: 1942 Levin Mandolin Banjo
Welcome to the world of mandolin banjos, and farewell to your friends. I like the sound of your instrument. Mine is a 1923 Vega Little Wonder. I like it especially for ragtime and very old (1920's, early 30's) blues and blues-related music. Is too early to introduce the idea of octave tuning on the G and D strings, as practiced by many black American blues-mandolin players? I recommend the CD, Rags, Breakdowns, Stomps & Blues: Vintage Mandolin Music 1927-1946 (Document Records). You'll have plenty of fun.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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