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Thread: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

  1. #1

    Smile Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    Hi everyone,

    Been meaning to post about a new (mandolin) baby for over a week now, but with teaching, gigging, and an 8 month (human) baby, time keeps getting away from me.

    Let me start with a quick prologue. Back in 2014, I was about to move to Boston for grad school and I was excited to check out the Music Emporium because I had spent years looking at the instruments on their website. When I first arrived in MA, I saw a really unique mandolin on their site, as did a few folks on the Cafe, because it is mentioned in some older forum boards. It had a subtle, two-point body and the most exquisite inlay I had ever seen. This mandolin was built by Doug Unger of Ohio and I was obsessed with the pictures on TME's page. Unfortunately I never played it as it was gone by the first chance I had to make it to the Music Emporium.

    Fast forward to last month and I happened to see the same mandolin back on the market and was able to become its new caretaker. It's taking some getting used to as it has a mandola-like heft to the neck. Even with the larger neck, I find it really comfortable to play as I spend a lot of time playing clawhammer banjo and guitar too. It is really starting to wake up as I get the feeling it hasn't been played a ton over its first decade of life.

    Here's a low-fi laptop video of it I was able to make when I student didn't show up for their lesson today. I'm sure I'll make a better video in the future!

    Cheers!

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  3. #2

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    I believe that mandolin, if it is the same one, belonged to a friend of mine who passed away a few years back. He was a very famous landscape painter, originally from Gloucester, Mass....who later lived on Monhegan Island for years, and then settled in Exeter, NH. He was a great guy, and quite the talented banjo player too. He had quite a collection of Doug's banjos too.

    Enjoy the mandolin.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  5. #3

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. If it belonged to your artist friend from Gloucester, MA that is a coincidence because I'm originally from Gloucester in the UK.

  6. #4

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    I'd say that would be a happy coincidence then.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  8. #5

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    Congrats and beautiful looks and tone on that mando. Fine picking on Homer the Roamer too. Enjoy!
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  10. #6
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    What a fine mandolin! I love it!
    "To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar

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  12. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    My friends in Ohio are good friends with Doug who I believe is still around doing art and playing music and maybe even building instruments. I have seen a few of his instruments on sale IIRC at Elderly, Bernunzio or TME.

    Jim

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  14. #8

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    That is one great looking and sounding mandolin. I'll have to look for "Homer the Roamer". Very nicely played btw. Thank you!!

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

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  16. #9

    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    Thank you all for the kind comments. I really love playing it and feels more and more like home every day. A friend of mine is a former student of Mr. Unger's and gave me his contact info. I hope to reach out to him soon to try to learn more about the mandolin. Here is a picture that does the mandolin much more justice than my previous video. I believe Andy at TME took this picture a few years back Click image for larger version. 

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  17. #10
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    Default Re: Doug Unger Artist Mandolin (New mandolin to me)

    At the Goldendale Pickers Festival last month there was a player who had one of those and I was thoroughly impressed by it. That thing sang and was clear as a bell and surprisingly loud, given its size. Enjoy it!
    A couple years in, now, and still learning!
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