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Thread: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

  1. #26
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tim Logan View Post
    You played some L&H mandolas - oh what a treat that must have been! And yes, I'm envious LOL!
    I, too, have played a few L&H mandolas and a few mandocelli as well. And the one I almost passed on what a late model asymmetrical A similar to the one that Frank Solivan played in that Mandolin Brothers video :-( My friend talked me into buying it and it is in as amazing condition as the one I that video and is a super sweet instrument.

    As others have noted, it is not just seeing a mandolin but hearing it especially is skillful hands. For instance, I have watched Carlo Aonzo play his original Pandini bowlback for many years and never tire of seeing *and* hearing that simple instrument in the master’s hands.

    As far as beauty and tone I have always loved John Monteleone’s classic Grand Artist instruments. Then again I do also love the looks of almost any Loar signed F-5.

    And I am continually amazed that I have two beautiful and wonderfully sounding mandolins in my Brentrup A4C and my Campanella A-5. Enough for now.
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  3. #27
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    Oh, man .....
    To be fair, it was 48 years ago. And I wasn’t very flush then, even in those dollars.
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  5. #28
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    The prettiest? Blonde F-4's with torch and wire pegheads and Handel tuners, both 2 and 3 pointers. Black can be nice also. And I like the moon and star inlaid pickguards. I prefer the plain dot fingerboard. The tree-of-life is too much for me.
    Also, the occasional Cremona burst F-4 where the brown is "just right" and blends gradually into a yellow that really shines. All Cremona bursts are not equal.

    Rosewood Vega cylinder backs with nice purfling and floral inlaid pickguards.
    Rosewood Maurer's with nice purfling and floral inlaid pickguards.
    Pearl trimmed Martin C's and E's, and style 5 and 6 Martin bowlbacks.

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  7. #29
    Mandolin tragic Graham McDonald's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by poul hansen View Post
    Click image for larger version. 

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    That is Helene, and she is only holding the mandolin. Thank you Martin Stillion (Mr Mando) for the biography. 8-)

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  9. #30
    perpetual beginner... jmagill's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    The nicest?

    A tossup between these two:

    1. My Monteleone Grand Artist oval-hole. I've still never heard another mandolin like it. Don't know how many of these John made, but it's not many...

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    2. I've been fortunate enough to play Matt Flinner's Gilchrist and John Reischman's Loar numerous times, and the one I like best is... my Heiden Heritage Model F-5, formerly owned by Ry Cooder. This one will never leave me.

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  11. #31

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Nicest means many things to many people.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  13. #32
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    Nicest means many things to many people.
    For clarification, the OP:

    Quote Originally Posted by David Lewis View Post
    Not necessarily one of yours and not necessarily your favourite. But an instrument that made you look twice?
    I'd have to say Bill Monroe's F-5, on display at the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Just looking at all the time-worn features, even in its reconstructed state, imagining all the beautiful, stirring, transformative music it generated ... Even sitting still, ensconced in a display case, you could hear it ring.

    In all my years, all the places I've gone, all the people I've met, this is the closest I've been to an F-5.

    For more modern stuff, there's Banana's Giacomel mandocello - octave mandolin? - from his recent European tour announcement..

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by journeybear; Oct-08-2022 at 8:53am. Reason: because of on account of
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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  15. #33
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Marty, are those recent Passernigs? Do you know if he's still building? I haven't heard about him for a couple of years or seen any new instruments for sale. (Just wondering--already have one.)
    Cary Fagan

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  17. #34

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Shultz Loar. (Only seen it in pictures.)

    http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/76547
    "I play BG so that's what I can talk intelligently about." A line I loved and pirated from Mandoplumb

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  19. #35

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    I have only had access to a few mandolins to hold, so I will have to say that the Monteleone A-model Radio Flyer is at the top of my list for nice:

    https://reverb.com/item/5752790-john...ne-radio-flyer

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  21. #36
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Walter at Carter's Vintage has always been kind enough to allow me to play the instruments in his store. The three Loar instruments there at the time were a revelation to me on what a mandolin could sound like. Over the years I have played a few more that impressed me. One a Dudenbostel F5 with a Virzi another a Nugget F5 and lastly a Red Diamond F5. All were sublime in tone and playability. Insofar as seen in photographs and at concerts .....TNTC .... too numerous to count. R/
    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

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  23. #37
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Anything by Marty Jacobson. A true original.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  25. #38
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Subjective reality issues here.

    First girlfriend I ever had was the nicest girl I ever saw.
    Second girlfriend I thought that’s strange, she’s the nicest girl I ever saw.
    And on… and on.

    I have an Ashbury Octave E32 style. I swear it’s the nicest octave I ever saw!

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  27. #39
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Getting the chance to see Watchhouse (former Mandolin Orange), I was in the front row, up close, and saw Andrew Marlin’s Gibson Lloyd Loar F5. I have limited exposure, but that was the greatest mandolin I have personally witnessed being played.
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  29. #40

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cary Fagan View Post
    Marty, are those recent Passernigs? Do you know if he's still building? I haven't heard about him for a couple of years or seen any new instruments for sale. (Just wondering--already have one.)
    Nice, I'd love to own one. Those are from 2014.

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Anything by Marty Jacobson. A true original.
    Thanks for the kind words. I have a ton of crazy ideas I can't wait to try out, as soon as I extricate myself between the current rock and hard place I find myself in.

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  31. #41
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson View Post
    Thanks for the kind words. I have a ton of crazy ideas I can't wait to try out, as soon as I extricate myself between the current rock and hard place I find myself in.
    Fantastic. I am looking fwd to seeing what you can come up with in Marty V2.0. :-)
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  33. #42
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    The most amazing mandolin I ever encountered was a Shmergel Devastator, but I can't say it was the nicest. It was wondrous to behold, yes, and played like a demon unleashed, but it was a nearly uncontrollable firebreathing pitching and yawing and bucking beast. I was left nearly deaf from its full-throated roar, and its brilliance seared my eyes, leaving me legally blind for days.

    I've learned my lesson, and won't try to get above my raising, just stick to my Gibson A's, where I know what's what.

    Still, the lure of being able to shred like Ricky and especially Ray in this video lingers and looms large ...

    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

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  35. #43
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    For clarification, the OP:



    I'd have to say Bill Monroe's F-5, on display at the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Just looking at all the time-worn features, even in its reconstructed state, imagining all the beautiful, stirring, transformative music it generated ... Even sitting still, ensconced in a display case, you could hear it ring.

    In all my years, all the places I've gone, all the people I've met, this is the closest I've been to an F-5.

    For more modern stuff, there's Banana's Giacomel mandocello - octave mandolin? - from his recent European tour announcement..

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I’ve seen it there too. They do a great job in displaying it. And it is a magnificent specimen.
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  37. #44
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    Nicest means many things to many people.
    There are no wrong answers. And you can define it as you like. Just an attempt to get a parade of beautiful instruments.
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  39. #45
    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    I remember in the classifieds a few years ago seeing a purple 3,pointer with like a Koa fingerboard..

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  41. #46

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    I haven't had as much opportunity to see many recent Nugget mandolins. During the 80's and 90's I saw somewhere between 10-15 of them(A5's and F5's). I remember how they took my breath away each time for a few seconds. The fit and finish, headstock inlays always moved me to a place of enthusiasm..Love 'em.

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  43. #47

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Cremona Gibson F4 around 1921.

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  45. #48
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by jimmy powells View Post
    Cremona Gibson F4 around 1921.
    A luck friend of mine has two of those ‘21 Cremona F4s. I think he should give one to me…
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  47. #49
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    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Anything by Marty Jacobson. A true original.
    Couldn't agree more.

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  49. #50

    Default Re: What’s the nicest mandolin you’ve ever seen?

    Randy Wood F-5 with mother of pearl inlay and ivory bridge.
    Click image for larger version. 

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