Also learned today Ken Ratliff has a just completed Econo A with upgraded hardware at his shop for $1750. I know they sound great and have the V shaped neck I like. But I need to play one. Wish I lived closer.
Also learned today Ken Ratliff has a just completed Econo A with upgraded hardware at his shop for $1750. I know they sound great and have the V shaped neck I like. But I need to play one. Wish I lived closer.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
After comparing it to all these others I don't think it makes sense to change anything at all on it. It's an excellent little mandolin, as it is. I don't want to screw anything up. I'm really surprised how well these Korean MKs really are when properly set up.
So the wife just told me to order a Silverangel from Ken. She's awesome.
Congrats!!! Great direction!
-- Don
"Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
"It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."
2002 Gibson F-9
2016 MK LFSTB
1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
[About how I tune my mandolins]
[Our recent arrival]
Congratulations! That's a good upgrade.
Girouard Concert A5
Girouard Custom A4
Nordwall Cittern
Barbi Mandola
Crump OM-1s Octave
www.singletonstreet.com
I spent a couple of hours today looking for a builder in NC using the 4allbuilders site. I like to support my local folks when I can. But seems most are out of business or not taking orders right now. So she bought the Silverangel that Ken just finished. It started as an Econo A but has upgraded tuners and some other stuff. From what I've read here on the Cafe I'll love it.
The CA bridge made a BIG difference on my "upper level but still beginner" mandolin. (New about $700). I'm not sure the other changes are worth the $$ on an inexpensive mando.
And to repeat what many have said: If you are going to upgrade, it is generally advisable to look for a used instrument. If looks are important, some of them can be quite nice looking and in very good condition but you have to look around. And for 2K, you can probably get one that costs 3K when new.
The wife already bought me a new Silverangel from Ken Ratliff. I'm going to have him build me one of his Fantasm two-points in translucent jade green this Summer, as well. I already have a few studio dates lined up on upright and mando (even though I'm still a relative newb on mando) and have had two calls already for fill-in work on bass. Going to be a good year.
Last edited by Snakum; Jan-22-2023 at 12:01am.
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