Bluett Brothers

[Kevin Briggs]

Just stopped into the Bluett Bros. shop today in York, PA. Fine place with some great instruments. He only had one mandolin in stock, but it played like a dream and sounded very woody. It reminded me of Shawn Lanes "Hicks" mandolin, with that straight wood tone.

Anyway, here's the site: http://www.bluettbros-violins.com/index.shtml

Mark Bluett also does apprenticeships, where you can build a great mandolin for a frcation of the cost. Bluetts go for about $6,000. Instruction time plus parts is about $1,600 if you make your own. Sounds cool to me.

[junksuph]

ratherbepickin,...I live very close to Mark's shop in York, (Dillsburg, Pa.), and was very much interested in doing his "one instrument" apprenticeship, but my business took over another shops work and I couldn't spare the time through the week to do this. I now build my own here at home, (working on #3 and #4), as time permits.

Mark builds one of the most beautiful mandolins I've ever seen or heard! His work is on par with any of the very talented master builders that share with us here at the "Mandolin Cafe". He has a mandolin pictured in the "eye candy" section of this site, and Mandolin Bros. sell his instruments as well. Oh, how I wish I had the time to work with him, one-on-one for a few months. This guy is good!

By the way, ratherbpickin, where do you live? It would be nice to talk to you sometime

[Kevin Briggs]

I live in Lancaster, so not too far at all. There are a few mandolin players over here, and we're thinking baout getting a mandolin trio together that has a revolving cast. I'm extremely busy with work and a new baby and things but I'd love to check out your mandolins/pick sometime. Here's my email: KevinTBriggs@msn.com

Jeff Bryson and Pete Divitri are the other two pickers so far.

[mehrsam]

I live on East Market Street in York, about a mile away from Bluett Bros. And I pass the shop every day on my way home from work. Talk about temptation...

Anyway, does that qualify me to be a charter member of the unofficial White And Red Rose Mandolin Symposium?

[Kevin Briggs]

You're in there like swimwear...doh!

[mehrsam]

Awesome - thanks! Here is my e-mail address for youse guys:

mvehrsam@verizon.net

This morning I was listening to The Modern Mandolin Quartet's "Nutcracker Suite" and thinking how cool it would be to get some other mando players together for a similar type of group; probably not on the same level of excellence, but just as fun!

[Kevin Briggs]

Sounds great. I'm only sort of organizing it. Really a fella' named Jeff Bryson in Lancaster is spearheading the project. Here's his email:

jeffbrys@hotmail.com

Jeff's pretty motivated to get it going. It's just all about ironing out meeting times, ect. I hope to be able to participate, but work and new baby keep me pretty right now.

[mehrsam]

Work?? Family?? New baby?? Pish-posh, man; where are your priorities ?

Fortunately I'm old enough to be out of the "new baby in the home" stage. My 15 year old son is becoming quite a picker and now wishes he had started earlier. So as soon as your baby can close his/her hands, put a mando in them! And trust me...sooner or later you'll need a break.

Thanks for Jeff Bryson's e-mail.

[junksuph]

Man, it's great to hear from so many mandolin players in this area. Unfortunately, I removed the end of my left index finger, so my playing has taken a back seat for a few weeks. I am working on my next two mandolins, (red spruce topped F bodies), so I will try to religate more time to that till my finger heals over. If you would like to see some pics, post your email addy and I'll send you some pics of completed mandolins and some under construction.

p.s..I live in Dillsburg

[Kevin Briggs]

Heck yeah, man. Send some picks to KevinTBriggs@msn.com

[Kevin Briggs]

Heck yeah, man. Send some picks to KevinTBriggs@msn.com. How much do your mandos cost?

[Steve-in-PA]

I saw the local business show on PCN last night on the Bluett Bros. Wow!! Mark makes some beautiful instruments!! And, he can play them too!!! I've heard of Bluett mandos but never knew he was in PA. It's only about 1/2 hour from where I live. I will be calling and taking a tour sometime soon.
I also noticed there's quite a few pickers in the area. It sounds like allot of folks are busy, but now that the holidays are over I have allot of free time in the evenings. Anybody local who would like to get together to meet and jam send me an email. I have a place to jam here at our home or would be willing to travel. I play a custom Yellowstone. It's just over a year old and "Wow" it's really been sounding good lately. It would be nice to meet some of you and share some riffs and instruments. Take Care, Steve
smongold@comcast.net