Loar Picture of the Day

[f5joe]

Good documentation DGW.

[Jim Garber]

The last time I physically saw it was it 1986 at his house in Cleveland…it still sounded great, but had developed a side seam pooch at about 5:00 oclock I believe.

Ah, that is the technical term for that: "side seam pooch." Excellent! I never knew what to call that.

[carleshicks]

I just sent this email to Christy Carty in reference to Loar 73725

__________________


See that scratch on the upper f-hole?

I did that in 1966…on accident…you could say I didn’t have my chop quite perfected.


Glenn Lehman bought this mandolin at Epstiens Music store in downtown Cleveland OH for $300 in 1966….he brought it for me and Dad to see on Monday

It had just come in from somebody in Canada

He bought it late Saturday

My Dad and I were in there (Epstiens) the same Saturday morning looking at an F-12 for me…..they @8....ING did not show us the Loar

So, obviously I’ve had an attachment to that mandolin for a little while. Glenn came close to selling it to me on several occasions.

He finally took poor health and consigned it at Elderly maybe 6-8 years ago

The last time I physically saw it was it 1986 at his house in Cleveland…it still sounded great, but had developed a side seam pooch at about 5:00 oclock I believe.

http://cartervintage.com/mandopage/g...ins.html#july9

I played it when it was at elderly, it was amazing. It was the first Loar I had ever played and I was hooked. I believe it was in 2004 or 2005 because I played it while I owned my 2003 Gibson Fern before I bought my 2002 Master Model in August of 2006. That off center sunburst is very unique.

[Dobe]

Finally got to meet up with my buddy Caleb to talk about his Loar, purchased from Harry West some 15 years ago or so. He's an interesting guy with lots of good stories, so I just sat down to hear a bit about it. Hope some of you like this, don't expect any fancy video work. You can probably find some videos of him playing with a former band he was in 'Open Road'.
Cheers.

[Ken Waltham]

I actually turned him onto this Loar. Also gave him some advice on how to deal with Harry, an eccentric individual, so the deal would not fall apart. It had the peghead scroll broken off, and actually bound again without the scroll...

[Ken Waltham]

Well, you can see I replied before watching the video. He pretty much covers it all. I thought maybe after Harry's death, the peghead would have been repaired, but, that's cool it's still the same. I remember telling Caleb to tell Harry his Dad was a preacher..
I think that is probably a marvelous Loar, they are all so good in that April to July 1923 area.

[Dobe]

There's 5 more little vids of our conversation you can find on my channel.
I remember some funny stuff about a friend he brought along with him who almost blew the deal with some behavior, but I guess he didn't want to bring that up !

[sgarrity]

Thanks for the videos! I always enjoyed Caleb's playing with Open Road.

[f5loar]

Thanks for the videos! I always enjoyed Caleb's playing with Open Road.

It was indeed Harry's last Loar that he held onto the longest. He was always proud of the broken and bound headstock. I got to play it many times when Harry lived near me in Granite Quarry. Even with the cracks you knew it had it. Most of the times I played there were rusted strings on it and I would break a few trying to get it up to pitch. There will never be another like Harry West.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Here is something I have never seen. This came in the case of John Paganoni's July 9 Loar mandolin

[BradKlein]

It was another era, when a player would notice the neck of their mando needed adjusting… and-write Kalamazoo about it… receive truss rod adjustment instructions by post some weeks later… begin forging an appropriate wrench…

[Timbofood]

Oh, my God, another thing the company will start a lawsuit over!?

[JFDilmando]

Just a pair of Loars and their Wiens piccolo friend

[Darryl Wolfe]

Friends and Colleagues, it is amazing what retirement will do to one's lifestyle.

This is the first time I have been on the computer since I retired 3 months ago. Sure, a little email and Facebook off my phone, but not Mandocafe, Cleveland Browns forum, Camaro Forum, Ebay, Martin Guitar forum.

It is refreshing, but now I'm back a bit. I have to admit it was partially getting reset up since they took my Corporate phone, laptop and desktop computer. Twenty-five years with Parsons Corp and 16 before that with TVA. I have not missed it a bit.

Here my 73992. Let's start anew

See some of you at Banjothon Saturday

[Darryl Wolfe]

Here is an exceptionally nice July 9, '23 out of the "mid" batch of July 9's.

This is a mandolin that I was honored to procure for a very dear close friend. It has appeared in a few Gruhn/Carter publications "anonymously".

I purchased this for him in the early '80's, and the mandolin has essentially not be in circulation since. This friend passed away last year.

The mandolin was bequeathed to a very good friend of his and mine.

I am posting this for him. If he chooses to chime in good, if not OK, but, I kinda think he wants me to break this ice.

This mandolin is front bound and has a one piece back. It has the glossy French polish finish found on some July 9's.

73747......a real hoss..and shall I say, I am ecstatic to see him receive this.

[barry]

Here is an exceptionally nice July 9, '23 out of the "mid" batch of July 9's.

This is a mandolin that I was honored to procure for a very dear close friend. It has appeared in a few Gruhn/Carter publications "anonymously".

I purchased this for him in the early '80's, and the mandolin has essentially not be in circulation since. This friend passed away last year.

The mandolin was bequeathed to a very good friend of his and mine.

I am posting this for him. If he chooses to chime in good, if not OK, but, I kinda think he wants me to break this ice.

This mandolin is front bound and has a one piece back. It has the glossy French polish finish found on some July 9's.

73747......a real hoss..and shall I say, I am ecstatic to see him receive this.

If it is possible to play these things with your eyes, this one sounds fantastic.

[FLATROCK HILL]

This is the first time I have been on the computer since I retired 3 months ago. Sure, a little email and Facebook off my phone, but not Mandocafe, Cleveland Browns forum, Camaro Forum, Ebay, Martin Guitar forum.

Thank you for posting the new pictures. This area of the Cafe is my personal favorite.

You may have a lot of catching up to do on most of those sites you mentioned. As for the Browns... you might wanna just let that one go.

[goaty76]

Congrats and welcome back Darryl! Your input has been missed.

Phil

[f5joe]

Darryl, thank you for posting these pics of #73747.

Since our dear, departed friend received this Loar in 1983, it has been a steady visitor to my house. Our friend would call ahead and ask "what should I bring?" ....... and I always answered "bring Lloyd for sure".

Our friend left us almost 16 months ago. I am saddened, honored and humbled to have had this mandolin bequeathed to me. I would dearly love to have him back instead. But, he would want me to be out there playing it and sharing it. So that is what I'll be doing from here forward.

Thanks, Joe

Edit: Shown in blue Paganoni case. Below in its original case.

IMG_8036 by Joe Allen, on Flickr

[Darryl Wolfe]

Joe,

I share your sentiments regarding "Our Friend". I cannot think of a better place for this instrument to reside. I am happy for you and that the instrument will see a bit more circulation to be enjoyed by others too.

[Ken Waltham]

Yep, me too Joe. Really glad you received this special F5, and you are going to share it a bit with the mandolin community. I always enjoyed visiting with the previous owner, and attended IBMA and some other great places with him, Lynn and Jim. We had a blast, and..if you can believe it, he bought me supper!
Best always, Ken

[DataNick]

Good on you f5joe!

I understand the dynamic of the "mixed blessing" here, but what a tremendous way to honor the memory of your friend every time you pick up the mandolin to play!

[DataNick]

f5joe's wonderful human interest experience reminded me of mandolin picker Mark Miracle of
The Sonoran Dogs and his beloved Carlson signed Flatiron F5 Artist (pre-Gibson). As i recall Mark telling me, when he was a young person, an older man in the neighborhood was the original owner of this Flatiron and became something of a mentor/father figure to Mark as he was developing as a mandolin player. When the gentleman passed away he bequeathed the Flatiron to Mark who not only treasures the instrument, but plays it as his only axe in the Sonoran Dogs bluegrass band and has said he'll never get rid of the mandolin because of it's sentimental value. Not only is it in fairly pristine condition, but Mark let me play it, and I can tell you that it is a true "hoss" of a mandolin!

I love stories like these!

[f5joe]

Thank you folks. I appreciate your thoughts.

[Timbofood]

Some folks deserve what they get, others get what they deserve!
For whatever reason, I seem to fall into the latter category no matter how hard I try!