Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
John
That’s easy, ME, but Chris Thile is way up there. I
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't.
Ibanez M-522
Gold Tone GM 10 Frypan
Favorite's a loaded word which might conjure Sam Bush. Chris Thile and Sierra Hull are really blazing a trail these days, but there are too many to mention that I love to listen to and to try to emulate. There is no shortage of great talent on the player or the luthier end of things.
Eastman 605, Strad-o-lin, and Kentucky 300e mandolins.
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Sierra Hull is great, started quite young on the national stage (like Ricky Skaggs and Chris Thile). Wonderful multi-instrumentalist. She keeps getting better and pushes boundaries as she's branched out into many genres. And she does a lot to get young people into playing acoustic music.
But my all time favorite is John Reischman. I've been fortunate to meet him a few times and participated in his workshops. You'll not find a kinder, more organized, patient and gifted teacher. And he has composed so many great songs that have become universal jam favorites.
Nothing against any of the other nominees - I've had a chance to meet and hear many of them live. John R. is my favorite though.
Currently for me it is Jarrod Walker with Billy Strings. Not to say he is the most technically advanced mando wizard out there, but my favorite to listen to right now...
Sam Bush
Jethro
David Grisman
Norman Blake
Nancy Blake
Brian Oberlin
I guess I have no real favorite right now, there are a lot of players whose playing I love to hear, some are less well known members of this community. Not sure why I even attempted to list a few!
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John Reischman and Sierra Hull - tone/taste monsters.
There are so many great players out there, each with their own strengths, styles, etc. My absolute favorite is Sam Bush. I'd like to put in a plug for Tristan Scroggins.
Jethro Burns of course - Reischman, Baldassari and Steffey are tonemasters. My current favorite Eva Scow
Andrew Marlin (he's the reason I first picked up a mandolin)
Adam Steffey
Sam Bush
Lots of others, but those three are tops and will inspire me to dive for my visa card without hesitation when I see they are playing anywhere close by.
"Keep your hat on, we may end up miles from here..." - Kurt Vonnegut
Dave Appollon was my favourite in 1973 and that has not changed
Mike Campton. Especially for the Monroe style
I feel compelled to throw John Reischman and Frank Wakefield into the mix here. JR has such a cool, melodic touch to his playing; as for Wakefield, he is the first mandolin player I recall who caught my attention when he was with the Greenbriar Boys back in the early '60s. Lots of great ones already mentioned, but I just thought it would be appropriate to get these two out there.
Old Dog Dave: Do the best you can, as long as you can, and all the rest is gravy.
1918 Gibson A Oval hole
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2004 Gibson A9
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Bruhn double-point
The Epiphone MM-30
Dillion Electric (Rickenbacker style)
Andy Statman. His playing never fails to move me.
Andrew Marlin
Adam Steffey
Emory Lester
Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.
Northfield F5S Blacktop
Pono MND-20H
Ralph Tuttila (bias alert - he's a friend, mentor and bandmate)
Heikki Lahti
Peter Ostroushko
Bob Douglas
Norman Blake
While I also like a lot of other players, these are the folks I listen to when needing inspiration.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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Jim Richter
“Mandolin brands are a guide, not Gospel “
- Data Nick
A lot of greats mentioned in this thread. I'm not prone to thinking in 'bests.' I never tire of hearing John Reischman. Sierra Hull is a wonderful elegant melodic player. I have to add Joe K Walsh to the list. Like Sam Bush, when he's a sideman, he always adds to the mix and never showboats. Heck when he played with the Gibson Brothers you hardly noticed him, he fit so well. I particularly admire his sense of timing & his ability, like the Texas fiddle greats to play so close to the melody and yet always sound new.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3J5-JOEISo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDEZTBfpdCo
I don't have a favorite, but Grisman was my introduction to the instrument and I still marvel at the beauty in his playing. And of course I love the playing of all the others mentioned in this very long, old, thread.
But no one has mentioned Marla Fibish, whose wonderful Irish trad playing inspires many.
Nor the king of chord melody, Aaron Weinstein.
Well, this thread isn't all that long, but it is a bit old. It predates my involvement here, so that makes it nearly ancient.
I'm a little disappointed and almost surprised no one has mentioned me! All the people who come up to me after shows and tell me how great I was and never heard a mandolin played like that ... Well, hmmm ... when you put it that way, maybe it doesn't mean "well," not exactly. But I've gotta admit, I do like my style. That's why I play the way I do, so I can hear the kind of music I like. I guess I'm in the minority.
Oh well!
Anyway, I'll add my vote for Grisman. I like everything I've heard from him, even in genres I wouldn't otherwise listen to much. He's got such a nice touch, sound, and feel. And also Ry Cooder. Not that he plays it that much, but when he does, it's got some punch. My all-time favorite solo recording of a mandolin is still his "Going To Brownsville." There's so much strength and expressiveness in it.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
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I thought that jazz was so complex…until Aaron showed me how simple and intuitive it is.
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I'll have to go with Ostroushko. for diversity of sound and style -while maintaining solid technique.
Mike Marshall - for the same reason as Pete
Grisman
Reischman
the Blakes - I would put Nancy before Norman
Sam
Ronnie McCoury
Sierra
Thile
Compton
Stormy Morning Orchestra
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Got no compassion, thinks its a sin
All he does is sit around an play the Mandolin"
Tim O’Brien
Chris Thile
Dave Swarbrick (I know primarily a fiddle player but also a wonderful mandolin player and probably my main mandolin influence)
Levon Helm (I know he’s no virtuoso- but I love his playing)
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