Cohen C style @ Cotten

[Geiss]

http://www.cottenmusic.com/images/Misc/CohenF_FF.jpgg

Wondering if anyone has played this beauty.
A tad unconventional but wondering about tone, volume and playability if anyone might offer first hand impressions. Thanks in advance.

David

[Charley wild]

I can't help you, I have never played a Cohen mandolin. But it is one of the prettiest mandolins I've ever seen!

[Geiss]

Yes, I agree and I don't want to get seduced by looks alone, either in the dating or mandolin markets!!!!!
D

[JEStanek]

Those are built by Dr. David Cohen. His website is here. He builds intentionally for specific properties. Here is a pretty thorough review of one at Gruhn's.

Jamie

[Tom C]

I believe 3 of his mandos were tops in blind hearing contest at "wintergrass ?". He is one I surely would trust buying without trying. I'm sure there is a 2 or 3 day trial period.

[fatt-dad]

Dave's mandolins are GREAT!

f-d

[F-2 Dave]

I've never heard a Cohen, but from what I've read, a Cohen mandolin will sound like Mr Cohen intends for it to sound.

[Steve-o]

David,
I played two of Dave Cohen's C# models at Elderly several years ago. Both had tone, volume, and playability in spades. I wasn't wild about the design, but one of them had exceptional wood that really grabbed me. I couldn't really afford it at the time, but it gave me a terrible case of MAS, and to this day still haunts me a bit.

[RichM]

I haven't played the Cohen C# at Cotten, but I do have one of my own, and it's a fine, fine mandolin! Yes, the look is pretty untraditional (which I prefer). Fit and finish is excellent and clean. The tone is quite loud with a real edge to it-- made me understand what the phrase "cutting through" really meant!

BTW, that's a nice price on the one at Cotten...

[draino]

Not that youtube gives a great impression of instrument tone, but given the limitations of the medium, I've always been impressed by the sound of the instrument in this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um70FduhcIo

[tburcham]

Stay tuned, I played it extensively yesterday and will be writing a full review very soon!

Tim Burcham

[Steve-o]

There was some discussion on Cohen C#s in this thread and a couple videos if you want sound clips.

[DerTiefster]

Now -those- youtube vids were worth watching, just to hear that Cohen mandolin being played. It was very interesting. Thanks for pointing to beranbr's vids. I think they weren't on the site when I wanted to hear a Cohen mando.

[jim_n_virginia]

Dave is as close to a mandolin scientist as you can get! LOL! He most def knows about sound.

I played a C# at Cabin Fever a few years back and it was a great mandolin. But I prefer the traditional type scroll myself but his mandolins are top notch. One of the few I would buy without trying and feel pretty safe about it.

[Bob DeVellis]

Cohen mandolins aren't very well known. But they're fantastic instruments. I have one that I bought from Butch Baldassari that I think is visually and acoustically stunning. Because they're not necessarily voiced for bluegrass (although they can certainly hold their own in a bluegrass setting), I think they're often overlooked and they don't show up on the stage at the CMA awards. But play one if you get a chance. They're wonderful, powerful, sweet mandolins.

Here's a picture of mine:

[Geiss]

WOW, thanks all for posting.
I learn that the C @ Cotten's has a redwood top.
Will wait for Tim's impressions and then decide whether to give her a fly......
Best,
David

[fatt-dad]

Dave loves redwood! He likes the density (low). I think his Loar-killer was redwood (in reference to the blind sound testing where the Cohen won and a lot of high-end mandolins were competing).

f-d

[F-2 Dave]

That's a gorgeous mandolin, Bob.

[tburcham]

David,

My full review will be posted tonight, but I can tell you upfront that this is an exceptional mandolin!

Tim Burcham

[Spruce]

Dave loves redwood! He likes the density (low). I think his Loar-killer was redwood (in reference to the blind sound testing where the Cohen won and a lot of high-end mandolins were competing).

Another redwood-topped Cohen:

[Patrick Hull]

Those are beautiful instruments. Love the artistic design work in the scrolls and headstock.

[tburcham]

Cohen mandolins aren't very well known. But they're fantastic instruments. I have one that I bought from Butch Baldassari that I think is visually and acoustically stunning. Because they're not necessarily voiced for bluegrass (although they can certainly hold their own in a bluegrass setting), I think they're often overlooked and they don't show up on the stage at the CMA awards. But play one if you get a chance. They're wonderful, powerful, sweet mandolins.

Bob,

That's a beautiful mando!

[Geiss]

Wow, that is another beautiful Cohen specimen! I like the single point on the treble side bout.
David

[RHBoy]

Hi,

I play the other Cohen C# Steve-o saw at Elderly's. Engleman top, Maple sides. Didn't plan to buy a Cohen when I came in, but I certainly left with one. The one steve-o liked was nice also. I like it and have been told it's loud and dry sounding. In fact, except for the tuning knobs (mine are white) the one at cotten looks like mine. Good luck!
Jeff

[tburcham]

My review of the Cohen C# at Cotten Music has been posted in the General Mandolins Discussion thread. Click Here to go to my review.

Tim Burcham