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Thread: My New Girouard Mandola

  1. #1
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default My New Girouard Mandola

    To commemorate my 50th birthday, my wonderful wife said, "Say, wouldn't it be cool if you had a really nice mandola? You sound really good playing one." So, I gave it some thought and decided to go with Max and Lauri Girouard. I couldn't be happier with the result. I asked for a mandola that I could play in a bluegrass/Americana context, so less sustain and more percussive 'woofiness'. I also wanted a rustic finish with a very mellow, subtle sunburst effect for the finish. To top it off, I sent them a drawing of a headstock inlay that I thought would look nice. Max matched it perfectly.

    The details: red Spruce top, red Maple back and sides, Ebony fretboard and head stock. The 15.9" course length is a happy medium from my 14" Manndolin (which I love) and a 17" TC mandola, so the left hand is comfortable for chords. Max's set-up is really good as well. I also had him install a K/K internal pick-up, which I tested out this morning. A-OK.

    Overall, I am happy, no ecstatic to report that they nailed the details of this instrument entirely. It is a very easy player right out of the case; very big sound and even tone all over the fretboard. As for the fit and finish, it's as good as any I've seen anywhere. As I've said to my friends and family, I am a very happy guy right now.

    Sound samples to follow shortly.

    Your thoughts?

    Click image for larger version. 

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    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



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    Girouard Mandola - 2013
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  3. #2

    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Lovely. Play it in good health, Tom.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  5. #3
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    PS - They are very easy to work with. Fantastic in the listening department.
    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



    Instruments

    Mann 2 Point - 2011
    Girouard Mandola - 2013
    Pava A5 - 2019

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  7. #4

    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Congrats to you as well as Max and Lauri. That looks great. I wondered what the significance of the 50 on the headstock was... wondered if it were their 50th instrument. But now it all makes sense. Cool!
    Last edited by Marty Jacobson; Apr-27-2013 at 10:38pm.

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  9. #5
    Registered User trevor's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Congratulations. I have one on the way over to the UK, can't wait to get my hands on it.
    Trevor
    Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.

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  11. #6

    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    trevor, i played that one. lovely. nice strong voice. lots of power behind it and very easy to play.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  13. #7
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Quote Originally Posted by Toycona View Post
    PS - They are very easy to work with. Fantastic in the listening department.

    Congratulations Toycona!...and I totally agree: Max & Lauri are a joy to work with.
    Enjoy!
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
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  15. #8
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    A very nice mandola and a wonderful wife! Enjoy.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  17. #9
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Yes, Charles, I am blessed that way. She downplays her role as 'decider in chief' but she's so much more!

  18. #10
    Registered User rb3868's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    i've seen the "in progress" pics - you are a lucky man

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  20. #11
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Congratulations to you and the Girouards! IT looks great.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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  21. #12
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    I got to play this mandola both in the white and when it was ready to go. It is awesome ! Can't wait for mine that will specd out the same as Tom's.


    Carleton Page

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  23. #13
    Registered User trevor's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Its here and its a Very fine mandola.









    Trevor
    Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.

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  25. #14
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    OK, so here's the first sound file on the new Girouard mandola...

    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



    Instruments

    Mann 2 Point - 2011
    Girouard Mandola - 2013
    Pava A5 - 2019

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  27. #15
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Here's "Folding Down the Sheets" suggested by C Tone, who played a version of this on the '50' just before it got sent out to me. It seemed only fitting that I learn it and play it now. Thanks for the suggestion, Carleton!

    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



    Instruments

    Mann 2 Point - 2011
    Girouard Mandola - 2013
    Pava A5 - 2019

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  29. #16
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    YOu are very welcome. Sounding good!

  30. #17
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Love the sound of that. Congrats!
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  31. #18
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    could I possibly have your wife call my wife and explain to her how happy it made you for her to suggest you purchase a new mandola?

  32. #19
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    I bet she'd do it.
    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



    Instruments

    Mann 2 Point - 2011
    Girouard Mandola - 2013
    Pava A5 - 2019

  33. #20
    Registered User rb3868's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    that sounds even better than it looks

  34. #21
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Quote Originally Posted by Toycona View Post
    OK, so here's the first sound file on the new Girouard mandola...

    Wow, tht mandola has a real "bark" to it!
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  35. #22
    Registered User dulcillini's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    Congratulations ! Don't you just love the mandola sound ? It is very soothing to me. I play my mandolin more often, but when I want to sit and just play, I usually pick up the mandola. I have been downoading viola music on the internet and playing them on my mandola. It is encouraging to see more mandolas being played in a solo situation these days. Enjoy you lovely instrument.
    Michael A. Harris
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    "Home is the place we grow up wanting to leave and die trying to get back to." Nash

  36. #23
    Registered User Toycona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    The mandola is surely on the rise as an instrument. It's featured in a few tunes on the new john Reichman album as well.
    ma dh'fheumas tu tarraing, dčan sin gu socair



    Instruments

    Mann 2 Point - 2011
    Girouard Mandola - 2013
    Pava A5 - 2019

  37. #24
    Gilchrist (pick) Owner! jasona's Avatar
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    Default Re: My New Girouard Mandola

    sounds great! Enjoy it for a good long time!
    Jason Anderson

    "...while a great mandolin is a wonderful treat, I would venture to say that there is always more each of us can do with the tools we have available at hand. The biggest limiting factors belong to us not the instruments." Paul Glasse

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