A Pictorial Visit to Carter Vintage Instruments

[Darryl Wolfe]

Reserved for notes

OK, this hands down is the coolest Instrument Shop setting I have ever seen. This feels like a high end art gallery, except you can touch and feel anything you want. I missed out on a few shots I should have taken. Behind the camera in the first picture is a front entrance room. To the right of the camera at the front of the showroom is a nicely done dinette/eat/chat area. 180 degrees behind the camera and to my left shoulder is the room where the fella's are playing. This room is 2-3 steps above the main floor. Walter so playfully said, "let me take you to the second floor". This is where I took most of the pictures in the next post.

Walter and Christie are to be commended on how well this place shows and feels. They also have a great selection of instruments

[Darryl Wolfe]

reserved for notes

Picture 2 is taken in the room where the customers were picking. From left to right are two Ferns, a Dec 24 Loar, the Loar H5 and a Gilchrist or two.

The "Mildred" fern is one of the nicest sounding and looking Ferns out there. It really barks. The Dec Loar is also impeccably set-up and sounds great.

This was a nice visit and I thank them for their time.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Last

[Mark Seale]

Thanks for the pics Darryl! I saw that Trainwreck show up on their site. My guitar buddies drool like the mando buddies do over a Loar.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

Darryl, would you please touch upon the sound of the Ferns, if possible also in reference to that Loar (F5) - as far as you remember. Typical brighter sounding Ferns? Thanks so much!

Henry

[mtk]

Don't know if you talked to him, but one of the "pickers" that was in the pictures is the Voight mandolin luthier.

[Bill Foss]

Is it true that Carter Instruments is the new official distributor for Gilchrist? And if so, how come it's no longer Gruhn?

[Darryl Wolfe]

Yes, I talked with the Voight guy. As far as the Gilchrist thing with Carter, that is true. I can't speak to business dealings, but it is my understanding that the Gilchrist Gruhn arrangement had an end date/length of term.

To address the Fern / Loar tone question. The 2 Ferns are very nice, and sound like good ferns do. The Mildred one is just more alive and responsive. The Loar is an outstanding example.

[William Smith]

Ah yes "Mildred" I really like that one, been eyeballing that one for months myself. Too bad I'm poor

[Hendrik Ahrend]

Thanks to both of you, Darryl and Bluegrasser78. Too bad, Bluegrasser78, I suppose you started in '78 (about when I started playing mandolin) and didn't realize how much you would later yearn for a good old Fern, dang!

[William Smith]

Thanks to both of you, Darryl and Bluegrasser78. Too bad, Bluegrasser78, I suppose you started in '78 (about when I started playing mandolin) and didn't realize how much you would later yearn for a good old Fern, dang!

78 is when my parents saw fit to bring me into the world. Been trying to pick on the ole mando since about 92-93. Just don't want to be in debt right now for a sweet/gorgeous/spectacular/awesome/tasty/ 27 Fern ahhhhh Mildred

[Hendrik Ahrend]

78 is when my parents saw fit to bring me into the world. Been trying to pick on the ole mando since about 92-93. Just don't want to be in debt right now for a sweet/gorgeous/spectacular/awesome/tasty/ 27 Fern ahhhhh Mildred

Born in '78? All the better. Looks like you're still young enough to pay back a loan. YOLO, go for it!