Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Her Mandolin setup.

[Djchriscoral]

I was lucky enough to hear the beautiful and talented Rhonda Vincent play this last weekend in Springfield, Missouri. I took a couple of pics of her Mandolin setup and thought I would share.

[AlanN]

I spy:

20 fretters
string dampers north of nut and south of bridge
no pick guard, arm guard, tone guard
Blue Chip pick

[pickloser]

I saw her recently in Marion, NC. Despite enough rain to dampen anyone's spirits, she put on a very entertaining show with high energy and a tight and talented band, both instrumentally and vocally. Not a lot of emphasis on mandolin playing (rhythm was flawless and her mandolin sounded great), but the woman surely can front a band. I was impressed, and I want to see her perform again.

Since I wasn't expecting mandolin pyrotechnics, I really listened to the band as a whole, instead of straining to isolate what the mandolin was doing. This was a good lesson; my music appreciation should not be overshadowed by my mandolin obsession. Rhonda and her band play good music.

[TonyP]

I think Rhonda is at the very top of bluegrass as it's being performed today. Talk about quality and energy, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are hard to beat. And they have so much appeal outside of the genre that I can take somebody who's not necessarily bluegrass fan to one of their shows and they will love it. She does surround herself with the very best, I wonder if that's why she doesn't play very many breaks? She is more than capable and when she does they are very tasty breaks. She seems like she's the leader of the band, but doesn't do it with ego. Another ability I deeply admire. I imagine she could write a really good book on how to be a woman in a field of mostly men and keep the whole thing going.

[DataNick]

I was lucky enough to hear the beautiful and talented Rhonda Vincent play this last weekend in Springfield, Missouri. I took a couple of pics of her Mandolin setup and thought I would share.

I can make out that the mando on the left is a Gibson (Sam Bush or Doyle Lawson model?), but does anyone know what the mando on the right is?

[texaspaul]

I don't think either is a Gibson, nothing wrong with that. The one on the right appears to be a Smith Creek. The one in the left begins with an S and has more letters than Gibson.

[JeffD]

This was a good lesson; my music appreciation should not be overshadowed by my mandolin obsession. .

I had a similar thought watching Punch Brothers. I had a lot more fun listening to the whole thing rather than focusing on the mandolin.

Rhonda Vincent has an amazing career trajectory, and I am not surprised they have a following in and out of the hardcore bluegrass community.

[Bigtuna]

Looks like a Doyle Lawson with a flowerpot oddly enough.

[DataNick]

Looks like a Doyle Lawson with a flowerpot oddly enough.

It sure does, doesn't it! Man my eyesight sure ain't 20/20 these days; last time I checked it was 20/40.

Anybody else know what her mandos are?

[mandroid]

that Gaffers tape over the strings, on one of those?

[DataNick]

that Gaffers tape over the strings, on one of those?

Yeah, I think it's the Smith Creek mando that has that tape across the strings..would love to hear that mando live!

[chip]

What is the purpose of the tape on the strings of the Smithcreek?

[D C Blood]

My guess on the Gibson would be sort of a Doyle Lawson hybrid (custom)...

[George R. Lane]

I put the image into Photoshop and the one on the left is a Gibson.

[JeffD]

What is the purpose of the tape on the strings of the Smithcreek?

I would assume harmonic suppression, being south of the bridge like that.

[9lbShellhamer]

Do other musicians use gaffer's tape south of the bridge like that? I mean, I'm sure others do, but...is it common? Why would she do it "for harmonic suppression?"

[DataNick]

I put the image into Photoshop and the one on the left is a Gibson.

Me and my not so bad eyes thank you George...LOL!

So the skinny is that Rhonda Vincent plays a Gibson Custom Doyle Lawson type? (but a Gibson nonetheless) and a Smith Creek these days!

[almeriastrings]

I always liked her red Triggs, myself...

http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Star...cent+christmas

[mandobassman]

She's actually had the Smith Creek for several years now. I've played two other Smith Creek mandolins and they were both wonderful mandolins.

[DataNick]

She's actually had the Smith Creek for several years now. I've played two other Smith Creek mandolins and they were both wonderful mandolins.

I checked out his site...looks like he does meticulous work... Here we go again with suffering thru this MADness (Mandolin Acquisition Disorder)...LOL!

[mandobassman]

I have been wondering for some time now whether Dave Smith is still building mandolins. His web site has lots of info about mandolin parts, CNC top and back plates and such, but very little about his own mandolins. I play in a band with a guy who has one and it's one of the best I've ever played.

[Djchriscoral]

I can make out that the mando on the left is a Gibson (Sam Bush or Doyle Lawson model?), but does anyone know what the mando on the right is?

I was told by the Dobro player, sorry dont know his name, who was setting these up, that her favorite that she plays all of the time is the custom Smith Creek. She played it all night. If I remember right, he said that the Gibson is a 2004 Master model. I was trying to soak it all in, but alas I was swooning with amazement and enjoying the moment. Plus my favorite band The Hillbenders was finishing their set and I was trying not to miss the end.

[greg_tsam]

I spy:

20 fretters
string dampers north of nut and south of bridge
no pick guard, arm guard, tone guard
Blue Chip pick

...and no covers on the tail pieces.

[Jakerex]

Lost respect for Rhonda when at a recent bluegrass festival she was standing outside her bus for a meet and greet and promotion or her CD when a lil 4 year old came running up to give her a hug. She greeted the hug also but it turns out that the lil kid was playing in the sand before he hugged her, she kinda wigged out, saying stuff about the gross sand, told the kid to beat it, and blah blah blah. That was it for me liking Rhonda

[mandolirius]

Lost respect for Rhonda when at a recent bluegrass festival she was standing outside her bus for a meet and greet and promotion or her CD when a lil 4 year old came running up to give her a hug. She greeted the hug also but it turns out that the lil kid was playing in the sand before he hugged her, she kinda wigged out, saying stuff about the gross sand, told the kid to beat it, and blah blah blah. That was it for me liking Rhonda

I'm sure she's devastated.