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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/19/2011: 16:04:36
This is true that there were many innovations at Gibson during that period and most of them good, Did all of these innovations come about because Loar was there? Guy Hart was the nuts and bolts man at Gibson at that time and was more responsible for the actual production of instruments coming off the shop floor than Loar was. I haven't heard of any claims that Loar personally had much/or anything to do with the design or production of A model mandolins. Loar signed Master model instruments F5's,L5's,H5's etc . as a marketing program for Gibson. During Loars tenure the adjustable bridge ,the truss rod, the "f" hole system,the elongated neck(not available on A models) all came into production. The elongated neck allowed the bridge to be placed more to the center of the top plate. The truss rod system was under development prior to Loars tenure. I don't know if he or who designed the the adjustable bridge,but he holds no patents as far as I know. The term "Loar Era" is often used to describe A-0's that had neither an adjustable bridge nor a truss rod but were built during Loars tenure. Some of these had the snakehead headstock,others did not. If you take the Mastermodel instruments out of the equation the early 20's is still a high point for Gibson in terms of quality for sure but that high lasted for several years after Loar left and would have maybe continued longer if it hadn't been interrupted by the depression and then immediately followed by the war. Anyway this whole thing is about referring to an A model Gibson as a "Loar". The other day I bought an adjustable wrench that said that it ratcheted on the package. When I tried it I found that it didn't ratchet at all but only backed off and released allowing you to reposition the wrench on the nut to continue tightening. When i looked at the package again I realized that "ratchet" was in quotes---this is sort of the same thing as invoking the " Loar" name in referring to any instrument that was not signed by Lloyd Loar. .
Charley Wild - Posted - 02/19/2011: 19:25:57
I own one. A Stonebridge A. Probably the only Stonebridge owner on the forum!
Edited by - Charley Wild on 02/22/2011 11:26:17
MandoSquirrel - Posted - 02/20/2011: 13:00:24
quote:
Originally posted by MandoSquirrel
Except the A's did get the truss rods & adjustable bridges the Loar era brought to Gibson.
Ben Venuti:
I wasn't disagreeing, just wanted to point out that there were changes to A models that the "Loar Era" title helps to identify. Yes, Hart was the engineer behind most of the changes, Loar was mostly a musician, with ideas, approval authority, & a Gibson paycheck.
matrixbanjo - Posted - 02/20/2011: 18:13:04
Eastman 514 got it this last month used for a good price.
Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 02/21/2011: 09:57:18
quote:
Originally posted by matrixbanjo
Eastman 514 got it this last month used for a good price.
You certainly did and I hope you're havin' fun with it!
Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 02/21/2011: 10:01:57
These days I am playing a 2010 Weber Vintage F. It is an oval hole F and looks a whole bunch like the old Gibson F4, but I can't call it an F4 as it has the longer neck of an F5, so I guess we call them "Hybrids". Either way, I like it. It has a very sweet sound and with the flat wound strings on it it plays like a dream.
My other current toy is an Arches Flat Top. Chris Baird is building with skills well beyond his young age!
Edited by - Gerry Cassidy on 02/21/2011 10:02:43
mandoteacher - Posted - 02/22/2011: 05:50:28
Mine is an F5 I bought from a shell supplier in Vietnam. I bought it to show off the inlay when I was selling more luthier supplies than we do now. It has a fair tone and decent projection, so I play it as well. My first mandolin was a Kentucky A. I played on that for over 20 years. I sold it and bought a Flatiron F6 Artist in 1995.
Newl Post - Posted - 02/24/2011: 11:42:58
I wish I could say that I still play my first mandolin. I have nostalgic memories of it and played it more than any other mandolin I own. Luckily my fiddle partner of the past dosen years or so (I'm her banjo partner) owns it. I just traded it for a turn of the century (circa 1900) "Fancy Inlay" fiddle - her first fiddle.
This first (and most fondly remembered) mando is a Flatiron N1. I bought it new in 1983 at Stutzman's Guitar Center. I paid either $345, or $435. Those are the right numbers, but the order has grown foggy with age. If Stutzman's has their vintage instrument collection in a gallery on line, it is REALLY worth checking out.
My absolute favorite mando is this one in my profile pic. No maker's mark or lable. I assume it is a Regal by the shape of the headstock. I'd be happy if anyone could enlighten my to the true origins of this mando. It looks like it's all mahogany - top, sides, back & neck. Flat top & back. Hints at that Kay Kraft/Two Point/Venetian body shape. But it's chunkier. Not loud. But mostly sweet & a little muddy. I had the neck reset to make the action better.
My most played mando is an Eastman MD505, because it has great low action. That helps save wear & tear on the fingers & joints. I picked it up at a "truckload sale" at Bernunzio's. It is loud, has great tone and very good projection. I prefer the oval/round hole sound. But I play this A-style f-hole for comfort.
My best sounding mandolin by far is my Lehmann #8, built in 1980. It is really two steps and more above all my others. It is a very even mix of sweetness & brightness, with very even tone and volume from it's lowest to highest notes. Every time someone else plays it they remark about that even tone and volume everywhere on the fretboard. It out does all my other mandos in volume, too. This one really projects. You can even make it bark with the best f-hole mandos out there. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I took a fiddle in to Bernie Lehmann for repair and there it was, sitting in the corner of his shop. It had just been returned to him with a note saying that it had served it's owner well, but needed to go home. I asked the favor of first option to buy it once he had fixed it and set it up. He graciously agreed. I've only owned it about 4 or 5 months. I don't believe I'll ever lose my infatuation with it.
I also collect instruments. I have several old Kay Kraft's & other mandos with that body shape. Most are repair projects. I'll have a gallery of them up in a few days. Please forgive my long winded ramble. I'm a newbie here. I'll settle down as time goes on.
octofone - Posted - 02/25/2011: 15:58:03
I have a mid 20's regal octofone (octave mandolin), an Eastman 815 f5 style, an A style arched that I built in the late 70's, and a new f4 style I'm building that just got strings on it today. The octofone has a great rich tone but I need to dress the frets to make it nicer to play. The eastman is very nice but my wife says my new one sounds better (politically correct comment).
Wilbur - Posted - 02/26/2011: 11:19:25
I usually play one of my Wilburlins. No favorite one, just which ever one is at hand. I also own a JBovier Dorado which is my keeper.
nykyly - Posted - 03/02/2011: 12:33:45
Vail Mandolin - It is the first one that I have built - as soon has my honey-do list is empty I will start the next couple.
Oscar Berenger - Posted - 03/11/2011: 13:54:58
These are mine...
Breedlove quartz ff, and Johnson JM990 Metal Body.
mmcmanus - Posted - 03/16/2011: 08:18:56
Gold tone gm55a
Charley Wild - Posted - 03/16/2011: 13:51:23
The things I like about this thread are the great variety of mandolins that posters own price wise and other wise and how many posters are pleased with their mandolins! Me included. I'd like to have a couple more, maybe an F style for my scroll envy and an oval hole for the difference in tone but if I never get another one I'm happy with what I have. It plays easy, it has good volume and it sounds good. Good thread! Keep 'em coming!
Edited by - Charley Wild on 03/16/2011 13:53:08
red7flag - Posted - 03/17/2011: 14:06:42
Since getting them, the mandolins I am playing the most is not a mandolin but an Old Wave mandola and Mowry GOM.
MandoSquirrel - Posted - 03/20/2011: 16:29:58
I posted once before in this thread, but yesterday I picked up what will probably be my main mando for the foreseeable future:
Gibson A2, as near as I can decipher the faded serial number, from 1920.
Edited by - MandoSquirrel on 03/20/2011 16:31:53
Muscle Tone - Posted - 06/20/2011: 07:54:32
I currently play a Johnson MA-100 A-Model. I used to play mandolin in a local band a couple of years ago and during that time I played a Johnson F-Model mandolin. After leaving the band I kind of quit playing mandolin for a little while, but then just about a year ago I decided I wanted to really get serious about it again, but I wanted something different, so I decided to go with an A-model. I ended up finding the Johnson A-model in a local pawn shop for only $85. I did play it, but never really payed much attention to it. Then one day me and my dad were having a discussion about mandolins and he asked "Have you considered that Johnson A-Model?" I was very honest with him and told him I hadn't. So we ended up taking another trip back to the pawn shop that day. That day I played it I really started noticing what my dad was talking about, so I put it on layaway. Then I got it for Christmas completely set up with brand new Martin Phosphor Bronze strings and a new tailpiece cover. I couldn't be happier. It has plenty of volume for a cheap mando, but it also has that punch that you just don't find in inexpensive instruments. I highly recommend Johnson mandolins!
marxmando - Posted - 08/08/2012: 11:14:52
I play a Carlson signed 1986 Flatiron F5 Artist (Chocolate)...and love it!
Joe Mangio - Posted - 08/08/2012: 11:50:17
'02 Gibson F-9, I'm the original owner, and it has that personal distressed look to it.
toby03827 - Posted - 08/08/2012: 12:18:42
I am playing a 1908 Gibson A1.
MiG-19 - Posted - 08/08/2012: 13:48:16
I had posted earlier that my Kentucky KM-1000 gets the lions share of my playing time, but since that post, the one that gets out of the case more often is my Weber Yellowstone HT. It's in my profile picture.
NicGel - Posted - 08/08/2012: 16:50:32
I play a Jade F5 #33 mandolin. Beautiful sound. I will be getting a Black A4 and a Silver Angel A5 to complement this great mando.
ccravens - Posted - 08/08/2012: 19:52:15
quote:
Originally posted by MiG-19
I had posted earlier that my Kentucky KM-1000 gets the lions share of my playing time, but since that post, the one that gets out of the case more often is my Weber Yellowstone HT. It's in my profile picture.
Gotta love Weber!
pickn pete - Posted - 08/08/2012: 22:33:19
Blohm 3 point f-5
seancannon - Posted - 08/14/2012: 11:09:17
i have two mandolins now both beginners level one oval hole A style tonewood and my A style f hole tanglewood i like the build quality of the tanglewood over the tonewood and the tanglewood was cheaper , im on a very limited budget and these are the best i can afford for now
Edited by - seancannon on 08/14/2012 11:10:35
ccravens - Posted - 08/14/2012: 15:48:34
quote:
Originally posted by seancannon
i have two mandolins now both beginners level one oval hole A style tonewood and my A style f hole tanglewood i like the build quality of the tanglewood over the tonewood and the tanglewood was cheaper , im on a very limited budget and these are the best i can afford for now
I like the look of the oval.
seancannon - Posted - 08/15/2012: 01:48:27
i love the sound of the oval one
magnuscanis - Posted - 08/15/2012: 08:59:56
I currently own 3 mandolins, although one of them (a Crafter electro-acoustic shaped like a mini guitar and finished in a tasteful green) is out on extended loan. Here's a picture of the other two:
The one on the left I've had for about 8 or so years. It was fished out of a bin by a friend of mine and given to me. There are no identifying marks on it but a recent discussion in the Collector's Corner here suggests it could be a Larson from Chicago, c. 1920. It's a bit battered around but still plays quite well and has a nice warm tone, although the tuning is not very stable.
The mandolin on the right is a Stagg M50E electro-acoustic that I got about a week ago, wanting an instrument I could amplify easily (it being impractical to get back my other electro at the moment). Given the cheap price, I'm very impressed with it so far. Its unamplified tone is a bit thinner than my acoustic mandolin and it seems to stay in tune better. This is the one I've mostly been playing this week, to get a better feel for it. It's likely to be my main axe for taking out in public since it can be amplified and doesn't seem to need to be retuned as often as the other one.
Edited by - magnuscanis on 08/15/2012 09:01:14
dayzee7444 - Posted - 01/17/2013: 07:06:07
So for christmas I got a Vega Banjo-mandolin from 1909! and its beyond pristien - not a sing thing had been replaced in its 104 years on this earth. I even discovered a few real tourtous shell picks in the case and they're as awesome as everyone says. i'm completely smitten about it, iits by far the finest instrument i've played and thats not just me being bias, it plays itself. It doesn't even have that notorious "going out of tune (especially with double course strings) banjo thing" I"m kinda surprised to hear so many mixed feelng about manjos in these here forums - its totaly my new favorite thing. Maby I got lucky as far as quality, I wouldn't know cause I nothin to compare it with. And its definently not like a mandolin in that it fits into any genre, but those genres that it does fit into it exemplafies. Why aren't these more popular!?!?
Curt - Posted - 01/17/2013: 10:34:55
How cool, Dayzee! 1909. Wow. I'm playing a Mid Missouri mandolin and a Trinity College octave mandolin.
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