Starter - Posted - 12/12/2011:  10:10:30

Hi,

Any thoughts about equipment or recordings that you wish someone had given you when you were starting out?  My wife has a Breedlove mandolin that she loves, along with a strap and capo.  She has some intro dvds (Caplinger, Sam Bush).  So maybe she's all set, but I'd love to find her something that might enhance the experience.  (I thought of a mandola, but I think I've decided to hold off on that).

As far as tastes go, she's interested not so much in virtuoso performances as in the way mandolin can enhance group singing and playing: we've been particularly impressed by Slipstream, Redbird, and of course David Grisman.  Any others along those lines that might be nice presents?

Will

Ben Venuti - Posted - 12/13/2011:  07:36:04

A Bluechip pick, Too stupid expensive to pay for yourself.

Starter - Posted - 12/13/2011:  16:01:15

Sounds perfect (my other thought was a Weber Mandola, which puts "stupid expensive" in perspective.  But you're right: she'd never buy one for herself.

But I just went to their website: do you happen to know which one a typical mandolin player would want?

will

Ben Venuti - Posted - 12/13/2011:  19:08:34

People are saying that the CT55 is great. I think it's kind of rounded like a "Dawg". I have a TD 60 which is pointed and I like it fine. I didn't pick mine(so to speak) it was a gift. Mighty fine pick though.

LCH - Posted - 12/14/2011:  15:36:20

Throw away her capo...best thing I can think of..she wont really need it and they can easily become a crutch if you let them. Other than that ..just give her support and maybe a bunch of new strings. Sounds as if you two are headed in the right direction!! Its good to be able to do music with your spouse!! :) good on you!!

Edited by - LCH on 12/14/2011 15:37:45

Ben Venuti - Posted - 12/15/2011:  00:21:38

I love that "Honey for Christmas I decided to give you support"! That solves my Christmas problem! Better than "I bought a cow, in your name, for an African village"----- "I bought you a bunch of strings,well 8 anyway,and I threw away your capo. That's a hit!
Playing with a capo is kind of like shooting foul shots underhanded. It's effective but very uncool!

mandoteacher - Posted - 12/15/2011:  05:27:08

Get her a good mandolin teacher!

Ben Venuti - Posted - 12/15/2011:  13:26:50

An all expense paid trip to the Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz next Summer.