Olered - Posted - 06/27/2014:  11:20:04

I too am new here. I am a member of BHO, and have been for a few years. Just bought a Gibson f5L 1995 made in Bozeman MT. and signed by Bruce Weber, in September of that year. I pick mostly banjo, and guitar, so this will be my next learning experience. Can someone enlighten me on this particular mandolin. I have read some articles that say Bruce made some fine instruments? Any one else have a Gibson from this same time period? Would love to hear from you.

SteveZ - Posted - 06/27/2014:  17:27:13

Can't say much other than you have a fine one.  Can't really describe the difference in mandolin play as opposed to guitar and banjo other than saying it seems "faster" in the right-hand work.  The narrow neck and short frets take a little getting used to.  After a while I found myself never picking up my six-string, but got a tenor guitar which feels more comfortable and gets use. 

Olered - Posted - 06/27/2014:  18:43:10

Thanks Steve. My old banjo has a real narrow neck, and with my large hands, that can be challenging. I am going to give it a try, and see what happens. Love the music that comes out of the tiny instrument!!

SteveZ - Posted - 06/28/2014:  05:31:51

The Gibsons I've seen were standard (1 1/8") nut size.  If you find the mandolin is a good addition to the stable, suggest checking out the US-made Breedlove mandolins and others which use the wider (1 3/16" and up) nut size.  A number of the small-unit makers also  provide instruments with wider necks.  It ma y keep the profanity down when trying to do a D7. 

What kind of banjo?  I've got.a Deering 17-fret tenor set up CGDA right now and enjoy it.  Got it after positive experiences with the mandolin and tenor guitar.  The weight difference between the banjo (have the  Sosobee EZ resonator) and everything else was a surprise. 

Edited by - SteveZ on 06/28/2014 05:32:37

Olered - Posted - 06/28/2014:  15:55:14

Steve, I have 6 banjos. One 1997 Granada, never been played that my wife bought me for my Birthday back in 97, from Janet Music Shop. I have Two Earl Scruggs Standards, one a 1990 model, and the other one a 2001 model. I have two Earl Scruggs Specials. The first one is #2 of the first ones made in 95, and the second one is #68, made in 2001. Then I have my old RB-250 made in the early 70's. This is the one I pick most of the time, I don't play the rest. One reason I bought the Gibson Mandolin, is because it was the same year and from the same collector I got the 95 ESS from, although he had long passed, I ran across the man that owned this Mandolin who had gotten it from him over years ago. Thought the pair might be worth something when my grandson gets as old as I am.

SteveZ - Posted - 06/28/2014:  17:33:04

That's a lot of banjos.  The storage alone takes a lot of space.

I don't collect much.  I've gone through a lot of mandolins, but three  (a RedLine Traveler, a Burgess and a Fender) qualify as keepers and have been the go-to mandolins.  The RedLine is a true work of art to me - gold top and a few other tweaks.  The Burgess is just so natural-looking and comfortable to play.  The Fender is the take-all-the-abuse instrument which fights the elements and just can't seem to be broken.  

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 06/29/2014:  11:02:21

The Bozeman Shop Gibson and Flatiron instruments can be excellent mandolins. Those signed by Steve Carlson are especially sought after. I have an 88' F5L that is my preferred player. It has good punch with volume to spare and that Gibson mandolin tone. The standard 1 1/16 " neck may take some time to get used to. Gibson does have a wider neck available in the Sam Bush model if you find you need a little more room to move. Weber mandolins , founded by Bruce Weber , are also fine instruments , though they have a different tone than their Gibson brethren, not better or worse ....... just different. R/

Olered - Posted - 06/29/2014:  14:22:49

Thanks Usually Pickin, I appreciate your response. Don't know if I will ever be a good mandolin player, but of course, I am not a real good banjo picker either! I just love sitting down and playing a tune my way. I just turned 63, and have been playing a guitar since I was about 14. I really enjoy a banjo, blue grass style. I have been playing one since 1975. Self taught, which has been my dimize. Some of the things I learned by ear, is not quite like the books teach. But I do have good timing, and have learned a lot on the net the last few years. I still have a lot to learn up the neck. Where I was born and raised here in Arkansas, no one in my community played anything. The piano at church was about the only thing going. The Wildwood Flower was my first tune, and the old lady that showed that to me, only knew G, C, and D. So again, I learned most things by ear. Sure is fun picking, good or bad !!!! Thanks to you also Steve. Sounds like you have a few good instruments your self !!!

SteveZ - Posted - 06/29/2014:  17:52:24

If we were to compare skill levels, I'd end up buying the beer.  I tend to describe myself (for about the last 50 years) as the second-worst guitarist in the state. I figured statistically there had to be someone worse than me.  Now I have added mandolinist and banjo player and ukulele player to that descriptive.

Olered - Posted - 06/29/2014:  19:47:10

I am glad you mentioned me in that last statement....I played country for a long time until I really got interested in the banjo. I used to sing all the old Merle Haggard songs. I now go to all the bluegrass shows I can when time permits. The only problem I have, is when I see a boy that looks like he's about 9 or 10, and he picks the strings off the banjo, I want to quite. This happened about 20 years ago, and I left the banjo (had just one at that time) under the bed for 10 years..The way I had to look at this was real simple. There is someone out there who would love to pick at least as good as I can !! I have that advanage over them!!!

SteveZ - Posted - 06/30/2014:  05:38:28

For me the latest come-uppance was watching my 15-year-old granddaughter play the guitar.  After a little over two years of playing, she's better that I ever was.  It forced me to go to other instruments just to be on par with her in a mini-jam.

Have to admit liking the ukulele as of late. I have them tuned GDAE (highly untraditional) and it's really handy to have one nearby.  They cam be strummed a lot quieter than the mandolin when lower volume has its place, and picking out tunes by ear is a little easier.  I have one (Flea soprano) which is made-in-USA and has a plastic body, fretboard, bridge and nut, and a maple neck.  It's almost indestructable and is great in the yard.