Mandolin News.
I’m as excited as a kiddy in a sweet shop!! (Yes again I know.. at my age.). Will Kimble, the man with a reputation growing faster than banks can take tax payers money and with no less a mentor than one of the four mandolin legends Lyn Dudenbostel, has agreed to supply an A5 to TAMCO! So in one small space (too small) you will soon be able to try goodies from Heiden, Brentrup and Kimble. It matters not whether you can afford them, careful beginners, fist timers and anybody else interested are welcome to try them. If you would like to try my Brentrup (three due in the summer) let me know in advance.
Talking of the four mandolin legends I am working with Mike Kemnitzer of Nugget on the details of my A5, due later this year (there’s going to be some sleepless nights when its on its way). I am currently thinking of all blonde or black-top on blonde…. phew the stress of it all. Mike is going to send photos of it as its built so I will create a Nugget page for regular updates.
Back on planet earth lots of used goodies this time. The Flatiron is in incredible mandolin and a collectors dream. There’s a couple of starter F5s from Ashbury and Ozark (probably made in the same factory) and a very nice A4 from Paul Shippey.
The only new mandolin (family) instrument is the Eastman mandocello. It does what a ‘cello should, if you’ve got loose fillings go to the dentist first.
Four new arrivals expected from Bruce Weber due soon and I am hoping to announce another collaboration with one of the top-flight names in the mando world at the next update…
| Eastman MDC 805 Mandocello | Mandolin | £1595 |
| Ashbury F5 AM675 | Vintage Mandolin | £275 |
| Ozark 2255 sunburst | Vintage Mandolin | £295 |
| Shippey A style cedar/mahogany | Vintage Mandolin | £995 |
| Old Wave A4 Spruce/Rosewood | Vintage Mandolin | £1350 |
| Flatiron A5 Artist 1988 | Vintage Mandolin | £1495 |
Guitar News.
I mentioned in the last update that I was working on some new projects in the US. We have always concentrated our guitar efforts on small workshop luthiers from the USA. I have been talking to four small workshops and individuals. So far we have our first Charis, another due in about six weeks, and an order for two with Bruce and Matt Petros due early next year, more news to come. Consequently we have decided not to stock Collings, at 1600 guitars a year we consider them to be a small factory now, the four we have left are now at very good prices.
The Charis is a truly wonderful guitar, a classic example of the modern American golden age of luthery. Bill Wise acknowledges the influence of James Olson but has added his own take, the finish and sound are the mark of a contemporary master craftsman.
Talking of which we have a used Sobell. Stephan is the only UK luthier that is regularly mentioned in awe by the American builders I talk to. We don’t seem to get many used Gibsons but we have a very clean 1954 L48, with pickguard and case, its survived from the 50s in better shape than yours truly. And a Fylde Alexander that we first sold a few years back.
I know I regularly go on about this but our selection of used guitars must be one of the best around now.. Taylor, Martin, Breedlove, Froggy Bottom, Bourgeois, Gibson, Olson, Bown, Sobell, Fylde, Guild, Huss and Dalton and a few more…
Bourgeois are still out best sellers by a country (or fingerstyle or any other) mile. Hence fourteen new in stock and three used. You can’t beat a Bourgeois (no I have.nt been approached by Saatchi to join his advertising slogan writers).
Its spring clean time (actually we need to make some space for new arrivals) we won’t be stocking Lakewood or Larrivee in future so there’s one of each at great prices. We have decided to concentrate our K. Yairi range on their amazing small bodied guitars so I have reduced the Dreadnought and OM we have in stock by £200 each.
We still don’t have a manager. So if you know maple from mahogany and Taylor from Takamine and could bear to be paid to be surrounded by all these fine instruments and sell some get in touch.
| Charis Custom Small Jumbo | Guitar | £4395 |
| Gibson L48 1954 | Vintage Guitar | £999 |
| Fylde Alexander with Baggs element pu | Vintage Guitar | £1095 |
| Sobell 1a ‘Butterfly’ European Spruce Brazilian Rosewood 1991 | Vintage Guitar | £6955 |
Happy pickin’
Trevor