New Mandolin


By: Daniel Date: Feb 17, 2007 - 04:31 PM

Receiving and playing the mandolin the Gary Vessel made for me 2 weeks ago [check out the mandolin group on this site for pictures] was the highlight of the second half of last year. Odd thing to say, I know. But I put in extra time as an adjunct instructor from September to December and my day job has been murder this school year. In fact, I intended to write this blog about how music keeps me sane, but since September the insanity has usually overpowered the healing influence of music.

Not so since Supergrass (Feb 1-4, 2007).

First, SuperGrass itself was pretty wonderful. I got out of town, and spent 3 days enjoying and playing music with a large group of like-minded people. Work stayed at work.

Second, one of my first actions at SuperGrass was to claim my new mandolin from Gary. My friend, Kenny, and I ran into Gary as we checked in, so I knew the mandolin was nearby. Kenny and I went and listened to Roger Siminoff lead Dave Harvie, Lynn Dudenbostel, Mike Kemnitzer, John Monteleone, and Steve Gilchrist in a discussion of mandolin construction as it relates to the output of Gibson durng the brief, but important, Lloyd Loar era. After about 30 minutes I lost the ability to concentrate in anticipation and went off to find Gary and my new mandolin.

I tried to be objective at first sight. I looked for the binding I requested: check. Top color & back color: check. Headstock inlay: check. Finish: check. I tried a few experimental riffs: ooooohhhhh, this is what it means to play a real, responsive mandolin. CHECK! I played some chop chords, the chop was already there! I was expecting to have to play it in to get that sound. My fingers missed a bit for the first couple of hours as I got used to the feel and spacing on the neck & fretboard, but pretty soon I was moving around easily. It has a rich clean sound without any harshness to it whatsoever. This is exactly what I was hoping for.

Gary was a little nervous at the handoff, he is used to having folks buy what he's already made rather than taking custom orders. But he need not have worried. His work is stellar, and I love my new mandolin. The old one, a Capek, hasn't really seen daylight since Febrary 1.

After playing for about a half hour, I left the mandolin with Gary, as we had previously agreed (he was showing his wares and needed the inventory for his table). I went to brag on it to Kenny. I picked it up that evening and played it for a few hours in our hotel room that night.

Third, I played a lot that weekend:
On Friday the second, Kenny and I got into a jam in the marble floored, glass ceilinged lobby of the Holiday Inn and made a mighty sound from 4pm to 7pm. It was glorious. My fingers moved well, the mandolin sounded great, and it drew some attention from fellow jammers and passersby. This last occurence was especially good for Gary who received at least two orders over the weekend.

Saturday brought our volunteer obligation, a brief concert for the younger kids at the festival. I got to play my new mandolin for a couple of tunes in that capacity. But later that evening, after dinner, I went hunting a jam. I treked through the hotel/convention center twice before deciding upon a small jam that lacked a mandolin in the hallway between the restaurant and the registration table. There I met Linda and Ron, a guitar, dobro duo from the South Bay area (SF) who were kind and accepting. The three of us played together with other folks coming and going from 9:30pm to about 1am.

Sunday morning arrived and I left Bakersfield happier than I have been in quite a while.

Daniel

Posted: Fri - May 4, 2007 at 10:25 AM          

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