A5's #104 & #90
Well, this was pretty cool! John and Patrick were nice enough to take the time to visit with a couple of my recent builds. John on #104 with Birdseye maple and a 1-pc euro fir top, and Patrick on #90 with all Euro maple and spruce with a 1-pc top & back. This was after my first Jaybirds show. If you haven't seen them, change that! Killer show! thejaybirds.com
A5 #91
This is A5 #91, and was recently listed. One of my favorite voices so far, if not my favorite. 1-pc Alaskan Sitka over 1-pc red maple. Probably should have kept it! It is currently available, if anyone's looking. It's assertive!
A5 #37
Here's a build that popped back up & resold recently. That 1-pc Alaskan Sitka top was part of a bridge built around 1910, and was split into cello billets in the mid 1930's. Still have a good supply of that material. Love Sitka! Glad to hear these voices developing with time. Makes me feel pretty good about what I'm doing!
A5 #80 for Bruce Harvie
Bruce Harvie of Orcs Island Tonewoods has become a good buddy over the years. He's drags a lot of material back & forth from the Island in WA to CA. My place is a good crash pad in the middle. This mandolin is a representation of some of the materials he was hauling. Mostly from the Chico area down to Santa Cruz Guitars. 1-pc redwood top & Beautifully figured walnut. Fun build & a unique voice! "Friendly" player. Really poppy in person. Check it out!
A5 #95
Multi-instrumentalist, string wiz Eric Wiggs picking a little on one that is currently for sale in CO. I'll have a link when it's available. 1-pc "BC" (bear claw) Log Sitka, and 1-pc Euro maple back from the stash of the late John Sullivan. Built for a heavier right hand. Still waking up a bit, but will be a monster in the right hands. Thanks, Eric!
A5 #95
Here's the owner of #95, mandolin pickin' monster Dylan McCarthy with it, too! Thanks, Dylan!
A5 #50
Bob Minner is a monster multi-instrumentalist. He plays all the instruments in the bluegrass world. He has been playing guitar for Tim McGraw for almost 3 decades. Very happy and lucky to get to be buddies with this dude. He recently released a brilliant, beautiful album of tunes he recorded during lockdown on a Collings CJ-45 guitar, and it is something you all should check out. Here's a link to his site, and it's available on CD or by download: Solo. Here he is on #50, my brother's mandolin. 1-pc, wide-grained, Alaskan Sitka top from a bridge decommissioned in the 1930's, Noble Fir bracing dated 1933, and a quilted Western Bigleaf Maple back from Jason Brooks' firewood pile on his farm in Mill A, WA. Y'all enjoy this perfect pickin'! Thanks, Bob!
F5 #10
I'm really just a banjo player, but here's a little of what they're sounding like. Mr. Matt Vernon joined me with his D-18. Kelly Bauman took the sound recording. Trippe Davis tackled video & editing. Thanks a bunch, guys!