Mandolins and ukuleles

[StringPicker6]

I just got tired of seeing the post title of ukuleles, so I started a new thread.     

[Riverbend]

I just got tired of seeing the post title of ukuleles, so I started a new thread.     

Thank you thank you thank you!

[Silence Dogood]

I had put my mandolin away for a while but recently have started playing it again most nights.  My playing time is pretty limited and I have to choose betwixt guitar and mandolin, and when it comes to guitar it's either electric or acoustic.  It's nice to have options, but the way I'm wired up I find it easily distracting.  Most times I just stick with acoustic guitar, but mandolin sure is fun. 

[fantex]

I hear you. I started playing mandolin a little over 2 years ago and spent a lot of time on it at first. I spend more time on guitar but I love the mando too.

I had no idea Larrivée made mandolins until I joined here.

[Silence Dogood]

I had no idea Larrivée made mandolins until I joined here.

They are as rare as a unicorn these days.  I used to see some at the guitar shows now and then but hardly ever anymore. 

[Riverbend]

I love my A and F Larrivee mandolins! My son and I gig together and we split our sets with me on guitar, usually my Forum VI, and him on stand up bass, then me on Mandolin and him on his LV-03. They made some very nice mandolins that are increasingly difficult to find.

[Queequeg]

There's a 2011 A-33 for sale on Reverb now in Grand Valley Arizona.

[Riverbend]

I've been watching that one for a while now. Last one made according to the seller. If I didn't already have a couple...

[Silence Dogood]

I think there was a time 15-20 ago when the mandolin was making a comeback (same way the uke did for a good while) and I suppose that's when Larrivee started making theirs.  It doesn't look like a mandolin renaissance is going to happen again any time soon, so I'm guessing we have seen the last of Larrivee's offerings. I wish they still made them, but I understand it's probably not a great business decision for them.  As someone who has actually made a mandolin himself, it takes a ton of work.  My own work ended up being more of a wall-hanger than a playable mandolin, but it was a lot of fun.  A friend and I built it over a year's worth of Saturdays in his shop.  Great memories, terrible instrument.
 

[fantex]

Playing my Eastman 315 today.

I think we are in a mandolin renaissance. I started just over 2 years ago. I frequent the Mandolin Cafe. There are so many great players now with Sierra Hull leading the way. David Benedict has a great YouTube channel with so many great instructional videos. There are a lot of new mandolin family instruments coming out from Northfield. Billy Strings and band have a huge following. Acoustic music is pretty hot right now.

[Silence Dogood]

Playing my Eastman 315 today.

I think we are in a mandolin renaissance. I started just over 2 years ago. I frequent the Mandolin Cafe. There are so many great players now with Sierra Hull leading the way. David Benedict has a great YouTube channel with so many great instructional videos. There are a lot of new mandolin family instruments coming out from Northfield. Billy Strings and band have a huge following. Acoustic music is pretty hot right now.

Maybe you are right.  Sierra Hull is a brilliant player.  Her technique and touch are absolutely flawless.  I admire what Billy Strings can do technically as well, but I can't get into his act at all.  I realize I'm somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud on these matters, but the whole weird-beard, unhygienic, pot-smoker ethos is a big turnoff to me. It makes his music impossible for me to enjoy.  But, hey, apparently a lot of folks love it.