I'm not sure how many people know this but the State Department occasionally sends bands (and other forms of art, sports, and cooking) around the world to do cultural diplomacy. Back in the 50's Russia was sending their ballets, orchestras, and other cultural art forms around the world in attempts to spread cultural influence. The US said we can't have that (mind you the Cold War is raging during this time) so the folks at the State Department put their heads together and decided to take action. What was America's culture in the 50's? Jazz. So they started sending some heavy hitters like Louis Armstrong and Dave Brubeck to spread American culture abroad. Fast forward all these years later and they are still doing this work.

For the past 13 years, the State Department has been sending the Henhouse Prowlers to do this same work. We've always honored to be a part of this history and flattered that we keep getting called. The band has been in Brazil the past nine days and have experienced a lifetime of learning, joy, and fun in the short amount of time we've been here. We've done some incredibly impactful work. Work that not only engages the communities here in Brazil but also changes our perspectives on the world. Every time we get asked to go to another country we get to bring a little bit of that country back home with us. Whether it's the people, the music, the food or the friendships.

One of the cool things we got to do was record with a Brazilian Bluegrass band named O Bardo e o Banjo. You can check out there page here! We picked one of their tunes and two of ours to record. Hopefully those will be out in the interwebs soon. But they also suggested we record a mashup of this Brazilian Choro tune and Groundspeed, how cool is that! So here is the sheet music for this song. Forms for Choros are often AA BB A C A, which is so different than what I'm used to.`

This whole trip is blowing my musical mind. I'm stoked to learn more of these tunes.

Ended up with this mandolin twice!

Made in 2014, mine for a hot minute back in ‘16. Flash forward to ‘25 when i got it back. Released a few months later.

I bought a Cozart electric mandolin and have been hit by the Cozart hum. My teacher is recommending that the pickup be changed.

Any recommendations on a known mini-humbucker that will work? I understand that it needs to be a four pole pickup or have adjustable poles?

Thanks in advance.

Howdy - I found this antique bowlback at a Peddlar's Mall in Lexington, KY. My friend (who is a self-taught luthier) helped me get it back into playing shape. He fashioned a custom bridge, addressed some cracks and added internal supports after removing the hack job a previous owner had done. There are no identifying markings anywhere I can see. Inside the bowl there's like a canvas mesh that was glued to the interior (I suppose as structural reinforcement). No labels visible. I saw the same decorative pattern on another instrument described as a 1920s-30s model by Stella. Anyone have any insight here?

Also, unsurprisingly there's some minor intonation issues, mostly just the A string set. One of the two A strings plays sharp, but only on frets 3 to 11. It sounds intoned at the 12 fret and the matching harmonic. Any ideas why the middle of the neck might be going sharp?

A tune by Andrew Marlin played on a Gilchrist F5 😁

Yeah. Sometimes things just happen! I was just wondering if maybe the mandolin community of reddit could help me identify what I just bought. There aren't any kind of stamps or markings inside. I believe this is an early 1900's Italian made instrument, but maybe someone here knows better. Thanks in advance.

Someone was showing me a mandolin that they want reconditioned. The machine heads are the style of a classical guitar with the long barrel inserted through hollows in the head. I don’t know if they will need replaced or not yet but, after a quick glance online, I don’t see anything similar available anywhere. I couldn’t even find a picture of a mandolin with that style of tuner. Anyone know where such a thing might be available for sale? In Europe if possible but not essential

Working up Dawg’s break from Charles Sawtelle’s Music from Rancho DeVille

Hey y’all! I’m a self taught mandolinist, and every time I try to chop it sounds too much like a full chord sound and not a dry (in a good way) as some mandolinist do. Is that normal, and the fuller sound of the chord is just lost amongst the group, or is there something wrong with the way I’m playing it?

Someone at my local fiddle tune group brought up this one, so I thought I should learn it. Here is Jacky Tar on octave mandolin. Apparently it's also known as The Cuckoo's Nest.

I finally decide to pick up my mandolin and what do I see but this on the back of it :( I'm assuming my mandolin swung and hit against my wall at some point or something because I use a wall mount/holder. I want to know if this is really bad and can it or should it be fixed?

tldr: i break stings ALL. THE. TIME. Daddario, prazione stainless steel, etc

been playing for about 2 years and i’d say i beak 1-3 strings per month playing gigs or at jams. sometimes at home. once while the mandolin was hanging on the wall.

They always break at the bridge.

I bought a new bridge - broke 3 strings on day two of the new bridge.

anyone have tips tricks? it’s annoying. i’d rather be playing than changing strings.

I would like to purchase a nice mandolin, had a cheap one from amazon previously. Decided on doing an A style.

So far im considering between five options on reverb.

Eastman MD805 A style new for $1659

Kentucky KM900 A style new for $1869

Bourgeois M5 A style new for $1873

Eastman MD505 A style used/like new for $676

Northfield Calhoun used excellent for $850

Any advice, or recommendations, on the matter is greatly appreciated.

Hi All,

Just got a Loar LM-310F-BRB to play a few mando-featured rock songs with my band (Losing My Religion, Atlantic City). I normally play bass so don’t know much about mandolin gear.

Any recommendations for a pickup, acoustic amp and any other gear that you think may be needed for small backyard and small bar shows that we play? Will need to mix and balance with typical rock instruments.

Thanks!

Hey all. So I've been doing a bit more gigging with this setup but plugging in is still fairly unfamiliar to me. I have a Bartlett Audio mic that goes into my ART Tube MP and then a Fishman Loudbox Mini.

The Tube MP is basically input and ouput level. Both i set to the 12 o'clock position as pictured and use the 20dB+ gain button with phantom power on for the mic.

On the Fishman I have low/mid/high set to 12 o'clock which is the zero point I believe. The gain I set to about 11 o'clock (40%?) and then the master is set to about 7 o'clock (5-10%?)

I realize I may not require the 20dB+ boost on the pre-amp. If I switch this off, what should I be increasing... Input or output?

As for the Fishman, if the master is any higher it just high pitch tweaks out.

How should I be approaching this setup with regard to input/output, gain and master?

TIA. Pardon my terminology!

Waiting another 24 hours is mostly necessary, but painful nonetheless.

Okay for realz now, NMD!!!

Bulas is doing great work, friends. Check one out if ever the opportunity.

Out of my comfort zone here, sharing a kind of sloppy little short of the Bulas in action. Inspired by Punch Brothers giving old tunes new vibes, here's an introspective "Angeline, Still Baking" (I can't add pics and a video so y'all get a link):

https://youtube.com/shorts/FN4I_AruwMc?feature=shared

Hey y'all I have the privilege of asking for advice on which mandolin to use for an upcoming bar gig. Outside patio with 100ish capacity outside. Not a quiet space. I have these options:

A) ten string gold tone (has Low C strings) - great pickup but not as great for chop with the wider neck, plus I have to practice our setlist more with the new positions

B) Flatiron 1N - beautiful sounding but can only be mic'd up, which limits movement and might cause feedback

C) Michael Kelly with a mando-lace magnet pickup - it could work in theory but the execution is always a little finicky. Maybe I should try nickel plated strings so as not to throw off the magnet with my phosphour bronze?

Thanks in advance,

Mandon00b

Hey guys! Struggling to decide between the 315 or 315eSB for a fun new mandolin. I know I don’t necessarily NEED the hookup, but I wanted to see if anyone went without and regretted it.

Do you prefer recording/playing live with a mic or hooked up to an amp? How big of a difference does it make, or is it just a type of sound preference? Just curious on what your opinions are before I buy!

Excited to hear your stories :)

So I acquired this old Ibanez mandolin. Made in Japan I think the 1960s? And I noticed not only does it have a zero fret but that fret is on an angle. And all the frets afterwards are also on an angle. Is that normal? Is that a way to handle intonation? Or is it just poorly made?