Comments on: Punch Brothers, Mandolin Brothers and Lloyd Loar

Punch Brothers, Mandolin Brothers and Lloyd Loar

Bartonius — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:21:46 -0800

On Monday September 24th, Mandolin Brothers were visited by 3/5ths of The Punch Brothers: Chris Thile, along with Chris Eldridge and Noam Pickelny. Chris played their Lloyd Loar 1924 F-5 mandolin and their 1925 Fern. Among the numbers they played was a lovely rendition of Tennessee Waltz. Previously

From the Mandolin Brothers website: Of our March 31, 1924 signed Loar, #75846, bearing Virzi Number (one of the lowest numbers seen although they seem to have been applied in no particular order) #10002, Chris said that it was one of the finest sounding "Virzi-equipped" Lloyd Loar F-5s he had ever heard. He said "this has an explosive low end that's awesome!" He added "You just don't hear F-5s with a Virzi that sound anything like this." He was also extremely impressed with our newest acquisition: the non-Virzi signed Loar dated February 18, 1924, bearing serial number #75318. Chris said: "This is one hell of a mandolin; it's a 'hoss.'" And he added "This February 18th Loar produces a sound that's right in between David Grisman's July 9, 1923 (the Bill Monroe date) and John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin)'s February 18th Loar. (scroll down) It is, he told us, "truly spectacular!" Chris owns the Lloyd Loar made two serial numbers before this one and added that he's come to the conclusion that for the finest possible sound of which a Lloyd Loar is capable you "can't depend on any other time period but February 1924 for the production of the signed Loar to be this transcendent in its response." They ended up doing several clips: Lloyd Loar F5 #75318 Bluegrass Duet: Chrises Thile and Eldridge ..And banjo makes three.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:31:04 -0800

Man, Critter is one of my favourite musicians. I know this is a mandolin post, but I think he must have rounded up the scratch for a prewar D-28 as that's a '39 and not Forster's/Sawtelle's '37 that he was so impressed with. Great stuff.

By: LooseFilter

LooseFilter — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:32:49 -0800

This is fantastic. Thile is a genius with a mandolin in his hands, wonderful to hear this.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:33:54 -0800

(yep)

By: Benny Andajetz

Benny Andajetz — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:44:26 -0800

As much as I love Thile, and as sweet as that mandolin sounds, I have to say that is one FINE SOUNDING guitar. The tone is amazing.

By: inigo2

inigo2 — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:48:38 -0800

I'm dumb. I've enjoyed listening to Punch Brothers, and enjoyed listening to Chris Thile, but had no idea they were (sorta) one and the same. Thanks for the post.

By: Bartonius

Bartonius — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:49:11 -0800

With you on that, Benny. So sweet. Sounds fantastic. I love Chris Eldridge's playing.

By: Ephelump Jockey

Ephelump Jockey — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:58:53 -0800

Thanks for this. So glad to see some Punch Brothers love on the blue. Their latest is sooo good! Probably one of the albums of the year for me.

By: The White Hat

The White Hat — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:07:36 -0800

Lovely. Thank you. Also of note-- Punch Brothers just released a new EP.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:55:34 -0800

The Tennessee Waltz, previously.

By: piedmont

piedmont — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:42:00 -0800

Chris Thile has had his hands in some really cool shit in the past year or so.

By: zaelic

zaelic — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:02:46 -0800

Every mandolin player lives in fear of this inevitable conversation: "Hi I'm home. Oh, that? I just bought that. It's a Gibson mandolin... its a good one, I've always wanted an old Gibson ... ummmm.... oh... $100,000... Why are you looking at me like that now?"

By: noaccident

noaccident — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:03:31 -0800

More than a dozen years ago, I picked up a guitar off a rack at Mandolin Brothers, that according to the label, was previously owned by Jimmy Page. I tried my hand at "Over The Hills And Far Away". The action made it easy to play and the tone was beautiful. It almost felt as if it was playing itself a bit. It seemed too good to be true at $1,500. A second look at the price tag verified my intuition. It was $15K. I bought a harmonica.

By: C.A.S.

C.A.S. — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:10:29 -0800

$100,000? I think that I read that he probably paid more like $200,000 for his Loar. Just a beautiful post on a beautiful topic, though.

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:37:45 -0800

Great post.

By: spitbull

spitbull — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:10:50 -0800

I am not allowed anywhere near Mandolin Brothers until I win Powerball.

By: spitbull

spitbull — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:11:23 -0800

(And when I do I am just buying out the whole store.)