Eric and I were proud to present Harold Priddy of Louisville, Ky with the very first “Old Growth” Mandolin prototype today. Harold was very excited to be the first one to own this wonderful mandolin. This original prototype was built by master luthier Dave Harvey ( Gibson Original Instruments ) in Nashville, TN and was put into service on Oct 9th, 2008. Serial # 81009010. Since that time it has been loaned out to many mandolin players to give it a test drive, one of our favorite’s was Doyle Lawson of Quick Silver, Doyle played it for about 4 weeks and even played a show or two with it. One of Doyle’s comments was it sounded like a cross between one of his original 1926 and 1929 Ferns. It just sounds old. Harold is anxious to get it out and break it in with his current band Fresh Cut Grass. Harold is a very respected mandolin player here in Louisville and has been playing 30 plus years. We look forward to hearing the mandoin on his new CD, he’s going into the studio on May 8th. Stay Tuned! First Quality is working on the 2nd and 3rd prototype currently and welcome anyone who wants to hear an “Old Growth” mandolin. Come on by the shop and give it a test drive.
The ‘Petting Zoo’ was here for a few days, and now we’re working to secure a date for the entire Taylor Road Show to make a stop in Louisville. If you’re not familiar with the Road Show, it’s an opportunity to hang out and chat with Taylor factory experts, see some fabulous custom Taylor guitars, learn how shape and wood affect tone, and register to win a free Taylor guitar. As soon as we have a firm date, it will be posted here so check back often.
They’re finally here! Our first shipment of Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars came in yesterday and they are even cooler than I expected! They’re not all pictured for the web yet, but we’ve got them spit-shined and hanging in the showroom for all to see. Here’s a list of what we’ve got: 25th Anniversary RedBurst, StingRay Bass in Olive Gold, Bongo 4HS Bass in True Gold, Ball Family Reserve Petrucci in Flame Emerald, Steve Morse SM-Y2D in Sunset Purple, Silhouette SSS in Black, and a John Petrucci in Pearl Redburst. Call for details and pricing on any or all of them.
Nathan Livers stopped by today and checked out our Gibson Old Growth Mandolin prototype. We’ve been working closely with Dave Harvey at Gibson Original Bluegrass to put this mandolin together out of the same factory floor wood that has been so successful in our Sullivan Banjo wood rim and bridges. The mandolin just got back from being test driven by Herschel Sizemore, a great mandolin player and a good friend of ours. Rumor has it that our prototype may be featured on a cut or two from his upcoming album. Stay tuned for more information to follow about the exciting mandolin project.
Nathan drop by to get some picks today and roped him in to playing a couple tunes with Murrell Thixton our resident Bluegrass Specialist. Nathan formerly played with James Monroe , Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers and Charlie Lawson & Oak Hill. He is currently forming a group with Murrell (more on that later!). If you like what you hear, Nathan will be teaching here at First Quality Music in the near future. Call us at 502-995-5651 ext. 7124 for more information!
Just wanted to let everyone know that Corey and I will be traveling to MerleFest again this year. Our booth in the Sponsor’s tent will be open during all show hours on Thursday April 23rd through Saturday April 25th. As in years past, we’ll be working with some great folks from Martin Guitars, Gibson Acoustic Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Fishman Acoustic Amplification, TKL/Cedar Creek Cases, GHS Strings, and Eastman Mandolins. We’ll have incredible deals you won’t want to miss!
At the show, we are unveiling a new line of affordable, Kentucky-made Sullivan banjos that you will definitely want to check out. Our one-of-a-kind “Old Growth” Gibson mandolin will also be in the booth and available for your inspection.
Stop by and get a First Quality catalog, pick a tune or two or just say Hello!
We just learned that local entertainer Dave Ernspiker of ‘The Big Rock Show’ passed away in his sleep last night. He was 39.
In addition to playing classic rock 5-6 nights a week with his band, Dave taught guitar lessons and was the Minister of Music at Heart of Fire City Church here in Louisville.
He was a valued customer and a long-time friend who will be missed.
First Quality Music is excited that our first shipment of Music Man guitars is on the way and due here in the next few days. We’ve got 7 different models coming so there should be something here to please every player!
The Steve Morse Y2D Hard Tail in Purple Sunset is already listed on our website here as well as the 25th Anniversary Guitar w/Tremolo in RedBurst which you can see here.
We’re also getting a Ball Family Reserve Petrucci in Flame Emerald. The pictures that I’ve seen of this guitar are so amazing I can’t wait to see the real thing. The rest of the list includes a Stingray in Olive Gold with a black pearloid pickguard, a Silhouette Special in black, a Bongo Humbucker in True Gold and a John Petrucci in Pearl Redburst.
Holy C.O.W. ! There’s a new promotion starting Wednesday at the First Quality website. The C.O.W. stands for Clearance on Wednesday and there will be a different product featured each week at a ridiculously low price. The special price will last until the next Wednesday or until stock runs out whichever comes first. It starts this Wednesday so be sure to check it out!
Name Our Cow to win a $25 First Quality Gift Certificate!
Our Taylor representative stopped by on Friday and left several custom guitars that are on tour with the Taylor Road Show ‘09. Whether you like acoustic, electric or somewhere in between, there’s something here you want to play. Here’s a partial list:
2008 Custom GS – All Mahogany 12-string with Custom Leaf Inlay
2008 PSGC – Custom Grand Concert with Brazilian Rosewood back & sides, custom abalone inlay, sunburst top
2008 GACE LTD K – Custom Grand Auditorium w/Cutaway with highly-flamed Koa back & sides, abalone trim, rosewood trim and back stripe
2009 Custom GC – Custom Grand Concert w/Cutaway that’s all Koa with a sunburst top and abalone dots
2007 T5C1 – Electric/Acoustic, semi-hollow body with figured flame maple top and red edgeburst finish
They’ll only be on display in the showroom for a few days so stop by if you get a chance.
when you stop by First Quality on a Saturday afternoon. If you were by this week, you would have seen Eric and his buddy Bob out back melting bronze shavings and pouring it into cast iron molds to be used later in a new composition tone ring. Did you hear that banjo players? New tone ring in the works at First Quality!
