The First Quality Music Blog

Have you ever wanted to get a Gibson Mandolin, but wanted a little wider neck?  A little larger frets? Maybe a scooped fingerboard or a pickguard added. For our banjo playing friends maybe a Granda Flying Eagle but in a Tenor or a Plectrum or maybe a Walnut neck instead of  Curly Maple.  Now you can!  Gibson Original Instruments have opened up their Custom Shop and now you can custom spec your favorite Bluegrass Instrument.  Give us a call and let us help you build the instrument of your dreams.   Ask for Jeff or Murrell  at 800.635.2021

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.