The First Quality Music Blog

We just received a beautiful Kentucky KM650 Mandolin. This mandolin was manufactured in the early 80′s during what many consider to be a period of prime production for the company. This mandolin is in Very Good condition, very nice sound and great fit and finish. Maple back and sides and a spruce top.

Celebrate the Holidays

with Fretmentor.com 

Hello Everyone –

Yes … Happy Holidays.  It is not too soon to begin practicing for those holiday parties. 

Our friend David Jakubiak at www.fretmentor.com has recently released Fretmentor’s Acoustic Holiday – 12 Songs of Christmas for Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin and Fiddle.  This music collection is one of kind, since it provides entire standardized arrangements of Christmas tunes for all acoustic instruments, which is ideal for individuals and bands alike.

Fretmentor’s Acoustic Holiday Christmas Collection has taken a year and a half to complete.  It consists of both standard musical notation and tablature for 12 Christmas tunes.  These songs especially are written for acoustic instruments but can of course be played by other instruments as well. You can view the list of 12 songs by going to the fretmentor library or clicking on this link to the fretmentor library:

http://www.fretmentor.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=19&func=select&id=6

All songs are now in the new Tef format and can be played in computer generated midi format.  With the free Tabledit Tef viewer, you will be able to hear the tabs and standard musical notation exactly as it is written.  You can even slow the tempo of each song to play along with it as you are learning.  All chords are provided for you to also play the rhythm along with the lead.  In addition, lyrics to each song are provided.

The entire collection of songs is $35.00 (additional $1.00 charge if paying by paypal). That is approximately $2.91 per song. You can pay by personal check or Paypal.  Once authorized, you can download each song to your computer.  Instructions on how to download the Free Tef view program will also be provided.  In addition, any updates (including video or instructional audio files) that may be provided in the future will be accessible to you as well. Please contact Fretmentor via email for further ordering instructions.

We at First Quality Music and http://www.fretmentor.com/ wish you all in advance, a happy holiday and happy picking.

For additional information or ordering instructions, feel free to contact:

David Jakubiak

www.fretmentor.com

email:  david@ fretmentor.com

Just reciently aquired for consignment a great condition Distressed Gibson Master Model.  Serial # D73014  signed by Danny Roberts of Gibson and dated July 26, 2005.  This mandolin is being sold for financial reasons and priced to sell quickly.   In February 2009 this mandolin was sent to the Gibson Factory in Nashville for a new setup.  Work preformed:  Plane and refret neck  leaving off the last 7 frets, installed pearl nut, complete set up.  This mandolin is also being listed on the Mandolin Cafe.   For information contact:  Jeff Sullivan @  877-293-0506 or email @  JSullivan@fqms.com

Sale price $ 13,699.00   plus shipping and insurance.

This week we are clearing out all of our remaining John Pearse guitar, mandolin, and other strings and accessories. Click here to be directed to our closeout section where you will find all our John Pearse products barely above cost! We guarantee that these prices won’t be beaten and the remaining stock will certainly go fast! Stock is very limited, so hurry and secure your product now before our supply is gone!

Remember that every Wednesday we offer our Holy C.O.W. Deal of the Week!

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week Murrell is playing a used 2005 Gibson F-5 Master Model Mandolin signed by Danny Roberts. This is a consignment piece that was purchased from us a few years back and is still in great shape. It recently went back to Gibson for a fret replacement and sounds great!

You can learn more about this Gibson F5 Master Model Mandolin by giving Murrell a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7156

First Quality Music and Paige Capos are proud to announce that the wait is over – the Clik Capo will be available at First Quality Music this Wednesday, October 7th. We’ll have models for Acoustic and Electric guitar immediately, with Banjo and Mandolin capos in the following weeks. The Clik is a great addition to the Paige line, favorite among many artists. Just push the center button until it touches the neck and give it a quick twist – you’re ready to play! To release, just push the center button again and you’re good to go.

We’ll be offering the Paige Clik for $19.99, but to celebrate it’s launch we’ll be offering it at a very special price as our DEALIA of the week! We can’t publish the special price beforehand, but check out http://bit.ly/dealia next Wednesday, October 7th to get our special offer!

We’ve decided to start a new weekly feature here on the First Quality Music Blog: Vault Fridays. Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week, we’re taking a look at a very special Gibson F-5 Master Model Mandolin signed by a late friend of ours, Charlie Derrington. Charlie was instrumental in bringing about the standard of excellence in the modern Gibson Mandolin, but was tragically taken from us in a motorcycle accident in 2006.

You can learn more about this mandolin here.

Howdy folks.  Just wanted to give everyone a short clip of the new Gibson F-10 Mandolin.   You can check out all the details at the First Quality website.

The new Sam Bush 1934 Limited Edition Fern has arrived at First Quality Music.  Just a limited run of 25 instruments will be hand signed, the mandolin was inspired by Newgrass master mandolin player Sam Bush and created under the watchful eye of Gibson’s master luthier David Harvey.  Gibson created a marriage of the Gibson Fern and the now famous Sam Bush model mandolin.  This mandolin features many of the same appointments as the instrument depicted in the 1934 catalog, including the figured maple body chassis with a red spruce top, the mother of pearl block fingerboard inlays and the Fern peghead inlay made from genuine abalone pearl. The instrument’s stunning nitro-cellulose lacquer finish — painted in a ’30s Iced Tea burst color — is also faithfully recreated, giving the instrument its alluring vintage patina.  You can check out this beautiful instrument on our website, and if you in the Louisville area be sure to stop by our showroom where we’ll be happy to let you see (and pick) it first hand.

Dear friend David Jakubiak had been a long time customer of First Quality Music. David is based in Jupiter, FL and is a full time Teaching Instructor.  Fretmentor.com was launched several months back and I have watched it grow in content and popularity.  David caters to musicians and students that play banjo, mandolin and guitar. Below is an overview of his website that might just be very helpful as a Bluegrass resource. David is also currently writing articles for Banjo Newletter.

David Jakubiak, creator of Fretmentor.com

Fretmentor offers a unique instructional program for the guitar, mandolin, and banjo.  Whether your are a new student or a more experienced player who is seeking additional training, FretMentor offers you a comprehensive approach to learning your guitar, banjo or mandolin instrument.

Our instruction includes music theory concepts, chord structure and improvisational techniques for musicians playing individually or performing with others. Fretmentor is an interactive site that will teach you not only how to play the instrument but will inform you about the instrument, its origin and its history.