I got my Collings mandolin in a trade the week of Christmas last. Having a 2 year old daughter and a new baby daughter (born Sept. 02) in the house has not been conducive to me learning the mando so I've only played it sparingly the last few months. The Gathering last week inspired me to find time in my schedule for the mando so I started bringing it to work this week and playing it for at least 45 minutes during lunch. I am currently in danger of becoming consumed by this instrument. I don't know what it is about it, but I just love it! Right now I'm working through Dix Bruce's "Great Mandolin Picking Tunes" and am having a blast with it. I hope to get into the rhythm stuff soon so I can play along with others in a jam. By gawd I'm going to be ready for the next Gathering!!

I really enjoy playing mandolin and amazingly enough, since I don't really consider myself a "real" mandolin player, I've played mandolin in more bands than I've played guitar!

I'm really, really happy with the Krishot mando I had at the gathering. I've only had it for 2 weeks and it's just fabulous.

That little mando jam on the tour was kind of fun, too! If I'd scratched the mando, do you think Bill would've sold it to me??

Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com

I love the sound, but they don't seem to work for me. I think I'm too harsh and random in my approach to playing. It's almost like you have to know notes or something. It was fun to hear you play it well.

>>>It's almost like you have to know notes or something

That helps! But seriously, to really play mandolin requires a different right hand attack and a very precise left hand approach. It's only in the past six months, since I gave up electric guitars, that I've really been working on mando and trying to get a "mandolin" sound and at least a working grasp of the most important styles. But, mostly, it's a handy instrument to have when there's 17 guitars in a jam....

Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com