Due to one bad financial thing after another, the only mandolin I have is a $250 Kentucky. It's not so bad, but it just isn't the grade of mandolin that I need. In the past year, I've had to sell my Gibson and Givens mandolins, leaving me without a decent mandolin for the first time in 25 years or so. I got more bad news on Saturday, so I posted an ad on the MC classifieds. I asked if there was anyone there who had a pro quality mandolin that they'd be willing to work with me on-payments, you know.
Within minutes, I got an email from Scott, saying he couldn't allow "this sort of thing" on his classifieds. It kind of makes me sick anymore looking at the MC message board. It's turned into a place where rich people with minimal musical talent can show off all the expensive toys they've accquired. I thought that maybe one of these people with a room full of mandolins that probably don't even all get played might be willing to help me out. I am so sick to death of lookig at Ted's latest custom "jazz" mandolin, or Dan's endless supply of vintage Gibsons, etc, etc. There was a time when I thought that there was a certain amount of "community" at the mandolin cafe, but I was wrong. It's a commercial web site desined to attract advertising, and a guy like me posting about his desperate financial problems kinda wrecks that image. The fact that alot of the more talented musicians that used to populate that site are now gone is testimony to the shift from "check out the music I played" to "check out my big pile of expensive mandolins".
I don't know why I expected any different. I have alot more sympathy for Dale and Maverick's position now. Scott really is an uptight little bean counter.

John -

First, my heartfelt sympathy for you present situation. I have had some similar times in the past and know how it felt for me. Hopefully things will be on the upswing for you. If I had a mando, I'd work with you, but I just have the one Mid-Mo.

As to the other issue, I have seen that type of thing happen on a number of music forums. As they get bigger the doors open to many questionable people and practices, the reins get tightened, and the spirit is lost. I remember similar posts at Banjo Hangout and the general reaction to them. Part of the problem is lack of faith in fellow beings, part is the prevelance of scammers, and part is the desire to have everything just the way the site owners want things. It is sad to see this happen.

By the way, I've just tuned into your MySpace page - great stuff there.

I have not even gone to the MC for a few months.  It seemed like the close knit group got even more closed.  I know I did not post alot, but when I did, the replies seemed to thwart any drive to post there.  This site was fun until it seemed like it slowed down.

I guess work will do that to you.  Since the start of the new year, I've been working a bunch and my wife and I are trying to get the house ready to sell and move to Gettysburg, PA.

That really sucks big time. I nearly decided to go over to the MC to show off my new mandolin, but what you told really knocked me off. I haven't been there for ages and only go there when I have a question I need replied to quickly, because it's a quite active forum and lots of people know a lot of things or at least they can reply to your questions fast...
But really, the politics thing there really sucks.
Rosett, I really wish I could do anything for you!! I just bought, after 12 years with lousy cheapo mandolins, my first GOOD mandolin and gosh, it is the best I've ever heard. I did pay lots of money for it and it's worth every single cent. I hope you can find a solution for yourself. I hate being stuck without mandolin or even with a bad mandolin. I sold my old one before my new one arrived, and was mandolin-less a few weeks. Even if I play other instruments, those weeks, all I wanted was to play the mandolin!!!!!

I went over to MC to ask some questions about my totally roached right wrist/forearm.  I got some responses that were mild useful but nothing directly about what I ask, i.e. how change my technique.  One guy suggested that it wasn't really playing that did it; it was the bike riding.  I think that's right.  I haven't tried to play in a couple weeks and went for a ride Saturday and again the pain returned.  

I think I will have to wait til I'm no longer riding with my kid and then a couple months before I'm ready to play again.  That puts me at mid-winter when I'm too busy skiing.  

kvk

Does your bike have front shocks?  They might lessen the jarring you're giving your arms (if this is the cause for your arm issues).    I really am not sure (nor am I trying to come off as an expert.  If you really think it is the bike, maybe take it to a bike shop you trust.  Tell them about your arms and see what they would suggest.

Also, do you have the "death grip" when riding the bike?

Yeah, I have a front shock.  Also a seatpost shock.  No difference.  It's the weight on the wrists.  Also, the damage is pretty much done.  I road with my kid for 30-40 the other day.  Hadn't tried to play in a week.  Wrist hurt doing all sorts of stuff the next few days.

Bottom line is, I'm doing to have to wait til winter when I'm no longer riding and then wait I bet at least six months before I have a chance of being able to play.  

I really thinking they guy that said it was the bike, not playing, that did it is right.  Also, my right hand is also my mouse hand and that in combination with biking might be why it hurts more and playing may not have been a factor.

I think I'm going to get back in to duplicate bridge for a while.  If I can find a partner and club, I can get out of the house and do something one night a week.

I am new to this forum but it has to be better than the MC that place is nothing but a bunch of little snotty nose cry babie's especially the owner and moderators.

This place is better than the MC.  However, there are very few here due to life obligations.

I haven't been here for a while, it's been a busy summer of work and not much play. First off, thanks for the sympathy on the financial stuff. I was finally able to get an old Gibson mandolin again, thanks to John Sturm. It's a 1917 A. The only way I could afford it was to sell off the original parts and replace them with newer parts, but the tuners and tailpiece don't really affect the tone or playability, so I'm pretty happy.
I really feel strange about the mandolin cafe. I can't seem to help checking it every day, and often posting on it, although usually participating in the "discussions" leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Most recently, I added some new tunes to my Myspace page, and posted a link to it. Even while I was doing it, I knew that I would end up feeling bad about it (I'm a sensitive little feller). Well, so far the message has been viewed about 150 times, but the new songs only have about 30 listens each. Of those 30 or so, 2 have made nice comments. Just to compare, I've gotten about 10 positive comments from non-MC myspace users.
Anyway, I think that I'll visit here more often, but right now I've got to go read a facinating discussion about Lloyd Loar's dentures on the MC.
If you'd like to hear the songs I mentioned, it's www.myspace.com/johnrosett and the songs are "I want a bow-legged woman", and "A day in the life of a fool".

I have to say check the cafe mainly for two reasons-

Checking the classifieds is like window shopping.  Just interesting to see what's out there.

McGann's posts are excellent and once in a while he posts something in the playing forum I get a lot out of.