Thanks for friend request bill, if ever your in Ireland your welcome to have a look at the banjo workshop thanks again Alan ORourke.

Thank you for the friend invitation!  I think I have sorted my videos so that you can see them again.

Interesting comments about F versus A mandolins.  I have six (I can never bear to part with an old one): a couple of old roundbacks, a Gibson A which is 100 years old this year and just about played in now (!), an 80s Flatiron Army/Navy model, a 2004 Vanden made for me by Mike Vanden in Scotland which is an A5 type (Simon Mayor model), and an F5 type "The Loar" that my wife bought me for Christmas because I HAD to have a scroll and points to make my collection complete, and I can't afford a real Loar.

I think sustain has more to do with the quality of the instrument than with A or F model, or even f or oval hole, which I think probably makes more difference than body shape.  I know all mine sound different (to me at least) and I love them all!

Hiya Albert,

I'm sorry I did'nt get to your message in time to wish you a merry Christmas in return. We've been a bit pushed at this end. However, I  hope you've had a good one and I'm still in time to wish you a happy and tunefull 2013 !

All the best Albert, we must catch up again soon.

Kind regards,

Mike

Hi Albert,

Many thanks for you kind comments on Jacky Tar and KOTF. That one has been floating around on here for quite a while now. You've prompted me to run through them both again - so many thanks for that!

Cheers,

Mike