Mandolins in America | Virtual Museum Curator Tour

Join MIM curator Rich Walter for another #VirtualVisit in MIM's Conservation Lab! Here, Rich discusses the history of the popularity of mandolins in the United States and shows some iconic examples from the collection, including a violin mandolin, a Dobro Model 60 resonator mandolin, and a 1930s Gibson F-5 Master Model owned by mandolin virtuoso Dave Apollon.
Want to support MIM’s exhibits and the musical stories they share? Become a Flagbearer!
Email [e-mail] or call 480.478.6062.
More Virtual Museum Curator Tours
Irish Instruments: • Irish Instruments | Vi...
Zithers and Dulcimers: • Zithers and Dulcimers ...
Brazilian Percussion Instruments: • Brazilian Percussion I...
Cuban Instruments: • Cuban Instruments | Vi...
Andean Musical Instruments: • Andean Musical Instrum...
Mayan Instruments of Guatemala: • Mayan Instruments of G...
Stay Connected with MIM
Subscribe: bit.ly/2KK8x7Z​
Facebook: / mimphx
Instagram: mimphx?hl=en
Twitter: / mimphx
The World’s Only Global Musical Instrument Museum®
Phoenix, Arizona USA
MIM.org​
#MuseumFromHome #Mandolins #MusicalInstruments

[@bhawley1000]

Thanks to Rich for presenting the mandolin in America story, and well done. I've played for almost 50 years and like so many mandolin players in America, got started in the Bluegrass style of music and fiddle tunes. This is a good way to develop the skills and make lots of friends through this wonderful instrument. After about 5 years I discovered the mandolin playing of the great Jethro Burns - folks - this is jazz. So add jazz to bluegrass and your story gets larger, friends keep adding up. Then late one night while rambling around a bluegrass festival in the mid 90's, I stumbled across a classical mandolin quartet at a nearby campsite. A month later I attended my first CMSA convention (Classical Mandolin Society of America). This organization was NOT just about classical style - far from it. You would hear Bach - Bluegrass - Bebop - swing - latin - old time. Each year the grand finale of the convention would be the EN Masse Mandolin Orchestra. Usually consisting of at least 100 players who attended the convention. What an experience. I later founded a 13 piece mandolin orchestra in my town of Fort Collins Colorado. You may check out Mandomonium on KZbin. What an experience that was!!! My main point to my comment here is the mandolin world is much larger than bluegrass. The instruments are an art form of their own. Many of the round back mandos of the early 1900's deserve to be in museums they are SO elaborate. Another story. thanks again to Rich for putting this together. Brent

[@jenniferashley6040]

Thank you! I can't wait to go to the MIM again. It's my happy place.

[@mattdeblassmusic]

I loved seeing all the different styles of mandolins when I visted MIM a couple years ago! And the different sizes of the mando family, I'd never seen a mandobass in person before.

[@Road_Rash]

I want one of each of them! I actually already have an F body, & 2 neapolitans, but I need more mandolins!!! Lol! It's great to have them displayed, but it would be even better to put new strings on them & have someone on staff who could play them so they can be heard as well... I have mandolins over 100 years old that are still very playable... musical instruments need to be played...the more they're played, the more their 'soul' develops...

[@simonmorse1785]

Yes, as someone commented, it would really be great to hear these being played.

[@mariocatanese1011]

Great Video! Very fun to see all of the different mandolins

[@bradeinhorn5486]

Awesome video. Would love to hear them!

[@davidmolloy126]

Fantastic video, thank you very much, David.

[@mudaloishusdevendanderaber7271]

Heck YAAA! This was a great history on mandos! My bro plays and makes mandos so I'll send it to him. Wat if he sees this comment

[@notanotherguitarchannel]

I love that Eugene Whitman one.

[@elizabethmerchant1793]

Thanks Rich! Really interesting.

[@MikeGerrard]

This has to be the best museum in the entire world! Can't wait till we can visit again. Now back to practicing my mandolin...

[@sandywinfield9406]

Excellent presentation! Thank you.

[@reinaldoiturrino1853]

Thank you I enjoyed you showing them .

[@simonmorse1785]

Fantastic!!!! Really interesting to see and hear about such great instruments.

[@romanvaldes8829]

Beautiful !!!!

[@karalochridge2681]

Hi Rich!

[@janparr8594]

I LIKE INTRUMENTS

[@e.1yse]

I love music and this was part of an assignment from school, music makes me happy and I really want to visit the MIM museum. I should have went when I was in Phoenix!

[@alexandrosspyropoulos6529]

Make a video with Asian instruments like oud,saz and bouzouki please!greetings from Greece !!!

[@MandolinSunrise]

To some of the commenters, there’s probably no demonstration of these instruments being played because even though the museum has acquired some beautiful and rare examples, they may not necessary be good examples of beautiful sounding instruments. As with many things in life, some of the ugliest, beaten up instruments can be worth a listen. Great demonstration, many thanks.

[@dylanseaman5163]

THX. Thile(nickel Creek) Hull. Monroe. and many others. have a good day.

[@joebryant8500]

I need Fender to bring out a Telecaster mandolin.

[@harleygoff1960]

BEAUTIFULI HAFT A MANDOLIN I NAMED THEM MANDOLINA

[@ericalbany]

It desperately needs demonstration

[@reginaayat5390]

Dave Appolon was from Ukraine

[@hasupatel7368]

,