Unboxing my new Gibson F5G Custom Mandolin

[@Katerina9256]

If you want to skip my commentary about mandolins and my quest to find the perfect one for me, head to 6:30 😊 Thanks for watching! Still working hard on a couple things to eventually upload--like Sylvan Song from Heart's Little Queen album-- but due to my very busy life caring for many rescue animals (dogs, cats and horses) my music time is limited. I always try to play every day but the trick is getting it polished enough to share. I will get there! 😊

[@luckyrocks1]

Congratulations! Just a beautiful mandolin. Enjoy it!

[@Katerina9256]

Thank you, I've been loving it! 😊

[@Vesper_Songs]

You got a mandolin! How AWESOME! That is absolutely stunning. Can't wait to hear you play it!

[@Katerina9256]

Hi Vesper! Yes it's been an exciting time, always fun to get new musical merch 😄 I had to have the action lowered as it was set high, so I got it back last week...intending to make a little follow-up to this video and then Sylvan Song coming soon! So many musical plans...so little time 😁 I always get there eventually though!

[@1morenote.]

Makes me think of blue bird...who was it? Buffalo springfield? Crosby stills and Nash? That last part is Incredible. Im sure it was a Mandolin

[@Katerina9256]

I'm not sure what song that is but there are some great songs with mandolin in them. I always loved Led Zeppelin's and Heart's use of mandolin as they have always been my 2 favorite bands. Battle of Evermore was my first introduction to this beautiful instrument 😊

[@1morenote.]

very Awesome Instrument, I love It. Have you heard of Nickel Creek?, you must hear them if you haven't. Have a great day. Peace Love and Harmony

[@Katerina9256]

@1morenote. oh yes I'm a huge Nickel Creek fan...saw them 2 or 3 times live. I have been working on some Chris Thile stuff from his solo album Not All Who Wander Are Lost, but mostly trying to get a couple Heart things down before I focus totally on Chris' stuff. As you can imagine it's harder 😄 Thanks so much for your nice comments! 😊 ~~Katerina

[@1morenote.]

you're very welcome, I just love beautiful things....@@Katerina9256

[@myblueskynight]

What a beautiful instrument! Enjoy making Beautiful music!❤️ 🎶 😊

[@Katerina9256]

😀 thanks! I think I need to make a short part 2 to this since I've got it tuned now, plus a couple other things I wanted to add.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

What a great purchase! I believe you will enjoy it!

[@Boyd1875]

That is a beautiful mandolin. I can’t wait to hear you play it. 😊

[@ricktheexplorer]

Oh that's so beautiful. I bet it sounds incredible too. You get what you pay for.

[@Katerina9256]

Agreed 👍

[@RayGRealtor]

Hi Katerina! such a beautiful Instrument! congratulations. looking forward to hearing your first song!. I would love to try a Gibson someday but that's for another budget, and I need to get MUCH better (like you) before I can Justify it... That Fender is my exact Mandolin.. bought it at a guitar show in Orlando about a month ago. had never played one, and i am excited to have learned so much so quickly - I want to thank YOU for your help.. I've played a couple of f styles including an Ibanez but i don't like them as much as the fender so far.

[@Katerina9256]

Hey! I didn't realize you had just gotten your mandolin, congrats on that! And you're already learning some good stuff there 👍 I had the Gibson out this morning...still going over Sylvan Song and I play it pretty well...but is it good enough for a video yet, I don't know 😄 It's tricky because it's originally a mandolin duet and I'm of course just playing by myself. I'm encouraged to keep trying though. I have that and a couple other guitar instrumentals I want to record. My problem is lack of time and energy because unlike 20 years ago I now have 2 horses, 5 dogs and a large group of cats to tend to. I seem to have gone into the rescue business here 😄 ....I'm happy that I was able to do it but time with the music has suffered for sure. I shall never give up though!

[@RayGRealtor]

@@Katerina9256Hi ! i guess i owe the fast learning to many years of guitar and bass. my finger callouses have become much tougher since i picked it up. I notice many of the skills come from the right hand with the Mandolin. I picked up that fender because i wanted to play Copperhead Road out sometime, never realized how many rock songs used it! so now I am obsessed. i will need to check into the Sylvan song... Ive never even heard it before just now. beautiful (playin in my background right now) I also have a newfound love for bluegrass.. i am learning foggy mountain breakdown in the off chance i end up near a banjo player sometime. This little mando just opens a whole world of music. I enjoy our conversations!

[@Katerina9256]

@@RayGRealtor Well I certainly join you in the mandolin obsession, welcome to my world 😄 ...yes I hear Sylvan Song playing in the background heheh...I listened to it on loop yesterday so it's certainly playing in my head 😄 . One of the prettiest mandolin songs I've heard. I'm a fan of Bluegrass as well. Have you listened to Nickel Creek? Man oh man that Cris Thile is da bomb...possibly the best mandolin player on the planet imo. He's got his own solo stuff out as well. He even did a stint with John Paul Jones after they met at Merlefest awhile back. I believe they called t Mutual Admiration Society...something like that 😄 I have learned parts of a couple Chris Thile songs, thanks to my guitar/mandolin guru...he can listen to things and then show me how it's played. I had to stop those lessons last year due to some giant veterinary and other bills but I'm about ready to get back to it soon! We do it via Zoom since he moved a little ways away from me than he used to be. He's a big Chris Thile fan as well so he loves to work on that stuff with me! 🙂

[@RayGRealtor]

@@Katerina9256Hi Katerina! just listened to Nickle Creek. its amazing how many things i have missed not looking for Mando things. Great stuff. so you practice over zoom? is that frustrating at all ...lag time or anything? whats that like?

[@RayGRealtor]

omgosh! Dream of the archer by Heart! I had no idea what I was listening to till now...

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Hi Katerina, in the future I would like to request Heart's "These Dreams," their first of two number 1 hit singles and which also has a mandolin part; at first, this song had been offered to Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame, who turned it down. It was also the first time Nancy sang lead vocals, rather than her older sister Ann who was usually the lead singer.

[@Katerina9256]

Hi Guy! These Dreams is a lovely song, isn't it! Yes, penned by Bernie Taupin and initially offered to Stevie Nicks, who turned it down. Nancy has performed it multiple ways over the decades including on mandolin. She apparently is back to doing it that way on the current tour. I have a video on my channel with her doing it on mandolin and another with just her and Ann using her acoustic plus a flanger, which I thought was really interesting! Some people really disliked it though 😄 They have also changed up the vocal parts recently with Ann singing lead in the middle. This was not the first song Nancy sang, btw, there were many that came before it ..I believe Dreamboat Annie was the only album she did not sing lead on anything. I have a great transcription of the acoustic guitar version that Nancy started doing around the late 90s, and have always wanted to take the time to learn it. It first showed up on her Live at McCabe's solo record. There is also a real pretty mandolin song on there called Half Moon, and I do play that one! 🙂

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@Katerina9256 Thank you!

[@robfalgiano]

Mandolins are awesome. Congrats. I can’t play them because my fingers are too fat! But I Hope you enjoy yours. 😁

[@Katerina9256]

Haha that's funny...they are kinda tiny aren't they 😄 At least you got it going on with the guitar, to say the least!!!

[@robfalgiano]

@@Katerina9256 yeah they are tiny. I can’t play my grandpa’s mandolin either unfortunately. But it looks nice on display. Thanks on the guitar. 💋 I’m a rhythm guy 😁 I play guitar to write songs. Hey what state are you in anyway? Pardon my curiosity.

[@danstune]

Great unboxing! I have a 2015. I guess it is a Sitka top?

[@Katerina9256]

Thank you! No it was custom-ordered with Adirondack spruce top and has some other features that were not standard on previous F5-G models, like a radius fretboard and the burst on the sides and back along with the front. I just got it back from getting the action lowered...I heard Dave Harvey at Gibson likes to set it high and certainly found that to be true 😄

[@danstune]

@@Katerina9256 Thanks for giving me those additional details. Have a great day!

[@augierockstar]

You are so amazing Iove your channel and all the videos, you rock! Love the make friends with you 💯💯🤟🎶🎵😊😊

[@Katerina9256]

Aw thank you, I needed this encouragement because the heat and humidity--along with all my usual chores--are kicking my ass. Makes it harder to find the extra energy necessary to meet my musical goals! So, taking a bit more time than I would like but ..Ever Onward! 😊 ~~Katerina

[@gregorysmith7697]

Beautiful and the lady

[@Katerina9256]

Thanks! 😊

[@SummerfallWinterspring]

Would you mind if I nicknamed you Snuggle Muffin? Actually you don't have a choice. 🙃

[@Katerina9256]

Ha...well that is not really a true statement because I do have a choice...you asked if I MIND. I live by a rule of essential harmlessness so as long as people not intentionally harming by word or deed then I don't give a fuh. It amuses me and I've been called worse 😄

[@SonistheFatherofMan]

B"H Multi-talented and a great personality. No fair! LOL... nice to make your acquaintance. May G-d bless you and your family always and forever.

[@Katerina9256]

That's so kind, thank you! 😊

[@SummerfallWinterspring]

You seem like my kind of crazy. 🙃

[@Katerina9256]

🤣🤣🤣