Back from the Summer NAMM show in Austin, Tx. Out of the frying pan (100+ degrees) and into the well... frying pan. (Home, 100+ degrees). Represented well in Mandodom were Collings, Weber, Paris Swing, Garrison, Michael Kelly, Alvarez, and a couple Newbies, Stonebridge (from the Czech region) and Century Strings new Draleon series Gypsy Jazz Mandolins.

You're going to hear a whole lot more from us about the latter, as we were very impressed. Fit and finish amazing for the price, reminiscent in design of the world-class Michael Lewis Django model Mandolin, these instruments are a new breed of affordable tone-makers for those wanting to dabble in gypsy jazz, or just looking for a new world of crisp, sustaining mandolin sonority.

Former Eastman guitar and mandolin pioneer Gordon Roberts has introduced the world to a whole new level of approachability in premium sound and playability with this rising-star company, Century Strings.

View more NAMM pictures at the MandolinCafe website.

View Draleon in action

Look for a review soon.

(If we can put the instrument down long enough to be able to type anything...)

Posted by Ted at July 17, 2006 10:58 PM