It's funny how I can pick up one of my instruments and it feels great just to hold. plays like butter, and sounds great. Then a few days later something between us just isn't right - it seems to be fighting me - not wanting to be played and not sounding the way it's supposed to.
My main mandloin is a nice old Gibson - and it is also the most fickle of all of them. Right now we have a great relationship going - every time I pick it up it plays and sounds great, and is just so easy to get along with. The response is there for most anything I want to do, and the sound - wow!!!
Just a few months ago I had to stop playing it for a while. It was damn frustrating every time I picked it up. The fretboard was uncomfortable, strings kept getting in the way of my fingers, and the sound was full of muted sting noise, clicks, and buzzes. I don't believe I was doing anything different - must be the mandolin. Anyway I didn't touch it for about two months, and when I tried playing it again, I first gave it a nice cleaning and a fresh set of heavier strings. What changed I really don't know, but now I can put it down..........
I have to say mandolins are the most fickle - my black Gibson also acts the same way - I went a long time playing it with no problems then it seemed like every time I touched it the sound was awful, and it was not fun to play. I wish the two would be in sync so when one was mis-behaving the other would be good, but that's usually not the case. It's almost like they are a couple of sisters - when one is mad at me the other is two.
It's a darn good thing my main guitar doesn't act that way - it's always ready, reliable, most playable, and always responsive.
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