HOWDY FOLKS!
Has everyone been busy keeping up with all the mowing and trimming? While we love seeing our lakes and ponds full to the brim and our August countryside still green, let’s hope the clouds dry up by festival time!

Bette and I made a really fun trip in July to the annual Music Merchants trade show in Austin, Tx. We got to see many old friends, and the newest and latest instruments and gadgets in the music industry. Also played a fun show with Rolf & Beatte Sieker at the Cactus Café. Several merchandisers agreed to donate instruments for the OIBF auction; all the proceeds go to scholarships for young people interested in improving their bluegrass talents. And by the time you read this we will have spent a week near Estes Park, Co. where I am again teaching at a fiddle camp.

The Berline Band has been busy playing here and there and working on a new recording for future release. We’ve had some really fun shows at the Music Hall this summer with Andrew and Jonathon Hunt, Jim Garling, and most recently Mason Williams and Vince Gill. You never know who’s going to show up at our concerts, so you should try to make all of them from now on. However, if you can’t, you can now watch us LIVE on your computer at on our site, doublestop.com. Just sign in; all our shows are streamed live all over the Internet world.

We are still offering instrument lessons: Jim Garling for beginning fiddle and guitar students, John Hickman for banjo lessons, and Greg Burgess teaches more advanced fiddle students.

OIBF

This will be our 11th year and once again we have a great line-up of talent! New groups to hear include Kenny & Amanda Smith, the Country Gazette Reunion, and Sam Bush and his group. Popular acts returning from last year are France’s Blue Railroad Train, John Jorgenson’s gypsy jazz group, and Alisdair Fraser & Natalie Hass. Look for a full list on the website: www.oibf.com. You can also get your tickets online or call the office: 405-282-4446, and if you are interested in volunteering, contact our coordinator Delores Stokes at 405-317-3103.

DISCOUNT TICKETS

We are continuing the offer for bargain tickets, 8 shows for $64 ($128 per couple). That’s $8.00 per show Sept. thru Dec. and the privilege of selecting your reserved seat. The schedule on the next page lists these eight shows with an asterix. The tickets will be ready to buy by the time you read this. Remember it is first-come, first-served for the seat selection, and we hold your seat for you only until show time.

INSTRUMENTS

Guitars: We have some nice ones that we’ve just acquired. There is a new Revival acoustic guitar on the market and they are very good. We have mahogany and rosewood models starting at $299. We also have a Gibson J150 (similar to a J200 but not as fancy), really good at $2000; also a 1967 Hummingbird, very nice and collectible. We have a 1981 D18 Martin for $1100 – at that price it won’t be around long; a must-see 1976 Alvarez Yari; a model 5023 Alvarez for $400; and don’t forget the Blueridge BR 160, 180, and 240s.
For you Electric Guitar pickers, we have a Gibson Les Paul Artist model 1980 –only 500 were made. Also a Gretsch model Country Club 7575, a like-new Gibson ES5, and a 1990 Fender Tele in mint condition. For the 12 string electric pickers we have a very nice Epiphone/Gibson Les Paul style for only $699 w/ case.

Mandolins: We have a very good variety of mandolin in stock, such as the Weber Yellowstone, radius FB with cedar top. It sounds great! Also, my favorite and best deal of all is the Eduard Kristufek oil varnished F5 for only $3500; a super sounding Collings F model. I have just traded for a very good Flatiron Festival mandolin - $2300. Also a Gibson F5G that really sounds great for $3850, and older A models like a 1930s Gibson and a 1950s EM150 electric, really nice. More affordable mandolins are the Washburn Jethro Burns model, the Johnson As and Fs, Kentucky’s new 505 Amodel with a great sound, the Rover F, and an Ovation electric. As you see, we have a great selection and would love for you to come in and try something out!

Violins, Violas, Bows: I always want to mention Lukas Wronski’s very nice violins, some of which he made right here in Guthrie. I think you will be impressed with his work. I have four of his instruments here to chose from. As always, I have several Italians, French, American, Germans, etc. and some really good Chinese violins for a good price. We still have the beginners outfit for $150, all sizes In addition, we have some groovy electric violins by Yamaha, Bridge, Zeta and others. We also carry cellos, basses, violas and all string accessories.

Banjos: We still have a good collection of Gibsons – RB3, and a 1925 TB2 and 1930s TB1 tenor; a very nice Ridge 5 string made in Norman, Ok.; entry and intermediate level Alvarez’s; a Gold Star, a Gold Tone, and a Good Time Deering.

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