Since I've added our Happy MandoHarpers in random order as I gradually collect the pictures and information, here's an alphabetical (by surname) index with links to access everyone:

15 June 2015 - This morning I've added MandoHarp Endorsees Bo Jenkins and Doc Span to the Happy MandoHarpers page along with Happy MandoHarper Eric Betts.

25 May 2015 - On this day we move into an exciting new phase for the Happy MandoHarpers page! We now have our very own private facebook group! The group is open to existing MandoHarp customers only and I hope we'll now be able to show our appreciation for your support over the years by providing regular special offers there. If you are an existing MandoHarp customer you can apply to join our new group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HappyMandoHarpers

22 April 2015 - Today we're very proud to be welcoming the wonderful Doc Span to our list of MandoHarp Endorsees! I'll be adding a few pictures along with contact details to the information below but in the meantime you can visit Doc's web site here: www.docspan.net

05 July 2014 - This afternoon I've added a few more photo albums to our facebook page for our MandoHarp Endorsees:

• MandoHarp Endorsees
• Jamie Symons
• Billy James
• Bo Jenkins
• Ian Collard
• Doc Span

01 October 2012 - I've added a Happy MandoHarpers photo album to our new facebook site www.facebook.com/MandoHarpAustralia. The photo album can be accessed by clicking on Photos | Albums | Happy MandoHarpers, or by following this link: Happy MandoHarpers Photo Album on facebook

22 July 2012 - Today at last I managed to add a few more of the pictures and links people have kindly sent me. There are many more to come and I must apologise to all the friends and customers who have been waiting patiently for me to add their information for quite a while now. I promise I'll get everyone added eventually... Dane

Doc Span - Doc prefers to play Suzuki SCX-48 Chromatix, Seydel 16301 1847 Silver, Suzuki M-20 Manji and Hohner 2009/20 Marine Band Crossover harmonicas from MandoHarp.

Doc's web site is here: www.docspan.net

And his Gig Guide is here: www.docspan.net/docs-gigs

Doc is renowned for his soulful performances. A unique warm grainy voice, expressive harmonica tone, inspiring dynamics and exciting stage presence. His blues style is drawn from a personal pilgrimage through the blues with years of jamming with many of Chicago's Blues greats while a paramedic at the notorious Cook County Jail - hence the "Doc". There, he met his mentor Big Walter and 'Little Eddie' Newell and played with Willie Kent and the Bee hives, at Ma Bea's, a club on the windy city's west side. The band featured Fenton Robinson among others. These influential formative experiences set the scene for Doc's special sense of blues as he learned, first hand, the intrinsic history, passion and feel of the music he loved.

A veteran journeyman, Doc had a stint in the US Navy, hitchhiked alone south to Peru acquiring many Latin influences, finally making Santa Fe, New Mexico his base for touring with his own band. The band performed extensively throughout the Rockies, Canada and Alaska .Doc wails with passion and resonates a special intimacy that has one him a spot in the prestigious Hohner world Harmonica artists Calendar

Home in Australia since 1987, except for a few sojourns back to the States and the UK and Cambodia, Span has been up with the leading edge of Oz blues performers and is one of our top harmonica players. Here he has played thousands of gigs nationwide, performed at most Australian music festivals, toured New Zealand, won a Sunnie award with Ross Williams for ‘The Last Train” ,.won Best Blues Song for 2014 with Nick Charles, performed on Kevin Borich’s ‘Totem’ and Andy Cowan’s ’10:30 Thursdays” cd as well as many other sessions. He is presently recording a new cd with producer Parris Macloed and is based in on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Doc plays Suzuki SCX-48 Chromatics and Seydel 1847 Silvers from MandoHarp.

Jamie Symons - MandoHarp endorsee Jamie Symons is an outstanding blues artist based in Kingscliff and is the winner of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Golden Harmonica Championship in Tamworth. He performs all over the place with his band Devil's Kiosk. Jamie first came to MandoHarp in 2012 looking for Seydel harmonicas and is a dedicated Seydel player.

Jamie currently enjoys playing Seydel 1847 Noble and Hohner Super 64X harmonicas from MandoHarp.

"Jamie Symons has evolved from a hardworking journeymen to one of Australia's most respected harmonica players. The fluid and funky blues style has established an enviable platform for the singer/dynamic harp player Jamie Symons to work his magic. Deriving elements from the earthy sounds of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s blues masters, the magic of ‘90’s & current crop of successful blues and roots artists, soulful feel of ‘60’s and ‘70’s British blues and a new twist on electric harmonica to make your ears prick up. He is taking it a step up and to the left.

Jamie has wowed the fans at all music festivals around Australia including East coast Byron Bay Blues and Roots, Gympie Music Muster,Woodford folk Festival and the Sydney blues and roots festival.

In May 2010 his electric live performances playing songs of his new album Drinker’s Lament at Blues On Broadbeach (which he has appeared at since its inception in 2001) was a welcomed surprise to all those in attendance and added to the his huge following.

In 2008 he won the Blues Association of South East Queensland’s prestigious Performer of the Year award and as a result was a knockout at the Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn early in 2009.

Recently his songs ‘Sugar Box’, ‘Little Girl’ were highly commended in 2010 Q-Song awards.

2011 saw Jamie's band also receive in the Q Blues awards, Most Popular Blues Act and Song of the Year with Drinkers Lament. Just recently receiving the Peoples Choice Award at the Queensland Memphis blues Challenge featuring twelve of the best blues performers in Queensland. With Australia wide airplay on triple J and blues radio programs the 4th album (Drinkers’ Lament) released 2010, has a blues foundation with a diverse edge featuring songs which are darker, edgier and they encompass all the drama and energy that is so evident in Jamie's live performances. His new venture with his band Devil's Kiosk are already receiving rave reviews and slots in some major festival lineups."

FORTITUDE VALLEY FESTIVAL OF BLUES Review - 25th July, 2009 - At this point, the event clicked up several notches when Jamie Symons's band Blind Lemon hit the Juke Joint Stage. One of the hardest working bands from East coast, the constant gigging showed as the boys ripped with confidence and attitude - Dirty White Boy Blues - think Red Devils live at King King. The set featured a monster version of Billy Boy Arnold’s “I Wish You Would”. Mark Ryding 2009

ENERGIZED BLUES
Jamie Symons Has Established A Name As A Highly Talented And Entertaining Addition To Festival Line-ups Around Australia
“Jamie Symons takes to the stage and a charismatic harmonica immediately ignites uniform foot stomping. His raucous blend of boogie and burning blues licks is exhilarating; the harmonica mesmerizes at every unpredictable turn. The wailing guitar and howling harmonica share centre-stage and complement each other perfectly. Blind Lemon are an early highlight latecomers will regret missing”. Justin Grey, Time Off Magazine.

https://www.devilskiosk.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/DevilsKioskBlues

Michael Elliot - Michael is an outstanding overblow specialist from Newcastle. Many thanks to Michael from Dane at MandoHarp for all the great assistance and advice he has provided over the last several years since first coming to MandoHarp to check out Suzuki Firebreath harmonicas and LoudBark microphones. One day Dane might just manage to learn to get a decent throat vibrato happening thanks to Michael's patient and extensive assistance. In the pictures below Michael is holding a new Seydel Session Steel from MandoHarp. Michael's stage name is Mick E and you can find his YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOOFB1utpsWzDfeQOEiDonA

Mick-E is a vocalist / harmonica player / percussionist based in Newcastle, N.S.W, on Australia's East Coast. An energetic musician with authentic appeal, competent in a range of music styles. Available for studio or stage work, sit ins / guest appearances, online projects etc.

Mick E's vibe is soulful and captivating with over 25 years experience on harp. He was runner up in both 2009 & 2010 in the coveted 'Hohner Golden Harmonica' competition at Tamworth, NSW.

Billy James - Billy first came to MandoHarp to check out our harmonicas several years ago and has become a true friend and enthusiastic supporter. Thanks especially to Billy for giving Dane a much needed free suprise harmonica lesson on Christmas Eve 2010. Billy is based on the NSW North Coast and is a two-time winner of the Hohner Golden Harmonica Championships in Tamworth. Billy has a huge collection of harps and mics from all over the world. His current favourite harps are Suzuki Manjis from MandoHarp.

Billy performs solo and also with The Delta Amps and The Stiffies. You can reach him for bookings at billythebluesman@gmail.com. Here are links to The Delta Amps and The Stiffies on Facebook and MySpace:

https://www.facebook.com/BILLY.JAMES.THE.DELTA.AMPS

https://www.myspace.com/thedeltaampsbluesband

https://www.myspace.com/thestiffies

Bo Jenkins - Bo prefers to play Seydel Session Steel harmonicas from MandoHarp.

Visit Bo's web site here: www.bojenkins.com

And his Gig Guide is here: Bo Jenkins Gig Guide

Ian Collard - Ian is a highly respected blues performer and harmonica teacher based in Melbourne. He first came to MandoHarp looking for Seydel harmonicas. Many thanks to Ian for also sending his students to us for their harmonica needs as well. Much appreciated!

Ian's YouTube channel with some fantastic clips is here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Ianc1966

Ian performs with his band Collard Greens and Gravy all around Melbourne and often further afield so get along to see one of their gigs next time they're playing near you! You can get their great CDs (Collard Greens and Gravy, Juke Joint Boogie, Devil in The Woodpile, Silver Bird and More Gravy!) here: https://collardgreensandgravy.bandcamp.com and at Black Market Music here:

https://www.blackmarketmusic.com.au/collardgreensandgravy.html,
https://www.blackmarketmusic.com.au/collardgreensandgravy+moregravy.html,
https://www.blackmarketmusic.com.au/collardgreensandgravy+silverbird.html,
https://www.blackmarketmusic.com.au/collardgreensandgravy+devilinthewoodpile.html,
https://www.blackmarketmusic.com.au/collardgreensandgravy+jukejointboogie.html

... and if you're in Melbourne looking for a great harp teacher then go no further... Ian's your man! You can contact him on 03-83006262 and info@collardgreensandgravy.com

"Acclaimed for their gritty, driving, down home-sound, Collard Greens and Gravy play a mostly original repertoire of foot stomping country blues that would sound right at home in a Mississippi Juke Joint.

https://www.facebook.com/collardgreensandgravy

Featuring Ian Collard (vocals, harmonica and guitar) James Bridges (guitar and fiddle) and Anthony Shortte (Drums), Collard Greens and Gravy have been together since 1995.

The trio have received many awards including second place at the 2001 International Blues challenge in Memphis. In the same year the band's second CD "More Gravy" won an Aria award for Best Blues and Roots Album. Their third CD "Silver Bird" won the “Best Self-Produced CD” award at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in February 2005. “Devil In The Woodpile”, the bands 4th release won numerous awards including best CD and best band at both the Australian and Vic/Tas blues awards in 2008/ 2009. They have won the Melbourne blues appreciation society "Blues Performer of the Year" award twice, once in 2000 and again in 2008. In October 2010 the band released their 5th CD "Juke Joint Boogie" to critical aclaim:

“Eerie, haunting blues...it reminded me of a dark night on the Delta.” - Alligator Records President Bruce Iglauer describes Silver Bird

“Collard has dug deep into some wellspring of blues... and dug out a sound similar in trance-like rhythms to north Mississippi hill country blues.” - Jeremy Loome, The Edmonton Sun (Canada)

“They do what the Brits did in the 1960's; absorb the work of Delta Blues masters and synthesize those influences into their own sound, while still upholding the tradition” Eric Thom- Blues Revue (U.S.A) Feb 2008. "

The pictures below show Ian performing at the Byron Bay Blues Festival and in the US, very obviously having a magic moment playing with blues legend Brownie McGhee at his place.

You can find plenty of examples of great blues from Collard Greens and Gravy as well as contact information, gig lists, discographies and more at these links:

https://www.collardgreensandgravy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/collardgreensandgravy

myspace.com/collardgreensandgravy

https://onesheet.com/iancollard/

https://onesheet.com/collardgreensandgravy/

Ian also plays with the Three Kings:

https://www.facebook.com/threekingsaustralia

https://onesheet.com/threekings/

Eric Betts - Eric prefers to play Seydel Session Steel harmonicas from MandoHarp...

Eric plays with The Bronze Wailers and The Investment Buskers.

Dave "The Coffeeman" Stewart - Dave is a talented multiinstrumentalist, close friend and MandoHarp customer who first came to visit us several years ago. Dave has a huge collection of harmonicas and is very into special tunings which he does himself. He regularly drives his truck up and down the Pacific Highway past MandoHarp's home town of Nambucca Heads and often stops to brew Dane a special cup of his latest greatest coffee. Many thanks to Dave for the great coffee, for helping Dane to get the hang of harmonica tuning, and especially for showing him the wonderful Aeolian Minor tuning (and for giving Dane his first one!) for first position minor playing.

A couple of notes from Dave:

"I reckon harmonicas should be compulsory for all truck drivers as an anti-fatigue device and seeing as the cops wont let us drive while playing guitars, violins or trombones the harp is a natural choice. I am quite happy to play any sort of music though if asked to do Country I am most likely to ask... "which one". My harmonica playing developed with my deafness over a roaring diesel engine, found I was playing most stuff on the wrong harp and hence learned positions, and when I can't play something I chop and retune a harp to do it, knocking out all minor variations and overblows as required.

As for coffee ... nothing but the very best, if you see me on the side of the road with a pot brewing I am sure to have a second cup available on the condition that you drink black."

Loudbark - The wonderful team at Loudbark microphones. Great friends, confidants and supporters since before MandoHarp was conceived. Check out the best harp mics in the world at the Loudbark web site here: www.loudbark.net or contact Rowan, Michelle and Adam at Loudbark on 03 5229 2021.

Nola Mills - Nola is a great friend and also New Zealand's only professional female harmonica player. Nola first rang Dane all the way from New Zealand one day a few years ago to talk about Suzuki chromatic harmonicas and she now has several Suzuki and Seyel chromatics from MandoHarp. Nola plays outstanding chromatic harmonica in the Larry Adler style and her CDs recorded live at the Christchurch Jazz School are available for purchase on MandoHarp here:

Free Reedy and Live - https://www.mandoharp.com/Parts_and_Accessories/100366-CD_Nola_Mills_Free_Reedy_and_Live/index.html

Live with the Barry Brinson Quartet - https://www.mandoharp.com/Parts_and_Accessories/102602-CD_Nola_Mills_Live_With_Brinson_Quartet/index.html

Headland - Dane's favourite band!! Well, okay, I'm a bit biased! :)

Headland is an Australian group based around Woolgoolga and Corindi Beach on the NSW North Coast. Their music is a mix of traditional and more recent Irish songs, lively jigs and reels, original compositions and comtemporary music. Headland's music is built upon the rich voice of Dubliner Robbie Kirwan, Canadian John Gallagher's vocals, compelling guitar and songwriting skills, Kevin Tierney's vocal and instrumental work. Mark Feeney's whistle and flute playing and Streve Dunick's fiddle improvisation and harmony. Dane Clarke (from MandoHarp) now plays mandolin and harmonica with Headland as Steve has moved on. All the band members have worked on their own music for many years and bring their own dimensions to the group. "We think you'll enjoy our first recording, which we've been talking about for many years. It's been a long time coming..."

Headland's CD "Long Time Coming" is available on MandoHarp here:

Headland - Long Time Coming - https://www.mandoharp.com/Parts_and_Accessories/090230-CD_Headland_Long_Time_Coming/index.html

And here are links to Headland's web site, and to Headland on MySpace and YouTube:

https://oz.headland.googlepages.com

https://www.myspace.com/ozheadland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RMKkzJoJM

The Usher Family - Barry, Ponsiana and Joanne Usher hail from Leeville, just South of Casino in Northern NSW. Dane first met the Usher family in 2007 when Barry purchased one of the first MandoHarp mandolins to be sold (Noose F5) for Joanne.

These days the Usher family hand make all the MandoHarp velvet and mock-suede instrument bags and also our cleaning/polishing cloths and sash straps. Barry also does quite a lot of the instrument setup and repair work on folk instruments for MandoHarp. If you need a stringed instrument repair or setup then Barry's your man! You can reach him on 02-66641366 or freedomacres@antmail.com.au.

A visit to the Usher residence at Leeville is to be transported to a world of truly amazing instruments. There are more mandolins, banjos, bouzoukis, you name it... there than you've ever seen in your life including quite a few from MandoHarp. Here's some pictures of the Ushers and good friend John Spencer with some of their instruments from MandoHarp.

Geoff O'Mallee - Geoff is an accomplished Celtic and Australian Music performer based in Uki. He performs solo and with his band Shameless O'Hooligan. If you're in the Uki area and you want a wonderful musical evening contact Geoff for a great time on 0417812861 or geoff@geoffomallee.com.au

These days Geoff often plays Hohner Crossharps and a Seydel 1847 Noble from MandoHarp.

Marty the Bluz Harp Man - Marty honks his harps and his Harley in Pingelly Western Australia. As you can see from the pictures below, Marty loves Bluz Harps and Harleys! He first came to MandoHarp a few years ago looking for Suzuki Manjis and has become an enthusiastic, loyal and much appreciated customer. Along with the other harps in his great kit shown below Marty has a cool collection including Suzuki Promasters, Seydel Session Steels and Hohner Marine Band Thunderbirds from MandoHarp. Recently Marty got himself a Loudbark mic from MandoHarp and has been having a great time using it with his Roland Microcube and Honeytone belt amp. His favorite harp at the moment is the Seydel Session Steel and he highly recommends the Session Steel / Loudbark combo.

Ted - A wealth of experience on an Aussie harp mic

Ted plays harmonica in the clubs around his home town of Tweed Heads. He's been playin' harp for well over fifty years. Ted contacted MadoHarp and Loudbark to order a custom harp mic. Here's a couple of pictures of Ted and his personalised microphone from Rowan and Michelle at Loudbark Microphones.

Vale Ted. Sadly Ted passed away only a few months after he received his LoudBark. Our heartfelt condolences to his family who told me that Ted went the way he'd always wanted to... having a great time on the dance floor!

Mando Dave LLB - the MandoHarping lawyer from Coffs Harbour Yacht Club. Dave is a fellow sufferer (with Dane) of MAS (Mandolin Aquisition Syndrome), a debilitating condition characterised by the desire to continually own more mandolins, almost to the point of a medical condition. MAS sufferers can easily be recognised by the symptoms: skulking around the back shelves of guitar shops in the eternal hope that behind all those guitars there's just one more beautiful mandolin, and continually trawling through online auction sites in the never-ending search for mandolins hidden away in esoteric categories.

Here Dave is at CHYC (at the club's weekly acoustic session - if you're in the area please come along on a Wednesday night - all musos welcomed) proudly showing off his brand-new MandoHarp Ukulin (Ukulele body, Mandolin neck and head). Dave wasn't sure how many mandolins this brought his CMC (Current Mandolin Count) up to... somewhere around ten we think.

Sunshine Easy Music - Cyril and Eileen Mason and Friends

Eileen has kindly provided a lovely description. She writes:

"I called our small group "Sunshine easy music" because the older folk in the homes said we bring sunshine into their lives and so I thought it would be a good name, otherwise for the past 7 years we have been doing this we were just using our names, Cyril & Eileen, and friends. We go around the various homes in Devonport and the neighbouring town of Ulverstone, plus day care centres, it started off about 7 or 8 years ago with just Cyril & myself on our own, he started to learn to play a guitar and to sing along to some older tunes that we learnt to write down and to put the chords to for him to follow. he started to sing and I thought I had better help him out, (It has improved a great deal since the early days) A friend suggested that we try to entertain at the homes etc, I was scared stiff and shaking at first, but they liked what they heard at the day care centre where we first ever played, Also the home where have a regular place every other Friday just love us and we are like a piece of furniture there. The more recent one like us to keep returning also as we have regular bookings, it is surprising how many folk want to 'entertain' mostly on a voluntary basis as we do. some like a gold coin donation, depending how far they travel. Margaret is a widow who took to learning to use a small snare drum and loves to come out not only with us but another man who also entertains in the homes etc. Max joined us in about 2008 mainly after he lost his wife, it has made his life complete again, as he loves playing his harmonicas and to entertain the old folk etc. Drummer lady Mary is a lady at a day care centre who like to have a go at Margaret's drum, we go there once a month. it took Cyril & I a few years to get brave enough to use a microphone, no confidence in our voices but now we do we don't like singing with out them, especially in the large 'lounges' in the homes."

Eileen first contacted Dane looking for Hohner harmonicas for Max who now enjoys playing Hohner Big River MS harmonicas from MandoHarp.

MandoHarpers of the future - A wonderful afternoon at Mylestom

One beautiful Saturday afternoon in early Autumn, Dane decided to take a drive down the end of the road to the local Mylestom river pool park (on the Bellinger River) to take some pictures of MandoHarp instruments for our eBay item descriptions. He found an enthusiastic team of talented helpers! So much for the instruments. As you will see, the kids stole the show!

Many thanks to the Ryan family and friends for such a fun afternoon and for allowing us to post these pictures of their outstanding talents.

About MandoHarp

At MandoHarp we play the instruments we sell! Each of our musician and craft associates has over thirty years experience within their area of expertise. MandoHarp supplies and repairs reed and string instruments for local music shops and individual musicians - we sell to our friends. At MandoHarp our pimary areas of expertise are Mandolins and Harmonicas, hence our name. We also have contracted associates who work with a wide range of instruments, especially folk. This is our first foray onto the internet and we look forward to meeting many new musical friends here. At MandoHarp we appreciate fine instruments and we want you to have them!

About MandoHarp Instruments

All MandoHarp instruments are tracked from the moment of their original creation or purchase. Each instrument is assessed by an expert musician when received and again before offering it for sale. A brief report is written and stored in our database for each item, noting paticularly our expert assessment on receipt, any work performed on the instrument and its final condition.

Personal Service

At MandoHarp we like to get to know our customers - we're musicians and we like to get to know other musicians. We love to talk with musicians whenever possible [probably a bit too much! :)]. And especially musicians who are interested in our instruments. Please feel more than welcome to email (info@mandoharp.com) or phone us (61- 2-65685545) to discuss your music at any time.

Inspections, trials and pickup by prior arrangement are welcome at our workshops
in Nambucca Heads, near Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast.

Our goal at MandoHarp is to provide instruments you will cherish for many years to come.