Alex Mandel of The Echo Falls plays a 1948 Martin 00-17. This here's another one of those horrible stories about someone buying a neat guitar for virtually nothing -- you know, the kind of story that NEVER happens to you? In any case Mandel took some time off from preparing for the release of their debut CD on November 17 to chat about the guitar.

Tell me about where you got this guitar? Tell me it's story? Where did you get it?

My father moved from North Dakota to California to attend Stanford in the early 60s. He purchased this guitar for $20. It was an entry level guitar, and already more than a decade old when he bought it. He gave me the guitar when I was around 5, and I taught myself to play. I was too small to hold the guitar properly, so I laid it in my lap and used my thumb to play chords. Dave Brandt (the drummer in The Echo Falls) and I used to play on a bench at the Brookline Reservoir from ages 5 to 8 - I'd play this guitar, and Dave would bang on cans. When I was a teenager I got mad and kicked a hole in the side of it. We got it fixed and that's when I learned it was valuable. After that I was more careful with it.

Why is this guitar for you? It is a small-bodied instrument rather than a dreadnought; why does that work?

I've written most of my songs on this guitar. It's a very easy and comfortable guitar to play. The body is smaller than a dreadnought, but it has a surprisingly rich tone. I don't usually play it live, I don't want to put a pickup on it. I just use it for writing and recording. It's featured on about half the tracks on The Echo Falls CD.

It is, I believe an all mahogany body, talk to me more about the tone of the guitar.

Yes, it's all mahogany, with an ebony fret board. I love the tone. It's dark and rich. It feels great to play. I don't think it's a coincidence that the first three tracks on the album feature this guitar.

Is it a tough old guitar or is it one you would fear to take on the road (not that you shouldn't fear that regardless!)?

I wouldn't take it on the road, it's irreplaceable. It has still got some more songs in it, so I need to take care of it.

Tell me about how you record this guitar.

First, I got an SE Reflexion filter, which really helps when recording in less-than-ideal spaces. That and a comforter behind me. Dave Brandt has a matched pair of Neumann KM184s and we placed those in a V configuration with one pointing at the neck and the other at the bridge. We ran those through the Vintech x73i, which have a great clear sound. In the center I had my AKG 414XLII, running through the Universal Audio Solo 610. When combined they create a very full sound, which is helpful since most tracks mainly have guitar, stand up bass, drums and vocal.

What are the best features of the instrument?

It has songs in it, it's given me a lot of songs. You play it and the songs come out. When I play an instrument like this, I feel more connected to the past, the musicians that lived and died before me. It is very easy to get into tune, and it stays that way for weeks. It has low action but it doesn't buzz.

And the worst?

It's scary because I know I can't replace it.

Alex Mandel and his 1948 Martin 00-17

The Echo Falls just finished their debut. Eleven songs written over the past six years. They will be playing shows at Hotel Café and Café Du Nord in the L.A. area.