The Mandolin Cafe was launched November 18, 1995 and is one of the longest continuously running acoustic music sites on the internet. Features includes a Forum with close to 47,000 members, a Classifieds with over 1,000 instruments (mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass and more), news and interviews, the only comprehensive list of mandolin builders on the web and a wide variety of historical databases and resources of interest to mandolin players are part of the site's draw to international visitors.
"As a kid I grew up using Mel Bay products and could have named every book on guitars available in the small music store that served us in North Central Kansas," said site founder Scott Tichenor. "Its been a real pleasure to work with and support Mel Bay Publications since starting the site. Ultimately, the mandolin became my primary instrument so I am pleased to help get the good word out to mandolin players about the amazing resources Mel Bay provides from artists like Don Stiernberg, Aaron Weinstein, Ted Eschliman, Joe Carr and so many more.
"It's so cool to announce a new Mel Bay publication and then have the author actually among our membership available to answer questions as part of the activity," Tichenor said. "I think this is one of the great things about the internet and as long as the Mandolin Cafe is around we'll be supporting our friends at Mel Bay!"