My F has generally stayed on its peg since I got my oval. I much prefer the sound of it, and only paid about 1/4 the cost of the F for it. Weird how things like that work out. I suppose I need to hold on to an F-hole mandolin for bluegrass jamming, but I think my next mandolin will be an oval.
________________________________ From: Don Christy <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:47:32 PM Subject: Re: F4 Mandolin I have a great 1921 Gibson F-2 and a modern custom small builder F-4 from Pomeroy. Both listed at the Cafe currently if you're interested. Don On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:30 AM, malagrass <[email protected]> wrote: Cool mandolin at vintage, great advise. Unbelievably I remembered I had an old Gibson A that someone loaned me about 2 years ago. I forgot I had it and once I wiped the inch of dust off the case and tuned it up its really cool. I guess the owner didn't like it, we both forgot I had it....anyway it plays well but no side dots and its amazing how much I NEED them. I'm not certain how this compares in sound but I'll start lookin' around and see whats out there. Tater, I like the sound of yours. Most ovals I've heard are like this one, very tubby. I've understand the bussmans are highly talked about as well as the lyon and healy but sadley i've not seen either. It'll take looking at whats out there and get the right one. I'm bad for buying something site unseen and not liking it which turns into a vicious cycle of which there is no cure........ However, sadly for my wife...the search is on. Again! John On Mar 31, 9:51 am, mistertaterbug <[email protected]> wrote: > Should've hesitated before hitting the "send" button... You might also > check out some of the Vega cylinder backs as well as Lyon and Healys. > If you're interested in something a bit odd by a joy to play, check > out Player's Vintage Instruments and look at the Shutt mando. > Grisman's got one. You'd be amazed what these things will do. > > (http://www.vintageinstruments.com/photos/inst30/cremonashuttful.jpg) > > Tater > > On Mar 31, 8:46 am, mistertaterbug <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Malagrass, get you an oval hole and don't give it a second thought. > > I've got the F5 and F4 and I'll say that neither will do what the > > other does. I really favor the oval hole sound for a lot of things. > > Just be sure to play a lot of them before you buy. Find one that has > > more than just low end rumble. In my opinion, look for one that is > > even across the entire range, that has clarity and body to the notes > > in all registers. Many oval hole Gibsons are heavy on the "mud" and > > not meaty in the treble. There's tons of Gibsons around, so take your > > time if you're looking for one of those. There are good mandolins from > > the independent makers too; Gilchrist, Brentrup, Bussman, Kimble, and > > many more. Have fun! > > > Taterbug > > > On Mar 30, 8:24 am, 14strings <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > malagrass: > > > > An F hole and an oval is kinda like having a hard top and a > > > convertible; well not really :) but since we're all into mandolins I > > > say why not? If you can afford a second instrument then having an F > > > and an oval is better then having two F's (just like high school) > > > > They are completely different animals. The sound of the oval besides > > > having more sustain and bottom end has a different type of projection > > > then a F. An F's tone jumps right out of the box while an oval's tone > > > takes a little longer to "bloom" but also fills up the space more. > > > Many ovals would have a tough time competing with a bluegrass style > > > banjo. > > > > As Shaun says above; for solo palying or small ensembles an oval is > > > the ticket. > > > > Playing wise the oval neck is I believe a shorter scale length and > > > meets the body at the 12th fret instead of 15. Though there are some > > > ovals made that join the neck at the typical 15th fret; but I'd > > > consider those more of a hybrid then a true oval. > > > > One other thing I've noticed is that an oval sounds much different > > > when you are in the driver's seat then it does when someone else > > > playing it. In other words they are louder in reality then we perceive > > > them to be when we play them. Probably due to that "bloom" factor. > > > > On Mar 28, 1:52 pm, sgarrity <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I've got a Kimble A-0 and it's lots of fun to play. I just begs for > > > > old time fiddle tunes. Even does a respectable job on more bluegrassy > > > > tunes too. An oval hole mando is at it's best if you're playing solo > > > > or with another mandolin or guitar. Any more than that and your jam > > > > partners better have a REALLY good understanding of dynamics! But in > > > > a small group, it offers a different tonal pallette. Everybody should > > > > have at least one!- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. 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