Lebeda, 1 1/4" nut, V-necks

[shiloh]

Hi all,
I'm considering the purchase of a Lebeda F5 Premium Plus. #Wider neck (1 1/4" at nut).
I have not played, nor even seen, a Lebeda but have read good things on the Cafe.
Question: Comments on a wider neck? #Also, I read on the Cafe that the back of the neck is a deep (awkward?) V, which sounds uncomfortable to me. I don't care what instrument it is, or who built it, if it doesn't "feel right" I'm not interested.
Any and all comments regarding Lebeda mandos is much appreciated. I hate to have the instrument shipped here for trial only to find out it is poorly built and/or poor in tone.

Thanks!
Jill
San Diego

[Albert Whiting]

hey i am actually the proud owner of a lebeda premium plus. actually the neck is not v neck on mine. i have never played one with a v neck. i am more than happy with mine. it has awesome tone and plenty of volume. the workmanship is perfect!. there is not a flaw in the finish anywhere. i have had many mandolins. my lebeda is by far my favorite mandolin i have ever had. i am absolutely in love with it. i would highly recommend the lebeda premium plus. let me know howthe trial turns out. i am very confident that you will be blown away by these mandolins.

[shiloh]

Thanks, mando 777. I'm still debating but think I should give the trial a go. I'll never know otherwise!

Jill

[craigtoo]

Can only recommend them! #Lebeda Premium Plus is my daily driver. #It has a powerful sound. #Workmanship is great. #Jiri is a great guy and makes a quality instrument. #I love his new scroll design too. #I've never seen a V necked Leb. #Even in Jiri's shop. #I have a half round neck on mine which I like, but that is a preference thing.

pics at

www.homepage.mac.com/craigtoo

Lebeda makes a great instrument.

craig

[swampstomper]

I have two (!) Lebedas, an A5+ and B5+. They both have a wide but round neck (no V) and radiused board. I love playing them! I have small hands but the larger neck actually seems to help my playing. And I second the comments on the good-quality mandolins. You can get more info. on the mandos from Jeff Cowherd at www.mandolins.net; look in the classifieds under Lebeda and you will see all the specs.

[Lee]

You can expect excellent build quality and excellent tone from a Lebeda premium, based on the one I've played.
I liked the neck; not shallow, slightly V shaped.

[Jim M.]

Gryphon (http://www.gryphonstrings.com) always has at least a couple of Lebedas, and they never last very long before they are sold. I've played probably 5 that have come through there. They are very good mandos, beautifully crafted. I've never noticed a neck being uncomfortably shaped, but I don't think I've ever played one with a 1 1/4" neck. They have all had very good tone, and some have had great tone. I would probably have bought one if I didn't have a bias towards small-shop American builders.

[ericwall]

As a former owner of a Lebeda Premium F5, let me tell you they have very comfortable necks. #I have never heard of a Lebeda with a sharp V-neck. #Only reason I sold mine was for a trade + $ for a Brock F4 that is a killer. #It was my first mandolin and it only sounded better over time. #
Good luck,
Eric

[ohohman]

I have a Lebeda F5 premium plus. I enjoy it a lot. Great sound, easy to play. Try it, you'll like it.

[shiloh]

Hi to everyone who has replied.

Thanks so much! I had the Lebeda shipped to me; should be getting it on Friday of this week (July 1). Which means this week will move along way too slow!

Jill

[Le7beda]

I had the Lebeda shipped to me; should be getting it on Friday of this week (July 1).
How's the new mando?

[Rick Crenshaw]

Just to let you know, I owned a Lebeda Master model, w/maple binding, GREAT burst, with wonderful tone, made in 1992. #It had a thin, fast neck with a sharp V. #He's probably changed the neck over time to suit his customers. #I got used to the neck and loved it. #My new Daley is not as narrow or as sharp a V, but I drove up to his shop while it was in the white and we custom fit the neck to my liking. #It is thinner and sharper than most standard mandolins, but not as thin as my A9, but about the same degree of V. #Very, Very comfortable.

BTW, I really like the Lebeda mandolins. #The older model I owned was very balanced and had great tone, moderately loud, but I wanted a more serious b/g bark. #The Daley is fantastic in that regard. #It is a serious b/g mando. #Here's a pic of the neck and the body.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/870313/neck.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/870313/topview.jpg