How Do Phoenix Mandos Compare?

[Nalapombu]

Hey,

I just finished looking at Phoenix mandolins on their website and they look really nice. I'm not sure I like them as well as an F style, but they sure are beauties.
I have seen a lot of people on here talk about them and also heard a few comments about them at my teachers place. I was wondering how their Blugrass series compares to a traditional F style mandolin. How does the sound and tone compare to a similarly proced F style? I think the price on their top of the line Bluegrass model is $7500, how would you rate it with respect to other mandos that fall in that price range? Have you ever had the chance to handle or play one and what did you think?
If someone were going to give you either a Gibson Fern or a Phoenix Bluegrass Master Model, which one would you take?

Later
Nala

[Bowzette]

I like mine a lot. I don't think the difference between the
"F" body style and the double point makes a difference in
sound-only in appearence and cost of construction. The
quality of workmanship, finish is excellent. Mine is loud
with good tone. I have an older model and Rolfe has since
revoiced the Bluegrass for more bass. The neck is 1&1/16
but he will build a wider neck upon request. The fully bound
bluegrass is a bargin at that price point. So is the
unbound model, Neo bluegrass at about $2800. All the
Phoenix models are varnished. I have only played a Gibson
F-9 which had really good tone and volume. Most of the new
Gibsons i have heard on the two Mandolin Tasting CDs
I have like also. You will not be unhappy with a Phoenix
bluegrass, but you may prefer the sound a Gibson better
who knows-the more i listen to mandolins the more I think
is is magic. You will be able to buy a good mandolin without
comparing a lot of mandolins, which most of us don't have
the opportunity to do, but it may not be the one of your
dreams. You can find Gibsons to play to see how they feel and
soudn. Order a Phoenix from Dale(he's getting one in)for
comparison.

[Dave Reiner]

I have a 1995 Phoenix Ultra, which I use for bluegrass, oldtime, and Irish. #This Ultra is light in the hands, quite loud, extremely clean-sounding and ringing up the neck, and amazingly easy to play. #The inlay work is excellent and dramatic.

I tried Evan Reilly's Bluegrass Phoenix about a year and a half ago, and recall it definitely had these same fine qualities in playability and sound. #It was strung with heavier strings and sounded somewhat more bluegrassy than the Ultra (not surprisingly). #It definitely had huge volume and cut through at a jam session. #I liked it better than the 90's Gibson F-5L that I was playing at the time. #Evan, feel free to offer more detail... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Good luck choosing!

Dave

P.S. I am thinking of selling the Ultra in the next few months -- not as a reflection on the instrument, but to help pay for my kid's tuition at college.

[Nolan]

I played a Phoenix at Wintergrass, it was very nice. Loud too. It had a different sound to it, not bad in anyway but different. The guys that own them seem to really like them, I bet Dale might have a few comments on them.

[Jim Roberts]

They come out of the box (new) playing like they've already had years of playing on them. #Seems like so many mandolins take a while, or forever, to break in but these come delivered already sounding sweet and loose. #I would look #in to his newer mandolins as Rolfe has done some changes to his construction process and the result is an even louder, sweeter sounding mandolin. #I played one this summer at CampBluegrass that was one of his older ones and while it was really nice, it doesn't hold a candle to his newer ones IMHO. #The Bluegrass model has incredible bass yet is sweet all over the board. #If you play one I'll bet you it'll be right there at the top of your MAS list!

Also, Rolfe is a great guy to work with. #

Good luck!

[PCypert]

You can listen to them on the folk of the wood website. They have a really nice tone. Dale has one listed for a really nice price right now. No financial interest with Dale, he's just a good person to do business with.
Paul

*This is not a plug*

I just tuned up a new Bluegrass that arrived yesterday. The top dimensions (thickness) are different. This was Rolfe's responce to an email today#from me asking about the thicker top.

"Yes, it is probably 50% thicker in the center but the same as before in the recurve, which means it will break in more slowly but should have better overtones. "

This one seems a little more subdued out of the box than ones in the past. The neck is also just a tad wider which I really like. Jim, has yours opened up much since you've had it?

[Lee]

I've owned a Phoenix Deluxe #296 now for six-months or so. Its from Aug. 2002. You can probably still see it on Folk of the Woods website. I think it's a stunningly beautiful sounding mandolin. Very clear concise tone, good volume, nice ringing sustain. I've described it as a crystaline tone, Dr. Thomastik heavies have given it some wood. It's an extremely sensitive instrument; the car door slams from across the street and you'll hear the strings vibrating. The necks playability is so easy and fast it's scary. Some mandolins you need to work at, this just seems to pull you along. The craftsmanship is top shelf; it's a piece of art, a wooden jewel.
The Deluxe is somewhere between the Neo-classical and the Bluegrass; you can tell. It doesn't "thwop" like a BG mando, but then a BG mando won't sing like a Deluxe. I've never played a Bluegrass. My guess is you can't go wrong.

[Jim Roberts]

Dale: #Mine came out of the box really, really sweet but continues to open up in that it has progressively gotten louder. #If anything, the E strings are the slowest to awaken on mine. #When I first strung it up and played "O'Carolans Concerto" (yah, I know it's a Bluegrass Model!) I gave out a loud "Wow." #Next tune was "Red Apple Rag" and the bass in the first few measures was really far out. #The varnish finish is bee-you-tee-ful. #Also, I've never played another mandolin that was so lightweight. #I take that back...I played a Dave Cohen mandolin that was really lightweight, too. #Both instruments have phenomenal volume and I previoulsy was under the impression that weight + mass = volume (no wonder I barely passed College Physics 101) in a mandolin. #Little did I know!

[Ted Eschliman]

I previously was under the impression that weight + mass = volume (no wonder I barely passed College Physics 101) in a mandolin. #Little did I know!
And here I thought the stonger formula in getting a new ax had something to do with "Wait" and "M.A.S."

[evanreilly]

I have a new Gibson F-5L/Fern, as well as the 'prototype' for Rolfe's newer Phoenix Bluegrass models. #
They are just different animals.
The Phoenix has quite a commanding presensce, bass & chop-wise. #The usual comment is: "How old is that thing?". The reaction is usually great surprise. #The workmanship and playability are top notch.
The Gibson exceeds my criteria for a bluegrass sound as well. #I have played & examined it next to Loar F-5 mandolins and it is the kid brother to the vintage mandolins; it is just a lot younger.
Both are comparably aged; I received them within a short time of each other.
Best advice: #play lots of each. #Tough call. #I like them all.