oval hole mandos

[atetone]

I am starting to research what options are available for a good oval hole mando.
Not sure which ones to consider but I want a nice one.
I have a 1915 Gibson A which is really good but I want to move up a notch or two. #
I don't care if it's vintage or new.
What is out there that I should consider?
I would like to spend $2500 or less but would consider spending a bit more if it would make a significant difference.
Oh yeah,,, I am also a cheapskate and like to get good value for my money.
I am not quite ready to make the purchase but am sneaking up on it, so need all the options and comments that anyone would be willing to offer.

[Eric F.]

Peter Coombe. Others have mentioned Peter Sawchyn, but I have no experience there. I can tell you that Peter Coombe makes as good an oval hole mando as you are likely to find. And the price will be less than $2,500 American. The wait, however, is up to about three years, I think. Still, it is worth it. If I had a big pile of money, I'd consider Gavin Baird. Check out a Peter Ostroushko album for a taste of the tone. Another name to think about is Don Paine, who builds under the Pomeroy label. I've read comments like "Best oval hole I've ever played." Also, I played a Weber Hyalite with what they call a "D" hole recently. It was $1,040 and I would have bought it on the spot if I had the money. That thing rocked. Another production builder to consider is Breedlove. Check out their upper-end oval holes. Good luck and happy hunting. I think oval holes rule.

[peter.coombe]

Thanks Eric. Actually I have a new one available right now. Doesn't happen very often nowadays. A blonde in Engelmann Spruce and Quilted Big Leaf Maple, real pretty looks and sound. Left over from my stall at the National Folk Festival. Go to http://www.petercoombe.com/Waiting_list.html

[Steve L]

If I could get anything I wanted I'd get a Sobell. I'd also check out Old Wave made by Bill Bussman or see if you can get on Steven Owsley Smith's waiting list. But you should really play as much stuff as you can...I don't really know how many notches "up" from a teens Gibson oval you can go. In a lot of ways, they set a standard.

[Steve L]

I just clicked over and looked at that Coombe. WOW!! That is stunning!

[jim simpson]

What is the conversion rate for Australian dollars to U.S. dollars, mate?

[PlayerOf8]

You might consider a Weber Bridger. You can order it with a traditional oval hole, and I am sure you won't have to wait a year or so to get it. I have one strung up with flat tops and I have to say that it sounds as good as any A model from the teens or '20s. You can also get a radius fingerboard with it.

George

[Greenmando]

King Brown makes a great oval as well.

[peter.coombe]

Exchange rate is a bit volatile right now, but is around 72c US to $1 Australian.

[mcmando]

I recently played a friend's weber bridger at a mando workshop and it was verrrry nice!

[ira]

at that price or less, get the bridger. i've tried it a bunch of times, and wow! it is amazing.

[Dan Adams]

Bussman!

[atetone]

Thanks for the input folks. That Coombe is a beauty isn't it?
Problem is that I am not quite ready to buy just yet. Waiting on a prospective sale on one of my present mandos. That's ok though. Gives me time to really look around.
I can't imagine that the Coombe will last long on the market.
Eric, I am considering a Sawchyn. I have one of his A5 Mandos.
Breedlove too is on the list. I just sold my Quartz F hole. Good mandolin, but I have not tried one of their oval holes. I listened to the soundbites on Folk of the Wood of the Orca. Wow!! Sounds good. A bit pricey though.
I will take a peek at the Pomeroy too. Not too familiar with them.
Steve,, A Sobell huh,, I would like to try one of them out ,but they are pretty scarce and pricey if I remember correctly. Love to try one.
Old Wave also is on the wish list. They seem like a good mando at a good price.
You know I didn't even consider any of the Weber instruments. Maybe I should back up a bit and take a look. Same with King Brown. I heard of them but don't know anything about them.
This is all great info folks and gives me some new lines of thought to research.
Thanks.

[beidlerp]

I've just stumbled upon this discussion and thought I'd mention the Capek F4 I recently purchased. It's a beauty, and you can see one just like it here:

http://www.galleryofstrings.com/1instru....06.jpg. (http://www.galleryofstrings.com/1instruments/1photos/CapF/CapF4-262/CapF4-262-06.jpg.)

It projects well from high to low and has an extremely clear, crisp sound that I love. I've been very happy with it.

Also, speaking of oval-hole mandolins, I'm now listening to Skp Gorman's Old Style Mandolin, Vol. Two. It's a real nice disc, ans it's almost all played on an oval-hole Gibson. Gorman then switches to a Loar F5 for four tracks, and you can really tell the difference. The Loar sounds like a Loar, of couse, but Gorman is great at bringing out the sweetness of an oval-hole mandolin.

Paul Beidler

[beidlerp]

P.S. Try this url instead:

http://www.galleryofstrings.com/FSboston.html

Second mandolin down is like the one I own--it's fantastic.

Sorry for the confusio.

Paul Beidler

[doanepoole]

I have never heard a bad Old Wave oval hole, for what its worth.

But I am inclined to agree with Steve. It is hard to move up from a teens Gibson A except for cosmetically. Then again, there are some duds out there, but in my humble opinion a good teens Gibson A is the workhorse standard, like the D-28 of oval-holes.

[Lee]

I almost bought a Coombe A5 last year. The tone was absolutely stunning; literally jaw-dropping. Clear and bell-like with a beautiful sustain. Finish was gorgeous and it had a very solid heft. The neck geometry was different than what I'm used to so I balked. Not that I can afford it right now, but I'm checking out that website.

[goldtopper]

OK-
Get a king brown.
Hands down the best mando for under 2500.
Mine's number 10.
F4 with a longer f5 scale.
Check out www.kingbrownhandcrafts.com

I love my king brown. It has the tone of my old Gibson A1 and the reach and playability of my Summit F5.
Talk to David... he's the MAN!
Email for references- NO financial gain here, just a happy musician.

[John Flynn]

If you have the bucks, I wouldn't overlook Rigel. Thier G95 oval sounds pretty sweet on thier website and thier custom remakes of the Lyon and Healy and the Vega Cylinderback look pretty nice.

[atetone]

Since it has been touched on what are your thoughts on the vintage mandos such as the Lyon and Healys; Vega cylinderback; and the 1920s Gibson snakeheads?
Comparing these (for instance)to my 1915 Gibson A ??

[Steph]

Anyone play this...
http://www.dreamguitars.com/instock_sobell.htm#Mandolin

I'd be interested to know if it sounds as good as it looks

[iampeterfonda]

There's a nice looking Pomeroy in the classifieds right now...

Pomeroy F4 (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=9566&query=retrieval)

[Bob DeVellis]

I've had a snakehead, still have an F-4, a Lyon & Healy, and a Vega or two. The Vega cylinder-backs can have the absolutely sweetest sound. I've played fewer than a dozen of them and there was definitely some variation from example to example, but the good ones have an incredible sound. They're not usually that easy to lay your hands on, though. A good Lyon & Healy is very nice also, but very different. They're brighter than a Vega with less sweetness and complexity. But still very, very nice. The good old Gibsons are also great. It's really a matter of what you personally like. Flatback Martins are still among the best values around. They can sound great and usually don't cost an arm and a leg. The advantage of a newer instrument is that it's solid, reliable, and can be built to your preferences. There are oodles of great instruments out there!

[Bob A]

Regarding the vintage ovals, my favorite is my 1921 F4, and the Lyon & Healy instruments. I also play an A2Z, but I prefer the older (pre-Loar era) Gibsons.

I also prefer the above instruments to the Vega cylinder backs, although they are interesting to play. I feel that aside from the volume, which the cylinderbacks have in spades, a good bowlback is more amusing than the cylinderbacks, and usually cheaper as well.

Of course, they all have a more or less unique sound, so you have to play around with them until you settle on which sound you prefer. Or go ahead and get them all.

[Willie]

I have a 1920 Lyon and Healy but I won`t ship it, if you are in or near the Maryland area and want to try it out let me know...No case with it though.... e mail is lydiapoole@juno.com...`til later....Willie

[Hubert Angaiak]

I have always wondered if the tone of the Loar oval holes are different from the simpliest A line to the A-4 as well as the F-2 and F-4.

[tiltman]

I recently switched from a teens Gibson A to a 1925 Snakehead - like you I wanted some of the "modern" features but retain that old Gibson sound. Absolutely love it!

[Dolamon]

After having played or owned a number of Gibson A mandolins, I finally recieved a Sawchyn A2 I ordered almost two years ago.

To describe it as a different league is to be polite. This beauty has harmonics and live tones all over the neck. What astounded me is the inside surface of the instrument has a scraped or burnished look and feel to it. I don't know if this enhances the sound or what but the volume, tone and texture are incredible. Two things to think about ... Butch Baldassari just had his second oval hole instrument built by Peter and a very good mandolin player here in Chicago (he plays either his Givens or his Heiden on stage) played the Sawchyn A2 (which had some very tired strings on it at the time) and looked amazed. His comment said it all "Someone finally got Gibson's idea right!". #

Not all oval holes are equal.

[rnjl]

Gotta plug my Parsons here.

Will (Parsons) built me a wonderful A oval , just to my specs, is beautiful and a joy. Two different luthiers have said things like "it's really got that old Gibson vibe" but the difference is: radiused fretboard, long neck, "c" neck shape, modern tuners and cast tailpiece, etc.

Don't know what he would ask for one now, but mine was about $1200.

Will is a really nice guy, too, very easy to work with.

Neal

[peterleyenaar]

Dolamon,
I have to agree with you, I received my Sawchyn with custom design a couple of month ago and it surpasses everything that I have played : Gibson A1, A2, A3, A4, A2Z, Collings A and F,
Heiden , Givens, and verious Webers.
I am now in the process of ordering an other Sawchyn, waiting list is one year, eventhough I purchased a Gibson F2 over the weekend.
Not only is the tone outstanding on the Sawchyn mandolin, the finish is the best I have seen on any mandolin.

[ira]

again going to sing the praises of doug dieter and kennaquhair instruments- reasonably priced, great guy, willing to work with you to customize it to your liking in every respect, creates true artwork, and phenomenal tone. the instrument looks small but, especially when held away from the body (yeah-i would love a toneguard) is loud as all get out! for a custom instrument, especially if you don't have bucks- as fine as they come.

www.kennaquhair.com

good luck,
ira

[twaaang]

The Rigel G95 which Mando Johnny mentions above (the one that's in a sound-clip on the Rigel website) is I believe on its way to Merlefest. #It is thiiiiiiiiis close to living at my house instead: I had the good fortune of trying it out alongside the Lyon & Healy Style B that Peter Mix was selling last month, and the L&H won after considerable agonizing. #These are both wonderful instruments, but my tongue isn't silver enough to explain to my wife why I was buying both. #

Anyway, this oval-hole chat thread looks like the perfect forum to pass along what Peter told me about the sound clip: he has had fifty or more phone inquiries about the G95 clip, obviously prompted by their interest in the sound of that particular mandolin, almost all of which went "oh-never-mind" as soon as they found out it was not an F-hole instrument. #(I can't speak to the internal structure, but from the outside the G95 amounts to an oval-hole version of the G-110.)

Somebody please pounce on this mando so I can stop worrying about it!

[doanepoole]

I have always wondered if the tone of the Loar oval holes are different from the simpliest A line to the A-4 as well as the F-2 and F-4.

Pre-Loar from A to A-4 I have found to have very little predictable difference in tone...having said that, those old A's alot of times have relatively different tones from one to another, but I don't think this can really be attributed to the numerical designator...I just think, like all mandolins do, even the same model can sound different.

IMO, there is a recognizeable difference in tone between pre-Loar and post-Loar oval-holes, but its really hard to describe. I prefer the pre-Loar sound, but market prices would suggest the Loar era-oval holes are generally thought of as superior...how much this has to do with the Loar mystique, who knows?

One difference that strikes me immediately is the neck width...again, I prefer the wider neck of the pre-Loars.

I have found in my limited exposure to F-4s (only played two...both from the teens...were these made when Loar worked for Gibson???) that while they look fancy, the ones I played just didn't sound very good, but I note with emphasis that I've only played two F-4s.

[jjboone101]

Darby Boofer, who makes Rose mandolins, builds a really nice affordable F4 in the $2000 or so neighborhood...