Mandolin recomendations - woody/chunky/dark

[tterral]

I have been reading threads here, checking out videos and sound clips and have come to the conclusion that I want a mandolin that in the "Gibsonish"/bluegrass school of tone. Typical adjectives that get thrown around alot - woody, dark, throaty, etc., but not at the expense of balance and solid mids and clear trebles. I have looked (but not heard or played any live) a Newson, Phoenix, Newell, Silver Angel, BRW, Henderson, LaPlant..... I have heard good things about Old Wave mandos as well, but have not found a sound clip of one yet. Some of these fit the bill, sound wise, #some don't. I would ideally want to buy used, but not a deal killer to buy new. Currently have a Collings MT that I will sell to afford this upgrade. I am looking in the under $5,000 range. Also want a wider neck (1-3/16"), but not a chunky neck, more low profile. I am not in a position to try any decent mandos out due to where I live being a barren wasteland when it comes to finding a good quality mandolin.

I realize this question, or something simialar, gets asked all the time, but I am trying to narrow it down from - what is the best mandolin for $5,000 or less (too many variable).

Thanks.

[Santiago]

The one that sounds best to you when you try it.

[LeonEvans]

Try talking with Stephen Holst. He'll build you an F style to your specifications for around $3,000 and his work is great. Here's his web site:

Holst Mandolins (http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/mandolins.htm)

Leon

[tterral]

Agreed, but easier said than done with my limited opportunities to try anything decent. Winfield is the only place that gives me that oppotunity and that is only once a year in September.

[Jim Garber]

I have heard good things about Old Wave mandos as well, but have not found a sound clip of one yet.
Here you go: Old Wave soundclips (http://www.zianet.com/bussmann/sound.html).

I have played Steve Bernstein's Old Wave oval hole A and it is a sweet sounding instrument. I would not say a real serious bluegrass instrument tho.

Jim

[tterral]

Thanks Jim,

I guess I have looked at too many mandolin sites because I have heard those clips at the Old Wave site. Wish they had a couple of other F5 clips, Mandohaze, as interesting as it is, does not tell me the whole story. The second clip sounds good, but I would like to hear how the chop sounds as well.

[Frank Russell]

The two Old Wave A's with f-holes I've owned both had a nice chunky "woof" to the chop, right out of the box. I don't remember the neck measurements, but I like them more wide than narrow, and both fit me real well. Just all-around great bluegrass mandolins. Setup and playability is hard to beat, tone and volume have been excellent on all that I've played, from oval and f-hole A models all the way up to a beautiful Oval Octave. Bill is the man. Frank

[Greg H.]

If you want the Gibson tone why not buy a Gibson? if you look at this thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=41846) you can see there's a good discussion about the Gibson F5-G custom (aka F5-FB. . . okay, it sounds more like proud parents raving about there babies than a discussion, but these run about $4,000 and decidedly have the Gibson tone) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Jim Garber]

Wish they had a couple of other F5 clips, Mandohaze, as interesting as it is, does not tell me the whole story. The second clip sounds good, but I would like to hear how the chop sounds as well.
Talk to Bill directly. There are enough of his instruments out there to get a sense. He may even know of an Old Wave owner who lives near to you and you may be able to check it out.

Jim

[Walter Newton]

If you want the Gibson tone why not buy a Gibson?
There are also 2 people on the Classifieds right now looking to trade their Gibsons for MT's.

[tterral]

I guess the answer to the obvious Gibson question is the fact I prefer a wider lower profile neck and I believe Gibsons are standard 1-1/16" at the nut (1-1/8"?). Also, I have read about the inconsistencies of Gibsons, so I would want to play it before I threw down the dough. That being said, I am going to call Buffalo Brothers and check on the Gibsons you mentioned. I noticed in another thread something about those mandolins. Can't imagine that being a legitimate list price $9,000+ though. Still, $4,000 seems like a pretty good price for the mandolins. Very nice looking. They also had an Adirondack top, correct?

[Jim M.]

If what you want is soundclips, check out the Mandotasting CD's:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/archives/mandotasting.html

Ken Cartwright (Mandomedic here on the Cafe) may still have some of these. I think they were produced for 4 years, John Reischman sampling on three and Mike Compton (I think) on one. A really great way to hear soundclips of chords, chops, and melody by master players on a wide variety of mandos.

I just realized I had the 2004 CD in front of me here. Here's a scan of what instruments are on it:

[Jim M.]

Sorry, here's the scanned list:

[jk245]

I spent a couple of hours at Mandolin Brothers playing many makers mandos in a wide range of prices (from a few hundred$ to almost $20,000).
Is there a difference. YES!
But, often a thousand dollar instrument sounds similar to a $6000 model. Sometimes my pick flew over the strings and a beautiful sound came out. Sometimes I had a heavy effort to get a happy sound.
I brought with me a standard Fender medium pick and a Tortus medium pick modified with a knife edge. A sometimes dull sounding mando using the Tortus opened up with the Fender, and vice-versa.
I realize now that it is almost impossible to rate the sound of an instrument by a review. Sound is entirely a personal taste and is entwined with the type of music that you want to play. I understand now why many players have several instruments and switch based upon the specific music piece.
I have a cheap-o mando at home. It sounds much better with the Tortus. Compared with the wide selection that I played, it is as good or better than a $2000 model, at least that is my taste.
By the way, from today's playing, if I had the bucks I would buy the Gibson Sam Bush. But then again I don't relish having my wife forcing me to sleep on the couch. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif