holoubek mandolins

[John Rosett]

i really liked the look of the holoubek A5 mando that elderly had recently. does anyone here own one? i'd love to hear a report.i really like alot of the czech mandolins, and i wonder how much the "european spruce" has to do with the tone.
thanks,john

[Strado Len]

I have not played a Holoubek, but would agree with your comment about European spruce. I have owned a guitar and a mandolin with this topwood, and it definitely has a distinctive (and excellent) tonal quality quite different from Sitka or red spruce - responsive, bright, clear highs, and harmonically rich.

[HoGo]

I've played at least half a dozen of them and the only difference from Gibsons was the headstock logo. Workmanship was always excellent.

[SteveW]

I used to play a Holoubek A5 in a local shop whenever I would stop in. It was far and away the best-sounding mandolin in the store, and really one of the best I've ever had a chance to play. It was out of my price range, unfortunately, and eventually some discerning player snapped it up. Sigh . . .

Steve

[Dfyngravity]

I have not played one but I know who has. August Watters has, he is the owner of gallery of strings. I am sure he will chime in on this thread very soon. His website is www.galleryofstrings.com, just in case he doesn't you can contact him there. I do know that they are great mandos. There is a photo on there with Chris Thile holding one after he played it.

[August Watters]

The photo referred to is here:
http://www.galleryofstrings.com/1instruments/HolF5-131.html

Scroll down the page a little. There is NO endorsement claimed or implied; it's just a photo of Chris Thile and Ondra Holoubek together, with Chris playing Ondra's newest F5. It does, however, show a strong respect between the two men.

About the tone: at first you'll notice excellent bluegrass tone -- but as you explore a little more, you'll find it's very sensitive to your picking style, so it's possible to get a wide range of sounds. It really takes awhile to explore the possibilities. I think this type of flexibility leads to a wide expressive range -- and this is one difference that separates really great mandolins from the many good ones available today.

No doubt the European spruce is a factor in the quality of these instruments -- but the maple is also a big consideration. The maple that comes from the Germany/Czech border region is said to be among the most dense in the world, and has been sought-after by violin makers for centuries -- so there's a very developed tradition of harvesting tonewood there.

August Watters
http://www.galleryofstrings.com

[MWM]

A couple months ago I was at Elderly looking at another instrument. An employee I know handed me that Holoubek and said play it. I play a lot of A-style mandos and that one clearly stood out as great. Excellent chop, volume and clarity across the board. I hope somebody buys it so I won't think about it anymore. I know nothing about the builder but I'd buy that mando based on sound alone. Just can't afford it right now.

[John Rosett]

that mandolin is listed as "sold" on august's site, but not on elderly's. what's the story with it?
john

[2partinvention]

I've played about 3 of them and they were great. I ordered one actually and Ondra was kind enough to make two for me,one with, and one without a varnish finish. They should be here in about a month. They are all around outstanding instruments in workmanship,tone,playability , and versitality . You can play them for most any style from classical to bluegrass without sounding like it wasn't right for that song ..although I do think the 131 would make a better bluegrass mando. I had the pleasure of meeting Ondra in Vermont and he was so helpful and extremely nice. It was fun to really talk #to someone who can understand what you want to see in an instrument. Definantly check them out. If you can find one, they are great and are as good or better than many of the top builders today. I'm sure Ondra, as he gains more respect, and gets more noted will be amoung the very top ,very soon. Try to get to pick one and I'm sure that if you get it , it will be a life time instrument .


Hoped I helped....... and good luck !

[Seth Austen]

About a year ago I first played August's own Holoubek F5, and was sufficiently impressed to become a dealer for Holoubek (and Capek) mandolins. I had #125 here for a while, it was a fantastic instrument, real warm, lush sound. I was sorry to see it leave, wanted to keep it for myself.

I now have #131 (in the picture with Chris Thile) on hand, it's a wonderful mandolin. I recently played another Holoubek F5 that belongs to a friend in Boston, and it's a great one too. Every one of Ondra's mandolins that I've played is a great instrument, with rich overtones, volume when you need it, and versatile for a wide variety of styles.

Play one if you get a chance!

Seth

[August Watters]

Here's an update on the Holoubek A5 at Elderly: it's still available! Evidently I had a miscommunication with Elderly; sorry about that. The photos are here:
http://www.galleryofstrings.com/FSelderly.html

I hope someone picks this up soon, it's a really outstanding instrument. Production is limited and there won't be another for several more months.

August Watters
http://www.galleryofstrings.com

[John Rosett]

well, i called elderly today, and a very nice guy named brandon played it for me over the phone. i'm definately thinking hard about it.....
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