Would you have a listen please?

[labraid]

Hi All,
You are the professionals, I am curious how you feel the sound of this new mandolin stacks up in the classical realm. I know pretty well it is not the classical sound we are used to, but I am hoping that some would see some potential with it for a slightly different classical sound. You may be the judges.
As I'm only a dabbler in classical playing, what I hope you all can get from these sound clips is the potential in tonality, and imagine those sounds in your own hands to make something greater than perhaps I have here.

Thanks for listening and sharing your comments.

Holborne's Prelude 1 + dabbling (http://www.bfolk.com/46music.mp3)

The instrument has a bowl back and ladder braced flat-top much like that of a lute, or a classical mandolin for that matter.

[revray]

First a disclaimer - I love Brian's instuments and the F4 he built me is a great mandolin with a unique voice of her own. Having said that I find the tone of this new design to be another refreshing change from the "standard" bluegrass sound. Kudos for stepping away from the cloning of another Gibson sound alike. This is not to denigrate the builders who build great mandolins and strive for that "Loar" sound. It's just nice to have choices.

[Jim Garber]

For me, it is very hard to tell anything from sound files. The recording sounds lovely with sweet treble tones and nicely mid-range bass ones,

However, I find that different picks bring out different tones and would really have to play it in person.

Brian, is this mandolin pictured on your site as yet? I did not see it there.

Jim

[labraid]

She is currently unvarnished, that process begins this afternoon. She looks about thus:

http://www.bfolk.com/ip/46ip12.jpg

You are right about the pick. For your information, this is a medium-heavy, plastic one. I do not have any classical style picks, though I assume the trebles would be even more sparkly that way.

[Jim Garber]

Brian:
How deep is that bowl? Do you have a picture of it? Man, I wish I lived around the corner so I can play it.

Jim

[labraid]

Jim, it is about 3.25" from extreme top to bowl summit.

http://www.bfolk.com/ip/46ip13.jpg

[otterly2k]

yikes, Brian... there you go making these gorgeous instrument-sculptures again~

I love the line of the back rim from the side the way it's pictured...

[John Zimm]

Hi All,
You are the professionals, I am curious how you feel the sound of this new mandolin stacks up in the classical realm. I know pretty well it is not the classical sound we are used to, but I am hoping that some would see some potential with it for a slightly different classical sound. You may be the judges.
As I'm only a dabbler in classical playing, what I hope you all can get from these sound clips is the potential in tonality, and imagine those sounds in your own hands to make something greater than perhaps I have here.

Thanks for listening and sharing your comments.

Holborne's Prelude 1 + dabbling (http://www.bfolk.com/46music.mp3)

The instrument has a bowl back and ladder braced flat-top much like that of a lute, or a classical mandolin for that matter.
I would be happy to borrow that instrument from you for several months (or years) to get a feel for how it plays. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It sounded great to me. #It looks like a work of art. #

-John.

[Jim Garber]

Is the top carved, flat with induced arch or your famous wee-bit carved? I would imagine it to be more of a Lyon & Healy sound than a bowlback, certainly good for classical, celtic and the like tho. Is that walnut on the back?

Jim

[labraid]

It is an induced arch top, this one. And since the arched braces are all transverse, there is no lengthwise arch in the top. Then the back -- a tuned back, selectively thinned -- all Oregon walnut with no decorative lines. Happily because I was not using a form, it did not need any.
Glad to hear you say that about the tone, Jim. If you're anywhere near Montreal in about a month, see if you can't find a good excuse to drop by. Good pizza out here. Oh wait you're in New York. hehe.
I did have a Quebecois player by today. We had business to discuss but he spent a good 10 minutes on this one and I was real happy to hear her in the hands of someone with talent. You've heard the tone, I wish you could hear the volume as well.. It really carries very nicely.
I am doing a repair on a Calace in a few weeks. Hopefully I will have this player's commentary on the mandolin as well as some tunes for you all from his skilled hands..

[PhilGE]

Gah... why do I read these threads? I thought my MAS was tamed. Someday, Brian, someday... thanks for all you do to push the envelope in a wonderful direction.

[Martin Jonas]

Nice tone, and looks great. In some ways, this reminds me of an updated version of the German "Portugese-style" mandolins, with their shallow bowl and ladder-braced flat top. The tone is somewhat reminiscent of those, too. Here is Klaus Knorr's (http://www.knorr-mandolinen.de/html/mandolen_e.htm#mgf_e) version of the Portuguese style.

Martin

[MLT]

Brian,

I thought the tone was great. And, she will be an absolute beauty when she is finished. Too bad she won't be coming to my house to be played--but maybe a future sibiling.