Weber Yellowstone

[mmukav]

Can anyone let me know what they think of their Weber Yellowstones? Owners or players? Is it loud, does it have the chop? The Woof? Action? Woody sound?
I'm thinking about upgrading to one. The other one I'm looking at is a Weber Gallatin with upgrade to maple back and sides and gloss finish. Anyone with experience with this mando? Thanks for your help.

[mmukav]

I play a Gibson A9 and a Kentucky KM800 now. These are what I'd be comparing the Webers to. Thanks.

[pickinNgrinnin]

I used to have an 02 tone bar braced Yellowstone.

[QUOTE]Is it loud, does it have the chop? The Woof? Action? Woody sound?

Yes and more to all the above. It was a great Mandolin. Wished I could have kept it but had to sell in a M.A.S. type move. Used ones have been selling for very low $$ as the mid priced market has been hurting. Good time to buy one used. Not a good time to be selling one. I like the Yellowstones better than the Bitterroots w/ Maple.

[Hoovetone]

I did a lot of testing and research(playing and reading stuff) when I was upgrading from my Aria. In 99 I knew I had to have one. Everything I played had tone bars. At that time the Yellowstones came X-braced and that's what I wanted. I'm 100% satisfried. I took it to a guitar show a few Saturdays ago- I compared the Yellowstone to all kinds of mandolins. I liked mine the best. In fact, the only other mandolin I played that was close(my opinion) to my Yellowstone was a new Gibson F5-G that Jackson's Music in Winston-Salem,NC.
Keep in mind- I think that X-bracing has a sweeter,chunkier sound and are not as twangy as tone bars.I play bluegrass and it works wonderfully!

[Hoovetone]

Oh! I might have failed to mention. I'm 100% SATISFRIED with mine.

[mmukav]

Hoovetone:

(QUOTE)-Keep in mind- I think that X-bracing has a sweeter,chunkier sound and are not as twangy as tone bars.

Interesting. I've only played mandos with tone bars, so that comparison is something I'm not yet familiar with. I have a Weber Sage octave and really like that, tone-playability-quality. That's why I'm drawn to the Weber. But I really love that bluegrass chop, that woofy sound you get with Gibsons. There's one shop in my area that might have a Yellowstone. I'll have to check it out and play it if they have one. Thanks for the info. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[doublestop]

Mike,
If you are ever passing through Central PA stop in and play our Webers. We have a standard that is X braced and a Custom that is tonebar braced. We even have an X braced Custom Bitterroot. I am the proud owner of a Custom Yellowstone with X bracing that you are more than welcome to play as well. No pressure, just thought we might be fairly close. The X bracing definately has a sweeter tone than the tonebars, just my opinion.

Lanning Music
Lock Haven, PA

[Wando]

Mike,

I've had a Yellowstone for almost 2 years and I've really liked it. #It certainly doesn't thump like a Gibson, but it plays nicely and the sustain and all-around tone are excellent. #Excellent volume, too. #The quality and finish are superb. #Let me know if you are in or near southern NH. #I've spent whole days at Mandolin Brothers and the only attainable mando that I liked better than my Yellowstone was a Rigel G110. #Well, I just scored a CT110 and I might be willing to part with my Yellowstone. #First I'd have to imagine life without a scroll. #Best of luck with whatever you end up with. #It's different for everyone.

[mmukav]

Thanks for the info guys, it's great to hear from different folks on how they like their mandos. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[KevinM]

pickingrinnin - "used to own???" First the Flatiron goes, then the Weber, what are you playing thses days? a BRW? M.A.S. devastates another family. Oh, to stay on point, I played both an x-braced and a tone bar Yellowstone at Lanning Music, both were awesome, and there was a difference. The x braced to my ear sounde better, but woofing power? You'll never know for while IMHO, since a tone bar mandolin is gonna need a while to open up. Remember, Weber used to make Flatirons, Flatiron was bought by Gibson, these mandos are not that far off each other. Buy what your ear likes. I'd like to own an x braced Weber Yellowstone and plan to one of these days.

[pickinNgrinnin]

KevinM- Yea, I've been through a few. Even had another Festival F for awhile. This one has all but killed any M.A.S. urges: http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=17552 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=17552)

I still have my Flatiron 1N so I still consider myself in the fold #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Lost of folks like the X braced but long term, the tone bar braced Mandos will show more improvement. So sez Charlie D.

[jimbob]

I am very new to the instrument, so only offer this from limited experience...I bought a 1998 Yellowstone w/ tone bars...the instrument is great. Fit and finish is extrememly good and it plays very nicely. It sounds much better than my first mandolin, but I don't have a lot to compare it with...it is pretty loud ( I'm an old 5-string guy, so I have a little experience with volume)...I bought the Weber to hold me over until my new mandolin is built. I had intetions to sell it then, but I like it so much, I doubt if I will part with it. Hope this helps...BTW, there seem to be some very good deals on Yellowstones out there now. I would try to find a good used one...I bet you can get a real keeper for arond $ 2K.

[Unseen122]

I played one of the Octaves it was really nice it has everything you are looking for from what I tested I fell in love but later decided that I couldn't deal with the 22 in scale (it ws too long) and also it was way to exspensive for me to but ($5000+ come on I am 15 I don't have that kind o cash). http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandolaw]

I have been playing my Yellowstone, with tone bars for almost two years. I recently installed a Brekke traditional bridge that really brought out the bluegrass sound. For the price it is one of the best out there.