View Full Version : Oval hole? F holes?
Mandy87
Sep-20-2004, 6:47am
I play both guitar and violin, and I am in the process of buying a my first mandolin, and was wondering if the sound hole makes a difference in the tone and quality of the sound produced. Vionlins have F holes, guitars have oval-like holes. Which one is best for mandolin? Your advise is appreciated. Thanks!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Dave Cohen
Sep-20-2004, 7:15am
The definite answer is that it depends. It depends on what type(s) of music you play, and on what type of sound you like. F-hole and oval mandolins have recogniseably different tonal characteristics. Even within musical genres, there is not complete consensus on what type of sound/type of instrument is preferred. Only in bluegrass music is there a strong consensus in favor of the f-hole type of mandolin, though even there you may find a few oval hole players. In the end it will come down to your preference. You will only be able to reach a decision based on your own listening and playing. Talk to exponents of both kinds of instrument, listen to both types, and play both types before coming to a final decision.
Jim M.
Sep-20-2004, 8:56am
I'm primarily a fiddler and I tend to prefer oval-hole mandos. To me they are a bit more fiddle-like in their tone but that could just be my ear. I also have an f-hole mando that I love and play a lot. Try them both and see what you like. Have someone play them for you too so you can hear them from the front. Eric Thompson and Andy Statman are two great mando players who use oval-holes for bluegrass. Even Bill Monroe used an oval-hole on a few tracks so don't let "tradition" get in the way of your choice. Also of interest, if you look at the mando-tasting thread,
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....70;st=0 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=15370;st=0)
you'll see that a bunch of folks guessed that a Loar was an oval-hole instrument.
At the symposium, Mike Compton was playing a Gilcrest F-4 (Round hole). Wow!.
That mando really sounded how an F-4 should. -It is very different than an F hole. ...And playing along with David Long the thing just sounded amazing.
John Flynn
Sep-20-2004, 10:29am
If you want to do your own "tasting" I think listening to anything by Bill Monroe will give you the quintessential F-hole sound, not that most F-hole mandolins available for sale today will measure up. Then, if you go to Bruce Ling's hawksandowls.com site and listen to his posted mando tunes, especially the "Julianne Johnson/Spotted Pony/Dubuque" medley or "Old Man at the Mill," you will hear what IMHO is the best sounding recorded example of an oval hole.
Eugene
Sep-20-2004, 10:44am
...And check out Marilynn Mair or the Uptown Mandolin Quartet on the mp3 page (http://www.mandolincafe.com/mp3/) for more excellent examples of oval-hole tone.
uncle ken
Sep-20-2004, 1:52pm
I really like playing an oval hole for old time fiddle tunes and also classical music. I also have an F hole instrument but often prefer to play the oval hole. I find the F hole is better suited when playing with a group. If you want to hear how the oval hole sounds, you can check out my postings on the mandolin project (http://www.mandolinproject.150m.com/) under ken123332000.
Violins have F holes, guitars have oval-like holes."
Actually, many of my guitars have f-holes! :-)
I can't help with the actual question--I'm the King of the Newbies, in the mandolin world--but I couldn't resist adding that. I *love* archtop guitars. (Almost but not quite as much as I love Telecasters!) ;-)
--Ken
odeman
Sep-21-2004, 5:48pm
I have both an F-style with f holes and an A-style with an oval sound hole. From my perspective, the F-style is louder but has less sustain. The A-style has a "rounder" tone with more sustain. Both are great, depending on what kind of music you want to play.
fatt-dad
Sep-22-2004, 7:58pm
Someone has to answer this question, so I'll step in.
No doubt about it, the f-holes are better and that's all there is to it.
fatt-dad
Eric F.
Sep-22-2004, 8:42pm
Oh, I hate to disagree with my learned colleague fatt-dad, but I must say the oval holes are better, and that's all there is to it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Moral of the story: You need one of each.
Het, fatt-dad, what happened to the Alicia Silverstone sig? That was like, so deep!
elenbrandt
Sep-23-2004, 10:36am
I'm with Odeman -- short and to the point....
to each his own taste...
addcourt
Sep-23-2004, 11:23am
Don't overlook the Phoenix Neoclassical(f-style with a different sound)--very sweet mando at a very sweet price. Though he didn't mention his website, I will--Dave Cohen's work looks excellent at a reasonable price.
There are a few places in your town where you can try several types of mandolin. John Bernunzio is a great resource.
Personally I favor oval holes. The carved-top Lyon & Healy instruments are still reasonably priced professional-level multi-purpose instruments, giving a tonal palette between the woody, deep guitar-like sound of the old Gibsons and the sparkly trebles of the bowlbacks. They are available in both 13" and 14" scale lengths, and are some of my favorite mandolins.
But don't take my word for it. Half the fun is playing a bunch of instruments, and finding one that sparks you is the other half.