View Full Version : Oval Hole Hyalite
JGWoods
Sep-23-2004, 10:20am
I need an oval hole mando. D hole, oval hole, whichever, but I need that sweet sound for OT playing, and the Weber Hyalite, with its mahogany back and sides, makes me think it would be really sweet sounding as an oval hole. Has onyone played one? Does anyone own one and care to comment?
I might order one with a radiused fingerboard and a few other changes to make it less plain looking- maybe black face, or sinburst, with some finish work around the hole.
If you have one, or played one for a while, I would appreciate comments on (subjective) tone, and volume, etc.
best,
jgwoods
Eric F.
Sep-23-2004, 2:36pm
JG, I used to own an F hole Hyalite. It was a nice enough mandolin. But I played a Hyalite with the D hole _ not the regular oval _ a couple of months ago and it blew me away. It had a tone I would describe as sweet, and it had a presence about it that was undeniable. The notes seemed to just ring out of that thing. I would have bought it on the spot if I could have afforded it.
ShaneJ
Sep-23-2004, 4:47pm
I had an F-hole Hyalite once too. Wish I would have kept it.... I havn't played an oval hole, but based on my experience with the other one, I'd expect it to be nice. I would get the radiused fretboard too (but I prefer a radius anyway).
I have an octive and a mandola hylite with the D hole and love them both. Sometimes I think of getting a mando too just to have the compleet set. my mando is the bridger. I like A styles and like the plain Jane look of the Hylite. However both mine have maple backs sides and necks. I love them.
Eric F.
Sep-23-2004, 7:42pm
Well, I'm weird I guess, because I love a mahogany back, at least on an oval hole. To me, it just gives the mando such a warm sound.
JGWoods
Sep-24-2004, 3:31am
Well, I'm weird I guess, because I love a mahogany back, at least on an oval hole. To me, it just gives the mando such a warm sound.
That's what I'm thinking.
How about volume/loudness- can they hold their own?
best
jgwoods
JGWoods
Sep-24-2004, 3:35am
I have an octive and a mandola hylite with the D hole and love them both. Sometimes I think of getting a mando too just to have the compleet set. my mando is the bridger. I like A styles and like the plain Jane look of the Hylite. However both mine have maple backs sides and necks. I love them.
How do your maple versions stack up against the mahogany ones in terms of volume? Have you ever had a chance to play them side by side?
best
jgwoods
Eric F.
Sep-24-2004, 7:33am
JG, the D hole Hyalite had plenty of volume. It would be fine in a small group setting though probably not your weapon of choice against a pack of banjos. It was actually louder than my F hole Hyalite. I don't know if it would have cut through the same way. But I don't think you can have it all _ warmth, sweetness, volume and cutting power. At least not in this price range. And I agree with you on the radiused fretboard but I think all you'd have to do is get that faded leather finish on a Hyalite and you'd have a sweet-looking mandolin.
doanepoole
Sep-24-2004, 7:36am
With mahogony compared to maple, you will sacrifice a bit of volume, or at least projection...but you will get a very warm, clear sound...usually.
One thing I've often wondered is why more mandolins aren't built with rosewood. A friend of a friend has a rosewood custom job from a private builder, and it is one of the coolest sounding mandolins I've heard...but probably a bit dark for most folks taste.
JGWoods
Sep-24-2004, 7:52am
"...One thing I've often wondered is why more mandolins aren't built with rosewood. A friend of a friend has a rosewood custom job from a private builder, and it is one of the coolest sounding mandolins I've heard...but probably a bit dark for most folks taste."
Another mando I am considering by Richard Beard (http://www.vintagemandolin.com/04beardmando_501855.html) has rosewood back and sides, plus a little bigger body. I am intrigued.
Best,
jgwoods
doanepoole
Sep-24-2004, 8:10am
Some time ago I was considering a Beard mandolin as I had the same intrigue you did. I thought the price tag was a little high so I decided against it.
If you do try that mando out, I'd love to hear what you think of it. According to Charles Johnson Beard is going for a Sobell-like sound.
doanepoole
Sep-24-2004, 8:18am
P.S. #Instead of the Beard, I ended up trading for an old teens Gibson A, and it is my favorite mandolin that I ever owned, by far. #They are probably widely recoginized as the standard for Old Time music, at least of the Appalachian variety.
I would also put Old Wave Oval Hole A's on your radar. #They are the nicest sounding Gibson A "replicas" I've heard in my experience. #I think they are under still 2K for a new one.
Eric F.
Sep-24-2004, 9:22am
Yeah, I've had my eye on those Beards, too. But they are about twice the price of a Hyalite.
jmkatcher
Sep-24-2004, 9:35am
Here's a pointer to an older thread where someone had Weber build a custom "old time" Absaroka:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=weber (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=16859;hl=weber)
JGWoods
Sep-24-2004, 12:50pm
Here's a pointer to an older thread where someone had Weber build a custom "old time" Absaroka:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=weber (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=16859;hl=weber)
Thanks for the reminder.
I have been thinking the same thing as Flanagan got- just didn't know it.
I was thinking about a Hyalite with upgrades, it seems like he got the same thing as an Absaroka with "downgrades" i.e. down from maple back and sides to mahogany, which ain't down if you want the sweet mahogany sound rather than the edgier maple.
It's great looking, and by testimony of the owner, a sweet OT player.
Now to decide between that and the Beard- which is not as expensive as you think.
best,
jgwoods
Hi JG, No no chance to compare. I have yet to walk in anywhere out here and see both an octave and dola hanging on the wall. With the longer scale length I wanted a little briteness. Anyway they both sound sweet to me http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Jon Hall
Sep-25-2004, 11:02am
In regards to the link to the custom Weber Absaroka, does anyone have an opinion as to which type of top braces, tone bars or x- braces, produce a woodsy, mid range tone that I've heard in some vintage Gibson A models?