Mandolin Tasting

[Mando Medic]

I am at this late stage still trying to organize a mandolin tasting at Wintergrass in Tacoma Washington in February. My query this time would be to taste only A styles of mandolins. Any comments on this?

[JAK]

It would be interesting to have comparisons of A Models to F Models, by the same maker. For example, you could have a Collings A followed by a Collings F. We've had many posts regarding scroll envy and whether F models sound "better" and/or louder than A models. I don't know how much of a task this would be for the Tasting CD, but it would be a different dimension.

[250sc]

If you can, I'd like to hear a Nugget A.

[atetone]

I think that JAK has a great idea there. Might prove to be a very interesting experiment. For sure there would be a suprise or two in there.
There would certainly be a great deal of discussion generated.
I think it would be good for us. We need a shot of intrigue and excitement.

[Mando Medic]

Hmm! F and A's by the same maker. Interesting concept. Who has a pair by the same maker that could bring them?

[Joe Mendel]

I Like JAK's idea also. Some Sawchyn mandolins would also be interesting to hear. I'm a Sawchyn owner, but I would love to hear some compared to other makers.
Thanks for mando tasting concept & CD's, Ken.

[Peakbagr]

How about doing some varnish vs lacquer blind comparisons, same maker and model?
It would really be interesting if folks can really hear a difference between different finishes from the same maker.

[Mando Medic]

Only problem with that is finding an exact model that one is lacquer and the other varnish. That's a little too obscure I think. But let's not rule it out.

[Tim Saxton]

Ken,

I would like to offer my Weber Absoroka for the tasting.

Tim Saxton

[John Flynn]

I hope you would do some arch-top oval hole mandos. In fact, I would definitely buy a CD that tasted the major ovals. Vintage candidates would include: F-2, F-4, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5 (Florentine "Jethro Burns" type) and Lyon & Healy. Modern candidates could include Weber, Baird, Sawchyn, Coombe, King Brown, Old Wave, Glichrist, Breedlove, Eastman, and others.

[Bob Borzelleri]

Just to make things interesting, I'd like to hear a Tacoma M3 thrown into the mix so folks can get something other than totally subjective info on how the Tacomas sound compared to the more traditional instruments.

...Bob

[bratsche]

Ditto on the oval-holes (since all my favorites turned out to be oval-holes last time)!

bratsche

[Richard Polf]

I second bborzell's request.

---Richard

[mcmando]

Rigel A+ Deluxe, as well as other Rigels-- I've been curious as to why there aren't any Rigels on past tastings (the '03 disk anyway!)...

[handpicked]

How about as many of the u.s. made budget bargains head-to-head....like say Gibson A-9, Weber Hyalite, Rigel A, new Collings no frills A, Breedlove (quartz?), and any other entries of their ilk. Should be easy to lay hands on for tasting and would probably interest a great many economy-minded pickers. #Throw a Loar on there for a reference point...hee...hee.

[Oddname]

I'd throw in another vote for the A vs. F comparison. Unfortunately, I don't have a matched pair to donate, though...

-Dan

[John Bertotti]

How about an octave or any CBOM just to hear. Or a bowl back mando. It might be nice to hear the differences between them and the A's and F's. John

[Crowder]

I don't know how the CD's have been arranged in the past, but I have a few thoughts on how the samples could be laid out:

1. Make sure that those who want to can listen to the entire CD as a blind test--put the instrument names and descriptions inside a flap or something;
2. Provide an option that allows the samples to be played in various logical orders, such as least to most expensive, or oldest to newest. Or at least publish the track numbers arranged in that order so that geeks like me can program their CD players to provide that experience.

For posterity's sake, I think the most important project that needs to be undertaken is to record samples of as many signed Loars as humanly possible. I'd bet there'd be grant money out there for such an undertaking. While it would be hard to get all those instruments together in one place, one might be able to obtain a portable (folding?) isolation booth in which to record each instrument using the same mic, recording equipment, etc. I don't know of a Loar owner who wouldn't consent to having his mandolin recorded for such a project, assuming it could be recorded in its own home. Plus you could charge quite a bit more for such a CD.

[Lee]

I'd also like to see a category for serial numbers less than 20.

[John Bertotti]

Lee957 has a interesting thought. Maybe a progressive recording of a builder with a low serial # to a mid and then a recent just to see how they evolved. John

Ken if you need or want a prepurchase I'd be willing to buy ahead of time. It's only one cd but I bet others would be willing also, especially those with previous copies. I know I'm looking forward to the next installment of this new tradition. John

[Pete Martin]

I'd also like to hear an oval hole A model taste testing CD.

[straight-a]

I like the A model idea; but I'm an A model fan. Nothing wrong with F's, I just like simplicity.

[Spruce]

Ken...

If you're gonna do A's, it sure would be nice to get the Griffith Loar out to Wintergrass...

See ya'll there!

Bruce

[GTison]

I'd like to see the BRW, new randy wood , new cole, a dude, new webbers, new gibsons, New New New. not less than 2 or 3 years old. to give some camparison. I liked the last one. but to me the oval holes were easy to tell but very enlightening. I would like to see the mid priced models where most are sold.

[GTison]

or I would like to see a comparison of all the loars and ferns you could get to one location