Hello Everyone. I am a Newbe here in the cafe. Beside being a drummer/guitarist, I play mandolin and Cape Breton style fiddle. I am currently looking into a new mando. The BL FF (Schertler p/u) has caught my eye and I am wondering the peoples opinion on this instrument. Thanks TCR. Nova Scotia Canada.
There is a local shop here in Memphis that has had one on the shelf for a while. I picked it up once and was very impressed with the tone. I was actually put off by its appearance, but ended up thinking favorably of it before I hung it back up. The last time I was in there (last week), I discovered that the shop owner has one as a personal mandolin. He played his, which was very "played in", in a little jam session with me and a few others...I was floored by its sound. It's also worth mentioning that this guy really knows mandolins, unlike myself, and that his Breedlove shares the company of an Altman(very respected custom build) and a really nice Collings as his other mandos. I, personally, still ain't digging the look of these things but it sounds great.....at least those two do. Happy hunting!
-Ben
I agree with Homeslice in that these FF's pack a wollup (is that a word?) of sound and have great tone, I had the opportunity to play one at a shop in Portland, Oregon--very hard to put down let alone leave in the store.
MLT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Oregon Mandolin Orchestra
Classical Mandolin Society of America
Labraid Cytole LVI
Breedlove Natural Quartz OF & OO
I agree with homeslice. I've played that same mandolin in Memphis and was favorably impressed with the tone and chop. Definitely a different sound than the rest of the Breedloves on the wall. I think the price on those is very good for what you're getting.
I've played 4 FF's at a couple of different shops and all have had a great sound & plenty of volume. Steilberg Instruments in Louisville has one now with the natural blonde finish and looks really good.
There are three kinds of people: those of us that are good at math and those that are not.
I'll jump on Homeslice's and MDW's bandwagon, I've played that same FF in Memphis and it's a good one. My first real mando was a Quartz OF, a very good mando, but the FF is a cut above with a more traditional sound and feel.
Loren
I played one in Nashville and was blown away. It was far and away better that any other BL in the shop.
Workin' on a building!
http://www.highlandrimbluegrass.com
As I mentioned in a previous post about Breedlove mandos, I played an FF against a Gibson F9 in the Rockville, MD area and the Breedlove impressed me. The Gibson seemed to have less punch. As far as the looks go, they are deceiving. As far as sound: very nice sound resonance. The satin finish isn't bad on the FFs, it's just nothing jaw-dropping. But again, very cool (warm is a better term in this case) sounding mandolin.
"Nobody roots for Goliath." Wilt Chamberlain
Thanks for all the posts. I going to wait until I've tried both a Collings and a Rigel before I spend any bucks.
Are they really that different than the Quartz KF series? I've not tried one, but it looks to me to be basically the same instrument except for the f scroll rather than the rectangular projection. I'm wondering what else makes it different?
What does the BL Quartz ff cost?
They're certainly different. I have a 5 or 6 year old KF and bought an FF the day I tried it. More punch, more bass, more sustain and a bit less bright. On the other hand, some have told me in group situation, that the KF stands out a bit more because of it's brightness. I think that I may have read that the new FF has different bracing - something is surely different.Originally Posted by (Rufus @ July 15 2007, 17:03)
At The Mandolin Store & Elderly they advertise around $1500 & up.
Elrod
Gibson A2 1920(?)
Breedlove Cascade
Washburn 215(?) 1906-07(?)
Victoria, B&J, New York(stolen 10/18/2011)
Eastwood Airline Mandola
guitars:
Guild D-25NT
Vega 200 archtop, 1957?
I agree, it's almost as if other Breedlove models are made by a different company. Most Breedlove's I've played have been thin & tinny to my ear with hardly any bottom end but the FF is quite the litte beast that blows other Breed's out the door IMO. Great punch & chop, clear strong tone...good all the way around.They're certainly different. I have a 5 or 6 year old KF and bought an FF the day I tried it. More punch, more bass, more sustain and a bit less bright. On the other hand, some have told me in group situation, that the KF stands out a bit more because of it's brightness. I think that I may have read that the new FF has different bracing - something is surely different.
There are three kinds of people: those of us that are good at math and those that are not.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks