hyalite vs. bridger

[reeljigs]

Has anyone played a Weber hyalite and a bridger? How do they compare in sound and playability???? Never had a chance to play either and am very curious about them.

[Michael H Geimer]

I've been 'eye-ing' the BridgerA for a while now, as I think it is such an atractive design. But I recently had a chance to A-B the Bridger vs. the Hyalite at Mandolin Bros. and I just didn't hear anything supieror in the Bridger. (I certainly expected to hear something more, or richer)

Granted the room that I tried them in was a little 'boxy' sounding in general. I think a fairer test would involve different settings, and perhaps a guitar back-up or something like that.

But, I left there feeling the Hyalite was comparable to the Bridger, save the slicker stylings.

- Benig

[Eric F.]

I've only played one Bridger mandolin and one Bridger octave mandolin. The octave rocked, but for the price, I would not have bought that particular mandolin. Other Bridgers may be different, I wouldn't know. I used to have a Hyalite with f holes and it was a sweet, mellow instrument without a lot of volume. I played a Hyalite with D hole a couple of months ago and that thing ROCKED. I am still plotting to buy it.

A lot of people seem to really like the Bridger, though. Maybe the one I played was just not the finest example or myabe my taste is just weird.

[peterleyenaar]

I played a Bridger a few times and although a beautiful instrument, I wasn,t excited by the sound (or I would have bought it) A jam friend plays a Hyalite and it rocks and cuts easely through al the other instruments
even in a big jam

[reeljigs]

Eric, how would you compare the Hyalite f hole and D hole? You said the D hole 'rocked'. Does that mean it was louder, sweeter or ?

[pathfinder]

I'd recommend you play each one, reeljigs. #Aside from being 'A' styles, they're entirely different. #The standard Hyalite has tonebars with mahogany sides and back, while the standard Bridger 'A' is cross-braced with curly maple sides and back.

IMHO, the Hyalite is a bit more 'playable' and its drier mahogany sound makes it good for both Celtic and Bluegrass. The Bridger doesn't cut through very well for BG.#

Having said that, I own a Bridger 'A' and an 'F' and I love 'em both (now that they're beginning to open up). #But I'm a Weber fan anyway (2 Bridgers, a Big Sky, a Gallatin and two Y2Ks).

[John Rosett]

it's hard to beat those hyalites. i almost bought one last year, but decided on a '13 gibson A instead.
a couple of years ago, i was at folklife festival in seattle, and there was a swing trio busking on the walkway. the mando player was tearing it up on a vey plain hyalite, and the volume and tone were great, even in the middle of a very crowded festival.
the bridgers are nice too, but i'd get the hyalite.
john

[reeljigs]

Was that the D hole or F hole Hyalite that you saw and heard?

[John Rosett]

i'd have to say the f-hole ones have sounded better to me.
john

[sgarrity]

I'm probably a little biased since I own a Bridger. But I have played several Hyalites and was not too impressed. The ones I played weren't very loud and sounded thin. Not to mention, I dont care for the plain look. My Bridger has a sunburst finish and a sweet, mellow tone. Is it the loudest mandolin I've played? Certainly not. But it works well for Celtic and Old Time music. That being said, I believe tone is very specific to the individual instrument. Just play as many as you can and and see what you like. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong with a Weber.
Shaun

[Russ(String-Alley)]

I have a hyalite myself, I feel it is better suited for bluegrass and the like. It actually is louder than my Flatiron Festival F. really, I'm serious. The chop however is a bit nicer on the F. I would tend to agree, you can't go wrong with a Weber.
cheers
-Russ

[Eric F.]

Reeljigs, the D hole Hyalite had a tremendous presence about it. It was loud and sweet. When I played it, everyone in the store came over to see what instrument it was _ and it was the sixth or seventh I had played. It just had this authority to it, this depth and resonance that I was totally unprepared for. It was everything I want in an oval hole mandolin.

[reeljigs]

thanks Eric