Northfield mandolins

**blueron** · Apr-13-2011, 7:58am

Originally Posted by Northfield mando

Hi Blueron.

The reverse tuner description refers to the placement/position of the worm gear to the shaft. On the traditional reverse tuner the worm is positioned above the threaded shaft, as it is on ours. We have our tuners made by Schaller so that the grooves cut in the shaft (that the button is attached to) are threaded so that the tuners do turn as you would expect them to. In our description "Reverse" does not refer to the direction that you turn the button. It does refer to the aesthetic described above, which by using these type of tuner/gear set-up allows us to maintain the traditional peghead shape. We then spend a little time improving the tuner function and remake the buttons for better performance.

Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for bringing this up.

Thank you for clarifying this. My bet is a LOT of people assumed that 'reverse' meant they turned the 'wrong' way. I for one am very glad to be told that this was a wrong assumption on my part, and this one piece of knowledge puts me back among the potential pool of customers for a Northfield.

It might be a good idea to change the wording on your website, in case that, too, is creating the same misconception. On the website you describe the tuners thus:

Premium German-made Schaller reverse-style Tuners.

Now I understand that, but before your message today, I had a totally wrong impression of what it meant to say.

Thanks again.

ron

**Tracey** · Apr-13-2011, 8:02am

Yea, the last instrument in the first video, the one with Engelmann Spruce. I don't really have the vocabulary to describe how it sounded better to me, but it did. I noticed at the end he held it out and said "they're all good" and the video ends. I can easily imagine him continuing with "but this one is___"

**Andrew B. Carlson** · Apr-13-2011, 8:24am

Northfield Mando, I would just like to say that you guys really have it together as far as getting your name out there and providing great information to your consumers. I wish a lot of other companies would give us videos and technical information straight from the source. I know some of them do what they can, but I just love the way you guys are doing business so far. Your mandolins are among the most aesthetically pleasing that I've seen and they just keep sounding better with every new one you guys make! Plus you're on the Cafe a lot and we like that around here.

Direct input from companies and luthiers themselves is a big plus for a lot of us. I dare say that even if we didn't have rave reviews rolling in from new owners of Northfields, we'd still love them. Keep up the great work!

**mandopixie** · Apr-13-2011, 9:51am

Kudos and big thanks to Northfield for your wonderful line of affordable mandolins. You fill a long and much needed gap in the mandolin market. I only wish you'd been around years ago! May you go from strength to strength.

**yankees1** · Apr-13-2011, 11:37am

Originally Posted by blueron

Thank you for clarifying this. My bet is a LOT of people assumed that 'reverse' meant they turned the 'wrong' way. I for one am very glad to be told that this was a wrong assumption on my part, and this one piece of knowledge puts me back among the potential pool of customers for a Northfield.

It might be a good idea to change the wording on your website, in case that, too, is creating the same misconception. On the website you describe the tuners thus:

Premium German-made Schaller reverse-style Tuners.

Now I understand that, but before your message today, I had a totally wrong impression of what it meant to say.

Thanks again.

ron

Me too! I had the wrong impression as I thought the tuners turned the opposite way!

**Dobe** · Apr-13-2011, 12:21pm

[QUOTE=Aaron Woods;917040]Modern players are sissys..

As Grisman once told Jerry Garcia - you gotta dig in a little more.

Thanks for the Thile vid Aaron, I haven't played that song forever. Some of Bela's best is off 'Drive'- IMHO

**Flatpick** · Apr-13-2011, 5:18pm

Very impressive tone.....and one great player.....

**Willie** · Apr-14-2011, 10:47am

I traded a bass fiddle for a new mandolin one time and it had the tuners on the D and G strings that were turning in the wrong direction, I was lucky enough to be able to reverse them back to where they should be, when I contacted a dealer that sold these mandolins he told me that all of that make of mandolin that he sold had the tuners turning the oposite way, only on the D and G strings...I sent the mandolin back to the builder for other reasons and he built me another one and everything was fine on the new one...At one time it was hard to find tuners with the worm below the shaft.....It takes a little studying but most of them can be reversed....

Willie

**reverhar** · Apr-20-2011, 10:23am

Just got 'Big Mon' #86.

**nickster** · Apr-20-2011, 9:52pm

Very nice Big Mon you have Rick. Are you impressed with the tone?

Nick

**Rob Fowler** · Apr-21-2011, 12:38am

Post a clip of that "Big Mon" soon! Congrats!

**Mandosummers** · Apr-21-2011, 6:38am

I'd love to hear a sound clip also. I have a little home studio recording setup. When I get my Northfield (sometime in late May), I thought it would be fun to record a sample tune and start off with my 1981 Stelling S5 mando and then cross fade to the same tune with the Northfield. Same equipment, mics, same mix, same everything, flat eq. Standby for the battle of the mandos!

**Cheryl Watson** · Apr-21-2011, 9:10am

Rick, that is just a beautiful thing! Congrats on your new mando!

**reverhar** · Apr-21-2011, 9:59am

I just got #86 on Friday and been playing it alot in the last few days. The lows are really coming in. Overall very impressive right out of the box. I'll be playing it tonight and next week at Merlefest with 'The Neighbors'. I will also be around at the 'Bob Kogut' fiddle booth in the Expo tent.

**nickster** · Apr-23-2011, 10:16am

I've had number 83 for a month now. I posted a short video that will give some indication of tone. I'm not a good mandolin picker yet but enjoy trying. I wanted to use one of my better condenser mic's with my old Sony Digital 8 but after research it would be more cost effective to buy a new camcorder. Anyway here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYTOAO6QZQ

**Caleb** · Apr-23-2011, 10:24am

Originally Posted by nickster

I've had number 83 for a month now. I posted a short video that will give some indication of tone. I'm not a good mandolin picker yet but enjoy trying. I wanted to use one of my better condenser mic's with my old Sony Digital 8 but after research it would be more cost effective to buy a new camcorder. Anyway here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYTOAO6QZQ

Not a good picker? Could have fooled me! To my ear, that's exactly what a good f-hole mandolin should sound like. Have fun with it!

**Ed Goist** · Apr-23-2011, 10:54am

Originally Posted by nickster

I've had number 83 for a month now. I posted a short video that will give some indication of tone. I'm not a good mandolin picker yet but enjoy trying. I wanted to use one of my better condenser mic's with my old Sony Digital 8 but after research it would be more cost effective to buy a new camcorder. Anyway here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYTOAO6QZQ

I'm with Caleb; that's some fine pickin'!
Also, excellent video and sound quality. And, of course, the mandolin sounds wonderful!
I was particularly struck by what I'll call the "depth of the tone". What I mean by this is that it seems like the sound is coming from deep inside the instrument.
I immediately identify this as a common characteristic of very high quality stringed instruments (in particular with mandolins and violins), but it is very rare to hear it in a clip, (it seems to usually only be identifiable in person).
Excellent!

**nickster** · Apr-23-2011, 11:39am

Thanks Caleb and Ed for the compliments. I enjoy playing the Northfield. It has a tone that makes it very hard to put it down. I posted one more if anyone interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBx4J8wyvL4

Nick

**Ed Goist** · Apr-23-2011, 11:53am

Thanks Nick.
I listened to this one with the headphones on...Sounded even better.
Very impressive.
Congratulations on the great mandolin!

**yankees1** · Apr-24-2011, 2:28pm

Anyone try a Northfield comparison with Ellis, Mowry or other top end mandolin?

**yankees1** · Apr-27-2011, 2:01pm

Should sound comparable but has anyone played an A5? Would like to hear a soundclip of one!

**mando.player** · Apr-27-2011, 2:22pm

Nick what fiddle tune is that you're playing? Sounds really nice.

Originally Posted by nickster

I've had number 83 for a month now. I posted a short video that will give some indication of tone. I'm not a good mandolin picker yet but enjoy trying. I wanted to use one of my better condenser mic's with my old Sony Digital 8 but after research it would be more cost effective to buy a new camcorder. Anyway here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYTOAO6QZQ

**Mike Bunting** · Apr-27-2011, 2:26pm

It sounds like Fishers Hornpipe if I can butt in here. And it certainly does have a nice sound that Northfield does.

**mando.player** · Apr-27-2011, 2:30pm

Thanks Mike. Off to learn that one now

**reverhar** · Apr-27-2011, 3:21pm

Here is my attempt with Big Mon #86. Trying the same tune, Fishers Hornpipe. I'm not trying to compete with nickster but give a comparison. The only thing is I'm using a webcam rather than a camera. Probably a big difference in audio quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc_iSXdaEAA