Brock Octave Eye Candy... WARNING: Can induce severe OMAS!

**delsbrother** · May-19-2012, 10:08pm

Really amazing looking instrument! It seems quite deep relative to its body length, at least compared to an archtop. Are all the Brock GOMs those proportions?

**trevor** · May-20-2012, 4:51am

I have a couple of Fletcher's mandolins in stock so I know how good he is. I first stumbled across the jazz guitar bodied octave mandolin when I last visited Bill Bussmann (Old Wave). I have never liked or understood the sound of jazz guitars so when I saw that Bill had a GOM I was very sceptical. I was so amazed that I insisted he sold me his and still have it. I have since had several from Bill and Austin Clark in the TAMCO store and sold them all.

It is a mystery to me why the jazz guitar body makes such a good OM. I often used to pick up and OM in my store and wonder why I regally didn't like them when I felt I should given my personal preferences - until I discovered the GOM. In my opinion they outshine any mandolin shaped OM I have ever heard (a lot). Other octaves to me sound woolly and unfocused and lack strong and well defined bass. All the GOMs I've had have fantastic bass, great volume and definition, altogether in a different world to other styles.

I am sure Fletcher makes a great GOM, it certainly looks fantastic.

**adlerburg** · May-20-2012, 6:24am

Originally Posted by trevor

I have a couple of Fletcher's mandolins in stock so I know how good he is. I first stumbled across the jazz guitar bodied octave mandolin when I last visited Bill Bussmann (Old Wave). I have never liked or understood the sound of jazz guitars so when I saw that Bill had a GOM I was very sceptical. I was so amazed that I insisted he sold me his and still have it. I have since had several from Bill and Austin Clark in the TAMCO store and sold them all.

It is a mystery to me why the jazz guitar body makes such a good OM. I often used to pick up and OM in my store and wonder why I regally didn't like them when I felt I should given my personal preferences - until I discovered the GOM. In my opinion they outshine any mandolin shaped OM I have ever heard (a lot). Other octaves to me sound woolly and unfocused and lack strong and well defined bass. All the GOMs I've had have fantastic bass, great volume and definition, altogether in a different world to other styles.

I am sure Fletcher makes a great GOM, it certainly looks fantastic.

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes Trevor!
I agree with all of your points. And I was skeptical too, for the same reasons.... Never giving a chance, or taking a liking to Jazz bodied guitars. I had a chance to play Fletch's instrument up against a well made, serious standard shaped (tear) OM last night, and I couldn't agree more with you. The bell-like clarity, focused bass, high end shimmer, powerful sustain, and overall balance coming out of Fletch's GOM was just in a different league compared to the rather one dimensional OM.

Originally Posted by delsbrother

Really amazing looking instrument! It seems quite deep relative to its body length, at least compared to an archtop. Are all the Brock GOMs those proportions?

I think the landscape shots were squashed a bit... only by the presentation here, so it might seem a bit distorted. The portrait shots are accurate... thanks

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-23-2012, 2:53am

I'm sure that each of us at some point in time,questioned whether our ability to play is worthy of the wonderful instruments that we own.I remember when i bought my Stelling Banjo,i'd been playing for over 20 years,but the Stelling showed up my 'weaker points' should we say.It didn't stay that way for long,i just poured hours of playing into it to become worthy of owning such a superb instrument. I've done the same with my mandolins. I've played each of them to the point where i 'know them' & their individual differences,& i've practiced longer than i care to think over the past 6 1/2 years,to get to where i think i'm worthy of each of them. Isn't that what drives us forward much of the time ?. I know that if i were ever be lucky enough to own a top maker's instrument, such as an Ellis,Gil.Or Dude.,the amount of playing i'd put in,well,you guys wouldn't believe it.I'm still putting 4 to 6 hours a day in the 2 i already have,one way or another.Owning good instruments forces me to put the hours in & the better they are,the more i want to play them,
Ivan

**blauserk** · May-23-2012, 9:37pm

Beautiful instrument!

I tell you, that sounds so wonderful I actually prefer the sound of Jarosz playing it unaccompanied to the version on the record. I wish they'd release that.

**adlerburg** · Jun-10-2012, 1:23pm

**Ed Goist** · Jun-10-2012, 3:19pm

Mick, after all the planning, time and effort you put into commissioning this instrument, I'm very sorry it didn't work-out for you.
I wish you all the best in finding a new, happy owner for this beautiful octave mandolin.
Best wishes.

**adlerburg** · Jun-10-2012, 4:02pm

Originally Posted by Ed Goist

Mick, after all the planning, time and effort you put into commissioning this instrument, I'm very sorry it didn't work-out for you.
I wish you all the best in finding a new, happy owner for this beautiful octave mandolin.
Best wishes.

Thanks Ed... I'm sick over it. But I can't justify having such a stellar instrument that I'm not bonding with. I'll stick to playing mandolin. Some Octave lover will be blessed with this one.
Warm Regards,
Mickey