My new custom short-scale Weber OM

[Bob Clark]

Hello Folks,

I recently bought an OM that Weber custom-made several years back for a customer of Todaro's Music, a great Weber dealer in Pennsylvania. They actually made two at the same time for this customer and she bought the other one but didn't buy this one. Todaro's Music has had it ever since (Joe Todaro is a mandolinist and I would guess he's been enjoying it a bit). Joe told me about it, I took it for test drive and got really hooked on it.

It's a highly customized Absaroka (a now discontinued carved top and back model) with a really short scale (18.5"); a D-hole; an ebony pick guard; binding on the front, back, neck, D-hole and pick guard; and Buckskin stain. Joe figured out the string gauges for GDAE-tuning on this short-scale and he got it right because it sounds really good with an easy reach for single-note melody picking. It's an easy player! Needless to say, I'm really enjoying it. I'll add a few pictures below. I'd add a video but I haven't any way to record one. I'll work on that for a future posting.

Bob

[Charlieshafer]

Gorgeous! That is a short scale. I'd love to hear some feedback about it after you've played it for a month or so. Congratulations on the new baby!

[Ed Goist]

Beautiful. Congratulations indeed!

[Bob Clark]

I'd love to hear some feedback about it after you've played it for a month or so.

Hi Charlie and Ed,

Thanks guys! I agree Charlie, I like to hear reviews after a player has lived with an instrument for a while. I'll get back with some thoughts after I've played it a while, and will try to find a way to post a video or audio clip at that time.

I am getting a lot of use out of the OM and am loving it. For my lessons (I'm studying with a classical mandolinist), I've switched to the OM for now. I am surprised how easy the transition has gone thus far, but I think that's attributable to the very short scale length. I seem to be able to jump back and forth between my OM and mandolin pretty easily. In fact, the stretching I am doing for the OM has actually helped my mandolin playing.

So, I'll be back with more thoughts on it after I've played it a while.

Best wishes,

Bob

[Mandolin Yogi]

Nice Looking OM. I recently bought a Weber also. They sound great. Congratulations!

[Bob Clark]

I recently bought a Weber also.

Hi Ronan,

Did you post any pictures of your new Weber? I'd like to see what you bought and I'm sure others would as well. Why not put them up here? By the way, I like your web site.

Bob