Ovalhole comparison video

[oldwave maker]

The recent thread about x vs transverse bracing prompted me to have Steve Smith test drive 3 mandos with fresh frets- a 24 hr old Old Wave with x bracing, a 1996 Old Wave ovalhole C# with transverse bracing, and a 1924 Gibson snakehead A with transverse bracing. Zoom Q3 camera
Thanks Steve!

[oldwave maker]

The others:

[oldwave maker]

The others

[strings777]

Bill, I'm not usually a big fan of oval hole mandolins, but I really like your C# mando...it sounds great!

[blueron]

I'm not sure what I can learn from the three clips, but I certainly enjoyed listening to them. The brand new Old Wave, to my ears at least, certainly held its own.

Thanks for sharing these.

ron

[Tommando]

I think I hear a progression from the "old" mandolin sound characterized by the bowlbacks with transverse bracing (sounds a little like a banjo), through the "traditional" sound with tone bars, to the "modern" sound characterized by Collings and others with X bracing. I thought it had mostly to do with the size and shape of the sound box and the height of the strings, but now I think the bracing plays a big role. The X bracing seems to give a tighter sound, and I suspect that helps the instrument to stand out in a crowd.

[Jim Garber]

I am actually a fan of oval hole/transverse bracing. I like the sweetness of the tone combined with the modern tinge. i like #2 essentially.

I think the bracing does make a big difference as well as the neck join -- affecting the position of the bridge on the body either in the center or further back.

[Kerry Krishna]

I just had some childish fun and synced up all three vids and played them at the same time. What fun! terrific song and playing too...

[Charles E.]

Bill, I am an oval hole fan (esp. with X bracing) but I have to tell you that the C# sounds great. I have a friend who playes a Gibson snake head that I lust after every chance I get to play it, so of course I like that one too. The 510 sounded fine too,but a little brighter then the others. Is the 510 a snakehead copy with X-bracing?
Thanks for posting this.