Question about sound qualities of different design features.

[Chris Keth]

I played a Kentucky A-model with an oval soundhole today and I was surprised how different it sounds than my fullerton gloucester. Even though it was set up somewhat poorly, it sounded richer, "rounder" and sort of sweeter less barky than mine.

Is that because it's an A-model? Is that oval soundhole vs. f-holes? Is it just that it's a bit more expensive instrument (though not much, it was marked at $299 I think)? Perhaps it's a combination?

I liked the sound, is there a way to lean my mando in that direction as far as its tone?

[mandroid]

Need to add an Oval hole short neck to the fleet. i'd guess.. the 80 year old ones are very nice

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by PanaDP

Is it just that it's a bit more expensive instrument ?

That's it. The more you spend on an instrument the more it sounds like you want it to.

But seriously, folks (I'll be here all week...) It's mostly the oval hole vs f-hole difference. Your mandolin is what it is and there's nothing to do now to make it sound more like an oval hole mandolin.

[man dough nollij]

I had a similar experience. In my first year of playing, I had played a few ff-holers, but no ovals. I was playing over at a friends house, and she had an old Gibson A model. I got to play around a little on it and said "Whoa!"-- totally different from what I was used to.

Not necessarily better, just way different. I describe the oval sound as more sustainy and resonant. You can just hear waves of sound pouring out of that round hole, ringing forever.

The ff sound is more punchy and percussive to my ear, and the notes are all "smooshed together". Not necessarily a bad thing, especially for chops and stuff.

I love both now. For just plinking around in my room, I prefer an oval. For playing along with someone else (especially for bluegrassy stuff), I prefer an ff-hole.

I can see the MAS a comin'!




Edit to add: I've noticed with the Eastman ff'er I have with me down here, If I can pick up around the 12th fret, it sounds a lot more like an oval type. Of course it's pretty hard to pick there without a lot of pick click. You might try that, at least as an experiment.

[allenhopkins]

Originally Posted by PanaDP

Is that oval soundhole vs. f-holes?

Yes.

[Mike Snyder]

Just one little sip of the Kool Aid. You know you want to.

[DerTiefster]

Just try "A-B"ing the sound clips on themandolinstore or folkofthewood and you will hear instantly the difference between the different soundholes. A good oval hole sounds "bell-like" to me. You know what it sounds like for someone to speak in an open room. You also know what is sounds like to hear that same person speaking from inside a box (used to do that when we were kids, y' know). The oval hole is more the "in-a-box through a hole" sound. The f-hole gives more openness, as from a larger hole in the box. The sustain is another matter, probably dependent upon the oval hole having a more tightly constrained top, possibly due to better projection of sound energy by the f-hole design sapping the string energy more effectively. (I know there are better-informed opinions than mine that most of the damping is -not- from projection of energy into the air but from other internal 'viscous' phenomena.) Anyway, there is a definite difference and pretty well agreed upon by different listeners about this. I found it fascinating when I learned about it. Similar effect occurs for guitars, but maybe because of the bigger guitar soundhole, it seems less pronounced to my ears.

[Chris Keth]

Originally Posted by DerTiefster

Anyway, there is a definite difference and pretty well agreed upon by different listeners about this. I found it fascinating when I learned about it. Similar effect occurs for guitars, but maybe because of the bigger guitar soundhole, it seems less pronounced to my ears.

Or it could be because the soundhole/f-hole on a guitar is smaller in proportion to the volume of the box.

In any case, I'm learning more and more for my next mandolin buy. Thanks!

[TMitchell]

I've noticed the same effect Man Dough Nollij describes on my two mandolins. Neither one is particularly expensive or high-quality (shhh, they might be listening), but the f-holed A definitely delivers a more integrated, punchy sound on chords than the other. When I play chords on the oval-hole, every note rings out in its own voice--nice in some settings, but less-than-ideal for bluegrass backup.

[gregjones]

Originally Posted by DerTiefster

Just try "A-B"ing the sound clips on themandolinstore or folkofthewood and you will hear instantly the difference between the different soundholes.

Or........get the Tone Poems CD from Acoustic Disc.

But, don't just get it to hear the difference between an f hole and a over hole. It's good music by two of the best players around.