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carleshicks
Mar-21-2004, 7:25pm
Which mandolin is better overall for a bluegrass picker.a Montana built F-5L or a brand new Nashville built F-5 FERN

onlyagibsonisgoodenuff
Mar-21-2004, 7:38pm
well, this thread should open up a can of worms. i play a varnished finished fern (2003) in our bluegrass band, and i feel it has just the right amount of cutting power for the traditional music we play. i've never played a carlson f-5L, but a friend of mine, ron spears of the band "within tradition" plays a f-5L from nashville, and i think it sounds great as well. but i don't think it looks as cool as my varnished fern.

evanreilly
Mar-21-2004, 7:55pm
I think that the current Gibson mandolins exceed the Montana ones as a whole. #I think their current approach to production and adherence to the Loar-era specs give them the edge.
I know... the trouble with broad generalizations....

Nick Triesch
Mar-21-2004, 8:23pm
How bout this......play both and choose the one you like best! Wow. That was easy. Nick

mandoJeremy
Mar-21-2004, 8:29pm
On No, here we go again. IMHO, choose the Nashville Gibson. Play them and you will see. I love my varnish finish Bush model and I don't really feel like going into the details of why. Maybe tomorrow!

Mar-21-2004, 9:10pm
Hands down a no brainer the Nashville ones are better. Of course this is just my opinion. There is a nothing wrong with the Steve Carlson ones I just think the newer ones sound better to my ears. Also the Carlson ones along with the Webers during the years used bolt on necks. You have to give kudos to Steve though for making Gibson wake up and smell the coffee during those years because Flatiron was kickin butt then.

pickinNgrinnin
Mar-21-2004, 9:18pm
This could get interesting. 2-3 years ago, I suspect most folks would have said the Montana built F-5L signed by Steve or Bruce would be the better Bluegrass Mando. Times have changed and public opinion changes. I'd guess that most would lean toward the Nashville made F5 Fern as being the "better" overall Bluegrass picker. Charlie and Co. are leaning heavy on the traditional design and it seems to be working for them. However, Nick's suggestion is right on - try some of each and let your ears decide. That would be the ideal direction to chart but you may have some trouble finding a variety of Montana made F-5L's to compare with - depending on where you live. Course, you could have the same difficulty finding Nashville made Ferns in your neck of the woods. I like them both #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

tjg
Mar-21-2004, 9:24pm
Well, I have a Carlson F5L which has a great sound. #I recently played a new Fern, and I like the one I have a lot better, soundwise and lookwise. #Perhaps it wasn't one of the better ones, but I was kind of surprised given the amount of good things said about them. #Hopefully you can play both and choose the one that sounds and feels the best to you.

Tony Sz
Mar-22-2004, 4:00pm
I played an 88 F-5L for a number of years, and somewhere in 2001 I played a new F-5L (now Fern) that was handed to me by Danny Roberts, and after playing it for about 30 seconds, I told him if I had the money, I'd work a trade right there. Well, I didn't have the cash, and I didn't haver my mando with me, so I walked away knowing I liked the new mando more than my 88. Later, I checked out a few more newer Ferns, and I was convinced, across the board, I liked them better than my 88, and the 88 was a good mando, mind you. Bottom line I like the new ferns better than either the Carlson or Webber signed mandos. Gibson is turning out some awesome mandos these days,

Steven Stone
Mar-23-2004, 11:12am
I used to own a Carlson-signed 1993 custom F-5L. It was a fine mandolin. But when I comapred it with a 2002 Fern, it was quickly apparent the Fern was a better mandolin. It had more even volume in its chops is G,A,and B. The Montana mando was great in A, but not as strong in G or B. Considering the Nashville instrument was brand new while the Montana F-5 was nearly ten years old, it was clear to me that the Fern was better.

I've had that Fern for almost two years now and it just keeps getting better. It stays in tune very well, even in the sun or under stage lights, sounds balanced, and has proved very resistant to surface scrapes and dings. Its almost ready for new frets.

New Ferns, IMHO, are the gold standard. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Steven Stone
Mar-23-2004, 11:14am
I just remembered that F-5L was a 1991, not a 1993. Its early, I'm old, and dates begin to crowd one another.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

mrt10x
Mar-23-2004, 1:46pm
So just to open another pandoras box... how do Bruce's current Ferns measure up to current Gibson Ferns?

KevinM
Mar-23-2004, 5:28pm
Weber vs. Gibson, hey pass the popcorn....

Charlie Derrington
Mar-23-2004, 6:47pm
I ain't goin' nowhere near this 'un. I'll be in the back row of the balcony necking.

Charlie

Mike Buesseler
Mar-23-2004, 7:15pm
Charlie, good on your for keeping your sense of humor in threads like this. It must go with the confidence you exude in all your communications here. Gibson could not have a better representative, IMHO.

As for these comparisons, they remind me of the "which is better, Ford or Chevy?" arguments we had as kids. Pretty pointless.

Having said that, it IS nice to see the direction you (and others) have taken Gibson in recent years. You seem to have earned well-deserved respect everywhere. Congratulations.

AND, it is also nice to see the number and quality of great instruments available out there. Competition can bring out the best in us all, I guess.

Nick Triesch
Mar-23-2004, 8:12pm
First of all the current Ford mustang gt is better than the Chev camero. #wait! #There is no longer a camero! This is easy. #If you like the Weber fern then buy the Weber. If you like the Gibson fern then take out a loan and buy the Gibson fern! # Nick #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

mrt10x
Mar-24-2004, 3:15pm
not a single response to my taunt.. Im so dissapointed http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

GTison
Mar-24-2004, 3:26pm
PLAY 'EM BOTH AND SEE. let the mandolins tell you. I had a 96 I liked it. I hear it on a CD we made and think what a good sound. But I sold it, then bought a fern. I love it too.

ronlane3
Mar-24-2004, 4:49pm
I ain't goin' nowhere near this 'un. I'll be in the back row of the balcony necking.

Charlie
I'll be across takin pictures of Charlie, so I can trade them for a Distressed MM http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif