New wood in the house! WOO HOO!

[jim_n_virginia]

Bought a 1996 Flatiron Festival F "Performer Series" this week from Vern Brekke (Brekke bridges) who is the Acoustic Engineer at Sound To Earth (Weber Mandolins).

He read one of my posts on the Cafe that I would like to upgrade from my Flatiron Performer A to an F style and he wrote me and said he had one that he doesn't play much.

It is a Performer Series model but has been up graded with gold tuners instead of normal nickel and he installed a Brekke traditional bridge (original was in the case). Also he installed a cool Weber tailpiece like I have never seen before. It is gold with a sort of like BakeLite finish to it. And if that wasn't enough it has a "Wood Nymph" silencer installed on the mandolin.

And along with the case he threw in a Weber kit (Weber logo cleaning cloth, Weber pick, new strings, wrench for Brekke bridge and also a nice adjustable mandolin strap.

This mando is in almost like new condition even though it is 8 years old. It hasn't even opened up yet and I get to do the honors!

I have a Performer series Flatiron A style and of course the first thing I did was A/B the two mandolins and the F style was much, much louder. The only difference between the two (besides the scroll, inlay and binding) is that the F has a Brekke traditional bridge on it. There is a brass bar underneath the bridge which must transfer the sound vibrations more efficiently. Its the only explanation would explain the huge difference in sound.

Went to a music jam last night and BOY this mandolin cuts through. And believe it or not I actually prefer a flat neck because I am just used to the flat fretboad with Vee groove neck that is on Flatirons. I played it yesterday until my fingers were raw. I am one happy camper.

So far since I started playing mandolin seriously I went from a cheap Rover to a Mid Mo, then to a Flatiron A and now I FINALLY GOT some SCROLL!!!
This is about 5 years of playing.

One day I may upgrade again to a Weber Fern or Gibson Master Model...but for now.... I am happy! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

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[jmkatcher]

Wow, what a beautiful instrument.

[Tom C]

I have the same one and I love it. Lot's of punch to it.

[JeffS]

Nice looking. I see it has the Weber tailpiece and the wood nymph, been thinking about the latter. One question, I'm a newbie an not too familiar about a mandolin opening up. When I hear the term I think it must be sound related. How do you know when it happens?

[fatt-dad]

fatt-dad-in-virginia thinks that is one cool mandolin.

[Lee]

Well JeffS; yes, it is sound related. When a mandolin is new it hasn't had a chance to vibrate together as a unit. Over time the tone will become rounder, less constained. #The best way to understand this effect is to find the telephone number of the person you will build your new mandolin. #After it arrives at your home, play it for one or more hours everyday for the next year. #Then, post here and explain what happened.

Jim'n'Virginia: How is that Weber tailpiece for string changes?

[GVD]

JeffS Posted on Aug. 12 2004, 10:50
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Nice looking. #I see it has the Weber tailpiece and the wood nymph, been thinking about the latter. #One question, I'm a newbie an not too familiar about a mandolin opening up. #When I hear the term I think it must be sound related. #How do you know when it happens?

I knew mine had opened up when my neighbors said "turn that thing down". #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

GVD

[jim_n_virginia]

Jim'n'Virginia: How is that Weber tailpiece for string changes?
Lee just changed strings today, it was about as easy as the regular tail piece. Vern Brekke said he changed the tail piece to stop rattling from the slip-on Flatiron top. The weber tail piece has a small piece of felt under it to muffle any string buzz. I like the tail piece, feels really solid.