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keymandoguy
Feb-12-2004, 4:26pm
I have a round hole mandolin and I go to jams so far i havent been ran out ?so my question how many round hole mandos are out there in bluegrass settings? I seen a picture of Red Rector with one. and remeber seeing one ot 2 others how many in the cafe? PS I also like to play other venues & rifght now dont have the money for a new f style ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Michael H Geimer
Feb-12-2004, 4:46pm
I brought my Mid-mo to my first festival last fall. I wasn't 'booted out', but I got some tasty comments. "What's that ... a Uke-lin?" That was my favorite. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

I sure do love my Mid-mo - it's even on my desk right now - but I'll be taking the Weber this year. And not because of those shallow comments, but rather becuase the Mid-mo just didn't cut through the they way an arch-top F-holed axe can.

Nevertheless ... Go Mid-mo ... Go Mid-mo ...

- Benignus

GBG
Feb-12-2004, 4:54pm
I have a friend who plays a Gibson F-2 in a bluegrass band. It works for him. Jimmy Martin's son plays a Gibson F-4 (I believe)in Jimmy's band.

John Flynn
Feb-12-2004, 4:59pm
Don Rigsby of the bluegrass group Rock County is shown on the cover of thier CD with a Red Diamond two point oval, which he reportedly plays on the CD.

tiltman
Feb-12-2004, 5:02pm
I like the sound of round holed mandolins and f- holes and am fortunate to have both. I think a round hole mando is fine in a band or other controlled-sound situation (although in my hands the chop won't come thru as well). A jam is a different story since unfortunately (in my experience anyway) since most people are banging away as loud as they can just to be heard - then you have a real problem with a round holed mando being able to cut thru the clutter.

jiffyfeet
Feb-12-2004, 5:32pm
I don't play bluegrass, but I have a round holed mando, a Breedlove OO. Luckily for me, the two guitarists I play with understand the concept of dynamics, and don't try to play as loud as possible at all times. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

John Rosett
Feb-12-2004, 10:12pm
i recently got a 1913 gibson a, and i'm really surprised at how much "cut" it has. i don't play much bluegrass, and i don't think it would be my first choice for doing chop chords, but it play in a acoustic jazz quartet with two vintage gibson archtops and an upright bass, and i can be heard just fine.
my $.02, john

doanepoole
Feb-13-2004, 8:05am
I don't really play bluegrass but will go to the occasional bluegrass jam.

I recently got an old Gibson, and I haven' had too much trouble at BG jams...does it cut through like a BG axe? not quite, but if you play with folks who understand dynamics, and if you're BG jam is fortunate enough to be void of a banjo player, you'd have no problem.

Oval-holes and F-styles both have their place...I'll most likely take my F-style to the BG jams, and the oval-hole for everything else http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Dru Lee Parsec
Feb-13-2004, 11:50am
I have one! http://www.brouelette.com/mandolin It's a Breedlove KO and I love it. I play about 20 mandolins one day and that one really stood out for me. The tone is certainly different. But I like it a lot.

At our BG jams nobody gives a damn what you play. Heck, some times I bring my Breedlove mandolin, an Ovation guitar, and a mountain dulcimer. How much more non-bluegrass can you get?

doanepoole
Feb-13-2004, 11:56am
an Ovation guitar

I don't know...if you have access to the Sam Bush "Bill Monroe" instructional tapes, check out what kind of guitar Bill Monroe's guitar player is pickin...looks alot like an Ovation to me http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif , and you don't get more Bluegrass than Bill Monroe http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

jeffshuniak
Feb-13-2004, 12:14pm
I like oval hole mandolins. I play bowlbacks , but I know a guy, len beaudraue or something like that, he used to work at rigel or something, but he has a real nice old F-4 with real nice thick tone.

garyblanchard
Feb-13-2004, 12:37pm
On the "Down From the Mountain" DVD you can see Mike Compton play a round hole mandolin on some songs.

mandowannabe
Feb-13-2004, 12:39pm
I have a 23 Gibson "snake head" oval hole and it is plenty loud, but has so much sustain it just rings and rings. #Also, it has only 9 frets free of the body so up the neck is a short trip. #The farther up the neck I go the harmonics get tighter (if that is a correct term) #Any way, I end up playing my 70 something Aria Pro II F-style mostly at jams and playing my Gibson at home alone where it is so sweet it makes me cry!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

John Flynn
Feb-13-2004, 12:41pm
Mike Compton also plays a Gibson "A" oval on his wife's CD. He sounds great, too. It's a different side of Mike's playing, for sure. I highly recommend it as an old-time CD, BTW. It is one of my faves:

"Trouble Come Knockin'" by Sadie Compton

Scott Rucker
Feb-13-2004, 2:07pm
I prefer playing my oval hole mando when alone or in a small, non-bluegrass setting. When it's time to chop, though, I go for the big gun, the F5.