Sounds like a "Log"????????

[sachmo63]

Hey there everybody, i've heard this over and over and don't really understand what a "log" sounds like or by that end what "woody" sounds like too. I've owned many mandolins in search for the ONE and all have had their individual sounds. Some had a lot of overtones, some where dark sounding and some had that thing that just pushed air out of the chamber. Most of these were great mandolins just not what I heard in my head and now that I own a pretty good gibson i'm wondering if i'm getting closer.

:mandosmiley:

[John Anthony]

I've got an old 19th-century no-name bowlback that sounds like a log, and I love it!

[Jim]

The Log song from ren & Stimpy

What rolls down stairs
alone or in pairs,
and over your neighbor's dog?
What's great for a snack,
And fits on your back?
It's log, log, log

It's log, it's log,
It's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
It's log, it's log, it's better than bad, it's good."

Everyone wants a log
You're gonna love it, log
Come on and get your log
Everyone needs a log
log log log

*whistle*
LOG FROM BLAMMO

[f5loar]

I've always heard "sounds like a wet log" which is not a good thing for acoustical sound. Woody can mean "dry" too. Has that "dry woody" sound. Most relate that to Monroe's mandolin sound after about 1980.

[OldSausage]

I always thought people were talking about "Woody" from Toy Story, and have been searching for a mandolin with the same voice as Tom Hanks. But I recently heard a Gibson that sounded more like Woody Harrelson.

[Jim Garber]

I would think that "sounds like a log" would be a negative comment. I have never heard it referring to a good sound.

[sachmo63]

I'm not sure the comment would be disparaging against the instrument, isn't "that woody sound" a common mantra in the classifieds to sell instruments? I always thought many people wanted "that" sound?

[OldGus]

I believe that term is "hollow log" as in a thick and hollow sound/response. I think of "woody" as being a crisp response with having a slight bit of rattle as the instrument sustains a note. This Pag qualifies as both http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFePN6ByZA. Yes, and everyone needs a log, I might need a few this winter...

[John Anthony]

I believe that term is "hollow log" as in a thick and hollow sound/response. I think of "woody" as being a crisp response with having a slight bit of rattle as the instrument sustains a note. This Pag qualifies as both http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFePN6ByZA. Yes, and everyone needs a log, I might need a few this winter...

I like the rustic sound of that instrument. Certainly not the best choice for Bach, but it sounds great to my ears for that Appalachian folky stuff he's playing.

[OldGus]

Yeah, certainly not the clearest sound but a lot of rattle and a very commanding and thick "boxy" sound.

[shortymack]

I always thought 'woody' meant that you liked the sound so much, it gave you one.

[Tim2723]

I would think that "sounds like a log" would be a negative comment. I have never heard it referring to a good sound.

Same here. To 'sound like a log' is the same as 'it sounds like a brick with strings on it'. Never a good thing.

[Jim Garber]

Simple test. Grab a log, put some strings on it and see how it sounds. 'Nuff said.

[John Anthony]

I always thought 'woody' meant that you liked the sound so much, it gave you one.

Uh. Maybe you should get "GIRLS for Dummies." :grin:

[OldGus]

Simple test. Grab a log, put some strings on it and see how it sounds. 'Nuff said.

...You want me to make a banjo?

[John Anthony]

...You want me to make a banjo?

lol...

[sunburst]

We start with a log. We go through a lot of steps, do a lot to the wood from the log, before it is pronounced a mandolin. I hope nobody every says my mandolin sounds like a log, and if that's the sound they want, I can sure do that a log easier than making it sound like a mandolin!

[Mandoe]

To me there are three mando tones...

1) Some mandolins have a strong fundamental sound...the notes are clear with few overtones and not a lot of sustain...you hear the note more than anything...terms like bell-like, ringing and cutting fit here...
2) Some mandolins have more overtone and more sustain...you hear the fundamental note but there is a lot of other sounds you hear as well...like many oval mandos sound to me...terms like deep and dark fit here...
3) I've played quite a few mandos that have "hollow" overtones...the notes sound like they are played in a hollow log or cave...this is the "log" sound to me...terms like woody and punchy and dry fit here...

People like different tones which is fine...some mandos go further in one tone direction than others...

The Loar F-5's I've played have some of all three of these three tones to me...the notes are clear, with good fundamental, good sustain with some overtones and a little of the hollow log sound...none of the three tones dominate...they all three balance...this is my fav tone...

[Jacob]

A log (http://gear-vault.com/les-paul-log-guitar-1939-birth-les-paul/) needs a pickup.

93398

[Jim Garber]

...You want me to make a banjo?

Poof! You are a banjo! :)

[allenhopkins]

That "woody" sound:

3caNrHJ7q1g

[Wilbur James]

The January 2010, interview with Mike Compton, He referrers to his first Mandolin sounding like a log, I still can't figure what that reference means, but some people use that word to refer to their mandolin and its sound.

[Charley wild]

Now that we have the "log" tone identified let's go on to my personal favorite description, "complex". :)

[Phil Goodson]

The last 3 notes of this clip is what I've always thought of as great mandolin woody, "like a hollow log" sound.

[Bill Bradshaw]

That was helpful to me.

Bill


The last 3 notes of this clip is what I've always thought of as great mandolin woody, "like a hollow log" sound.