It's more than 5 or even 11. When did they change to F-14? Is that the way to tell Bozeman from Oregon? I'm all set for mandolins, just curious.
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It's more than 5 or even 11. When did they change to F-14? Is that the way to tell Bozeman from Oregon? I'm all set for mandolins, just curious.
They started naming them after the scale length. I am not sure exactly when they went with the new naming convention.
Tom Cruise is going to become a new endorser :))
Attachment 152321
Sounds like the volume knob on an amp (ala Spinal Tap).
I believe the 14 refers to the number of frets to the body, which is a separate thing from the scale length.
I see no reason to be sarcastic or snarky just because a mandolin maker decides to use a designation for their models different from Gibson's.
Some attempts at humor but I see no snarky responses.:mandosmiley:
Yes Bill, you are right. Not snarky. I used too strong a word. You hit the nail on the head. "Attempts at humor." Key word being "Attempts".
I have never fully understood the Gibson designations. Generally, the 1 through 5 system was for trim level with 5 being the ultimate, right? But then we have the 9's, which are counterintuitively lowest in adornment. And of course there is the F-12, which is presumably named after the frets to the body, I guess? So there is precedent for the sort of system Weber is using, right?
Sorry, multidon and other Weber owners, no harm intended in my attempt at humor in asking about the new model designations.
Trying to find a rational basis for Gibson model designations is basically an exercise in futility. Perhaps at first the ascending numerical order referred to the appointments -- and price -- of the instrument, but the F-9, F-10 and F-12 were not considered superior models to the F-5; they were just different. The A-40 and A-50 were f-hole A-models, not more expensive or fancier than the A-3 and A-4. There were A-5's that were two-point oval-hole models, and there were A-5's that were quasi-F-model "lump scroll" oval-holes, and there was the famous one-of Loar A-5 that had f-holes.Quote:
Originally Posted by multidon
Leaving aside the numerical suffixes, there's the question of what the letter prefixes stood for (if anything), or whether they were just arbitrarily assigned to different Gibson lines. I lean toward the latter, since I can't think of a good connection between "L" and guitar, "K" and mandocello, or "J" and mando-bass. I leave that task to those cleverer.
If there's a rationale for a Weber F-14, fine, but the rationale attaches to the "14" suffix, not the "F" prefix. We just assume that a mandolin with scroll and points is an "F-something," but that's only because we're emulating the (arbitrary) original Gibson nomenclature.
Ratliff calls his F model mandolins R-5`s....R standing for his name, I suppose...
Yes, I believe Allen has it spot on. The numbers Gibson used was all over the place. But the lettters, which are not part of the original question, those are something else. Random? Maybe. But we all know what an F style should look like.
Robert thinks the 14 refers to scale length, but that doesn't make sense to me since all their mandolins are the same scale length. Frets to the body makes more sense to me, although, to my knowledge, they don't make a short neck.
At this point, I have to bring up the Rigel naming. Their Highest tier instrument, the G-5, was so named as it was a whole step above the F-5. Suits me,
Aw c'mon...Spinal Tap reference...that's GOLD.Quote:
Originally Posted by multidon
dcoventry, do you mean to tell us the Rigel G-5 is tuned A-E-B-F#?
See, I can attempt humor too!
Aw man, that was mighty sharp of you to catch that! I better tone things down a bit before I cause too much treble.Quote:
Originally Posted by multidon
The 14 being reference to the frets makes total sense and would be logical based on the way many manufacturers normally number their instruments. :)
But in this case, Weber is going body style (F), scale Length (14), sound Hole (-F).
The F style is an: F14-F
An octave F Style with F-holes is an F20-F, for the 20" scale.
It is a little strange without the instruments having individual product numbers. Instead we have:
Bitterroot A14-F
Bitterroot A14-O
Bitterroot A14-OW (wide neck)
Bitterroot A20-O
Bitterroot F20-O
Gallatin F14-F
Gallatin F14-O
Dave! I was in Monterey last month. Thought of you. Sounds like Ben is enjoying the 805. :)Quote:
Aw man, that was mighty sharp of you to catch that! I better tone things down a bit before I cause too much treble.
Thank you for the additional information Robert. Makes total sense now. I don't particularly like that system, but it does make sense.
Next time you are in town, come to the winery for a visit. It's good fun and the acoustics are great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Folkmusician.com
And yes, I have been trying to coach Ben along. For 30 years now.
These names have been in use at Weber for quite a while. It is only recently that some dealers have started using them.
The single digits used for Gibson guitars and mandolins in the early part of the century were for grades of ornamentation. After that they started using numbers indicating the selling prices like J-200, A-40, A-50, Super 400. The system became a non-system. Also some of the letters make little sense. L is for guitars (every style) but when electrics came about they were EH for elecric Hawaiian and ES for Electric Spanish. Mandolins were never M but were either F or A. Harp guitars were U or R, mandolas H, mandocellos K and mandobasses J. Then they used TB for tenor banjo, MB for mandolin banjo, RB for regular banjo and UB for ukulele banjo. Fun, eh?