Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 47

Thread: Comparing 3 Mandos

  1. #1

    Default Comparing 3 Mandos

    Pick your top 2. Will reveal what they are after awhile. Recorded with a Zoom H2, normalized and tried to level match as best I could. No other processing.





    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  2. #2
    Registered User Drew Streip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Chattanooga, TN
    Posts
    442
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    1 & 3, but they're all really close to me (and I'm using good headphones, and fancy myself to have a decent ear).

    #2 seemed to be lacking some depth of character, but only by like 10% over the others.

    Or maybe they're all the same and you're just messing with us! Good, consistent playing either way

  3. #3
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles CA
    Posts
    1,500

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    very hard for these ears of mine, JBL's and electrovoice horns killed my hearing in my earlier years. I'd stab 3-2-1 in that order.

  4. #4
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Zanesville, Ohio
    Posts
    2,490

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    1 has more "core" sound, but sounds a little tubby.
    2 sounds tinny.
    3 sounds less tinny.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    atlanta ga
    Posts
    485

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    I prefer 1 and 3. Number 1 sounds great by itself. But I think
    that number 3 might hold up better in an ensemble.

  6. #6
    Registered User Mike Snyder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Neosho, Mo
    Posts
    2,320

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3 and 2- 1 is a little thin. 3 probably the winner. They seem close, maybe too close to judge without falling back on my prejudices.
    Mike Snyder

  7. #7

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    #3

    Passernig?
    Northfield Big Mon
    Royce Burt Fiddle
    Martin D-18

  8. #8

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    Number 3
    Girouard Custom Studio A Oval
    P.W. Crump OM-III

  9. #9
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,618

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    Now we must remember that Don is the owner of a new Girouard oval hole mandolin. I am guessing (hoping) it is number three.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  10. #10

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    All ff hole instruments--didn't want to compare ff to oval. I should have warmed up a little more. I didn't get the best out of #1. Thanks to everyone so far.
    Last edited by Don Grieser; Apr-07-2017 at 8:23pm.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  11. The following members say thank you to Don Grieser for this post:


  12. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Kingsport, TN
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3-2-1 to my ears.

  13. #12
    Registered User Roger Adams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    285

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    #3

  14. #13

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3 - Thin and delicate/detailed top end
    1 - 1 and 2 are very similar
    2 - Duller tubbier sounding

    Listening through iphone headset, so probably missing some detail

  15. #14

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    First play through I preferred them 3-1-2, with #3 the easy favorite.

    Second time was 3-2-1. Because I felt that #2 suffered the first time due to a lower overall volume (whether instrument limitation or recording difference impossible to tell), I increased it for that particular track and found it had better dynamics and was a bit brighter on the high end.

    C.
    Northfield F5S Amber #347 - 'Squeeze'
    Mann EM-5 Hollow Body - Gimme Moore
    Kentucky KM-270 - Not just for whisky
    Flatiron 1N Pancake - Not just for breakfast
    Epiphone Mandobird IV - Djangly
    Cozart 8-string e-mando - El Ch(e)apo
    Lanikai LB6-S Banjolele (tuned GDAE) - Plinky and the Brane

  16. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Kernersville, NC
    Posts
    2,593
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3, 2, 1

  17. #16
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3,1,2
    I find them all in the same range, without a significant voice difference
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

  18. #17
    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Almeria, Spain
    Posts
    5,442
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3, 2, 1.

    I through 3 was by far the most pleasing to my ears. 2 was good, but lacked something compared to 3, and 1 was rather too dry for my taste.

    Listed though good 'phones and converters.
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
    Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
    Northfield Big Mon #127
    Ellis F5 Special #288
    '39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.

  19. #18
    Registered User rodarbal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Humboldt County California
    Posts
    20
    Blog Entries
    1

    Post Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    Liked 1 and 3, thinking 3 had slightly more sustain and depth but by a hair over 1. 2 was shallow,

  20. #19

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3 ...

  21. #20
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Zanesville, Ohio
    Posts
    2,490

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    So the consensus is that #2 is tinny, and lacked depth and tone.

    But really odd responses for #1 and #3. Have you guys listened all the way through and on something other than your phones? #1 is clearly bassier especially when he plays in the lower register.

    I think #3 is the most balanced, but I do like the dryness of #1.

  22. #21
    Registered User Leo37's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Germany, NRW
    Posts
    29

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3,1.......2

    Leo
    Martin D35S
    Martin Style A
    https://soundcloud.com/leo-dilemma

  23. #22
    Registered User James Rankine's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Leeds UK
    Posts
    300

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    Number 1 is the clear winner for me - bone dry and bassy. I'm not a bluegrasser but this is what I thought everyone was striving for in bluegrass? 2 and 3 sound thin and tinny in comparison.

  24. #23
    Gilchrist (pick) Owner! jasona's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    2,933
    Blog Entries
    38

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    1 and 3. Two sounds new and tight; one sounded like it had older strings perhaps?

    edit: mind, they all sound good, and that Zoom does a pretty nice job recording!
    Jason Anderson

    "...while a great mandolin is a wonderful treat, I would venture to say that there is always more each of us can do with the tools we have available at hand. The biggest limiting factors belong to us not the instruments." Paul Glasse

    Stumbling Towards Competence

  25. #24
    acoustically inert F-2 Dave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Halfway, MO
    Posts
    2,128

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    3, 1, 2.
    "Mongo only pawn in game of life." --- Mongo

  26. #25
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,436

    Default Re: Comparing 3 Mandos

    They're all good.

    #3 was the best for me, #1 came close but lacked some definition on the bottom end.

    And there was me hoping I'd come up with a different ordering to everyone else

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •