Stripped down f styles

[Br1ck]

I'm looking at some of the no frills small factory or luthier built mandolins out there but have certainly not played them all. There is a huge variance in price between something like a Ratliff Country Boy and a Gibson F9, with the Weber Galatin somewhere in between. Anyone had direct comparisons? Any others I should consider?

I'm also considering an Arches kit because I like building things and can do the fretwork required. Where are they, assuming a competent build, in the sceme of things? If I went that direction I could work towards a vintage Gibson.

[sunburst]

In my mind, if you strip the frills off of an F-style, you're left with an A-style.

[fscotte]

Yeah... I'm one of the few I guess, that think a stripped down F style is odd looking to me. Sorry about the strong description, but F styles scream for beauty. The scroll alone only goes so far. Ever seen those stripped down Ford Mustangs and Dodge Chargers? Something looks off.

Anyway, the OP wants one so I'm sure there's one out there for him.

[jhowell]

You might talk to Howard 'Sonny' Morris who builds in Oregon. He may very well be one of the best bang for the buck boutique builders going and a cafe member to boot....btw..no affiliation

[Dale Ludewig]

Hmm. Just a wild thought- anybody got a picture of an actual mandolin, A model, with just the scroll? Just the strap hanger? That would be a stripped down model.

[William Smith]

My first real good mandolin was a 2000-01 Gibson F5-G, I bought new at the time for a little under 3G and played it, loved it, modified it but of course eventually swapped her off! I would like it back if I ever could find her again! Nothing wrong with em, they just don't have the bling as the higher end models but guess what a good share of em sound exactly the same in MHO!

[Mike Snyder]

My daughter can do as she wills with my F5G when I'm gone to the last jam. Bling is OK, but the sound, tone and volume, are the thing that keeps MAS at bay. You will have to kiss a few frogs, but a non-bling instrument with THE sound is out there.

[Br1ck]

I have no trouble not paying for bling. I'd rather have an F5G and a 1920 A2 than a fancier F style. That's how I roll. Same with guitars. I've got a Guild D 35 I love, and a 00 15 Martin custom. That has only tortoise binding.

In no way shape or form do I not think a fern is a beautiful mandolin.

[jtv]

It may just be me, but I actually really like the looks of some of the mandolins without binding. I think that a Weber Gallatin looks every bit as good as their other models, just a little different with its lack of adornment.

For whatever reason A styles just don't do it for me on the looks department either. I have no idea why, but it 's just true. (And it's not an overexposure to bluegrass expectations either as I came to mandolin with relatively little background in anything mandolin.)

[allenhopkins]

You could check out Shawnee Creek Mandolins. I have no hands-on experience with them, but they seem to be making the type of instrument in which you're interested.

[red7flag]

I had a matte finish Collings MF. It was truly a cannon. I have regretted selling that one. A friend liked mine so much that he recently bought a used one (not the same one) from Carter's. It is also a cannon. I think the matte finish and dark binding really looked cool. I would have that baby back again, anytime. I think you can find them used in the 3k+ range. I am sure there are some knowledgeable Collings people that could provide you a current range for them. You would not be disappointed, from my experience, anyway.

[Ivan Kelsall]

IMHO - It's hard to see what you can strip from a mandolin that isn't required !. Edge binding might be one thing,but it's hard to see what else,unless you dispense with any fingerboard markings & headstock inlay -that's about all i can see. Everything else is needed.
Maybe a request to one of our luthier contributors could come up with what you want ?,
Ivan

[MediumMando5722]

Keep us updated if you go this route. I love fancy wood grain, but binding, inlays, and gold hardware are for the birds.

[Johnny60]

Must admit, I really like the look of the Weber Gallatin - especially ones with the older "hook" scroll. Don't have one, but have played a couple and they've been really loud and punchy. Beautifully made and there's something about the lack of bling and gloss that really appeals.

[GeoMandoAlex]

When I first saw the post title, I was thinking this would be a thread about stripping finishes off mandolins and just letting the wood show through (with the wood refinished and sealed).

However, that really is not the case, but I have both embellished and "stripped down" f style mandolins. I have a Michael Kelly Firefly Flame that has the purfling and bindings, an intricate fretboard inlay pattern and headstock inlay. Regardless of what many think of the mandolin, it is "fancy". I also have a Weber Gallatin which is almost a no frills f style mandolin. Both have a good sound to them which I like.

I am sure there are builders there that will build a no frills mandolin.

[MontanaMatt]

Hmm. Just a wild thought- anybody got a picture of an actual mandolin, A model, with just the scroll? Just the strap hanger? That would be a stripped down model.

Let's start a business that makes add on scrolls for A model upgrades, perhaps it can be in conjunction with a ToneGard device and armrest. Extra fees for addition of one, two or even three body points! idea copywrite!

The scroll and points can be a muted color, it might look like the weird yamaha and zeta violins.
Anyone want to invest in that startup?

[MontanaMatt]

To reply to your original question, I am a new devote of Ratliff, he might even do custom Country Boy options...
He has extremely reasonable prices for the quality of his work...it seems he prices his mandolins at half of what the other master builders do.

[MikeEdgerton]

I'd be beating the bushes for an older F5G. I own a 2005. A Weber Galatin that was owned by a friend of mine passed through here a few years back. I wasn't real keen on it but that could have been a setup issue. I've never held a Ratliff.

I picked the F5G off the wall at Mandolin Brothers. I played every mandolin on that wall that day including some that were mch more expensive. I kept coming back to this F5G.

I've been looking at Chris Baird's kits for years thinking I should build one. Maybe someday. I like his mandolins.