Easy to play, he said!

[Bigskyken]

A few weeks ago I found a Craigslist ad for a Weber Gallatin, and purchased it. In the text of the ad, the owner commented that "it is easy to play." I didn't give any weight to that feature, because it made no sense to me at all. While inspecting the instrument prior to buying it, the fellow talked about the nut width, radiused fretboard, and several other things that didn't resonate to me as a newcomer to the mandolin. After playing this darn thing for the past several weeks, I've come to the conclusion that it is easy to play. While I can't tell you what makes it this way, I find it far easier to play than my original Gold Tone, my Breedlove Crossover and others I've handled at music stores. Whatever the reason, this instrument is simply at home in my arms!

[Jill McAuley]

Good find, congratulations! I had a Gallatin meself several years ago and still bitterly regret letting it go.

[JeffD]

You have a point. I often cannot identify what makes a mandolin "easy to play". Bridge width, fret size, scale length, weight balance, bridge location, feel of the finish, set up, so many things. But when you find one that is comfortable to you, its great. Its like a chair or couch that has been warn in just the way you like it.

[MikeZito]

When all is said and done, nut width, radiused fretboard and all the other stuff means absolutely nothing. What REALLY counts is that the instrument feels at home in YOUR arms - and if that is the case, then it is a good one. Congratulations, and enjoy!

[Br1ck]

I will speculate that your Weber has impeccable fret work, something the others you've played don't. Frets, neck shape, body, etc. I can adapt to. High action, not so much.

[PiginaPen]

Jumbo frets made the difference for me. A radiused fretboard helps too.

[Ivan Kelsall]

The overall quality of Weber mandolins is well known on here. Bruce Weber designed & built all his instruments to be ''easy to play''
& the build quality on your 'Gallatin' reflects exactly that - enjoy the dickens out of it,
Ivan

[mobi]

I tried to quantify this "easy to play" by parameters

I think it all depends on:

1. The action (high action is tiring to play)
2. Intonation (some cheap mandolin causes buzzing, which drives me nut)
3. The shape - some people prefer flat but wider whereas some others prefer bowl back type
4. How long it can hold tune
5. Good quality strings
6. Progressive tuning (in some mandolins you continue to screw the ears and frequency remains the same!)
7. Aesthetics (more of a psychological issue)
8. Wood quality (solid wood is better than laminated)
9. Cost - an expensive mandolin with poor quality will hurt you more than other way round

[Al Trujillo]

My first is the Gallatin that I play two, ...three times a day. I am tempted to upgrade to a Yellowstone, River or Diamondback but often find myself asking 'why' after playing my Gallatin a bit.

[lenf12]

My first is the Gallatin that I play two, ...three times a day. I am tempted to upgrade to a Yellowstone, River or Diamondback but often find myself asking 'why' after playing my Gallatin a bit.

Absolutely correct Al T. Why can't we just love the one (or more) that we already have? You really need to have a different mandolin for each style of music that you play, or at least a mandolin that covers a variety of those styles. To me, that's an F hole and an oval hole. Covers just about everything I play.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL