Comparing two Mandolas
As some of you know, I just got a Sobell like short neck mandola from Lawrence Nyberg. I thought a comparison of tone between the Nyberg and the Girouard that I bought about six months ago would be worth while. The Girouard as I have reviewed has a deep, but clear tone. The Nyberg is clear but sounds more bright,, yet full, not brittle. The Nyberg has substantially more sustain than any of my mandolin family instrument. My guess is the large body is the reason. My wife says that it looks like it is on steroids. Because of the big body, I would have thought the Nyberg would have a deeper sound, but the body size seems to have more effect on the sustain. Shows how much I know. The Girouard had a deep warm, not woody sound. Yet, being an f hole instrument, the tone seems focused, with less sustain than the Nyberg. I feel very fortunate to have two really great, yet contrasting mandolas. Both are testaments to their makers.
Tony Huber
1930 Martin Style C #14783
2011 Mowry GOM
2013 Hester F4 #31
2014 Ellis F5 #322
2017 Nyberg Mandola #172
Bookmarks