Re: Mando upgrade
To answer your question, every Northfield I have played was awesome to play.
The necks are rather nice, and they play like butter.
The necks and setup have all been great on the ones I have played.
I can only speak for the modern setup ones, with big frets and radius fretboard though, as that is what I like.
The F5S has an unbound neck, but they all play really easily, except one I played that was narrow at the nut (1 1/32?)
The ones I have played had a punchy dry tone that would be awesome for bluegrass.
It is a more modern sound.
The fit and finish are great, but without the bling. (Binding etc.)
I kinda like the way they look.
The Big Mon has a bound fretboard, and plays very very well.
The Big Mon has a little more deep clunk in the tone, like an older mandolin.
It is a great sound for traditional bluegrass.
The fit and finish are a bit better than the F5S.
The Artist model I just got plays even better than the others for my hands.
The neck just feels awesome, and the violin style finish on the neck is perfection.
It is a very high quality instrument.
I am super happy with the Artist model.
It is the nicest mandolin I have owned, or played, by a mile.
A legendary mandolinist played it the other day and said it was one of the loudest mandolins he has ever heard.
As for neck width, I thought I would like a wider nut, but have found that 1 1/8 is just about right for me.
A little wider is good too, as it gives your fingers more room.
Try out some wider nut mandos, regardless of brand, to see how you like it.
Every Northfield I have played was a worthy instrument.
I think you will be happy with any of the models.
I liked the Big Mon, but there was an F5S next to it that just rocked.
I would have liked either, but that day I would have taken home the F5s.
The only reason I didnt buy the F5s was the color.
It was blond with a blond back, and I have a fetish for the traditional brown sunburst on a mandolin.
I was lucky and contacted Northfield about instruments they had for sale around the shop.
Turned out they had one of Mike Marshall's old 5-Bar Artist models that he had played for a year or so.
It is spectacular, and fully played in.
The 5-bar is a different animal than your average F5, but I love it.
I might have to get an F5S for straight up Bluegrass, but I would never get rid of this Artist model.
Northfield rocks.
Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)
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