Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lancaster, PA.
    Posts
    214

    Default Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

    I would like to get a Weber Archtop Oval Hole OM. I have never seen one in a store, so notwithstanding having viewed a few YouTube’s, I am flying blind. I always thought I would prefer a Bridger, as I have a Bridger mandolin that I really like. As Bridgers are quite hard to find these days, I was wondering about the relative merits of Yellowstone and Bitteroot oval OMs. Anybody ever play these three instruments? Would somebody please take a moment to clue me in on their relative merits regarding tone, volume, etc?

    Thanks so much for any help or insights you can give to me.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

    I've owned a Weber Gallatin F hole, a Weber Yellowstone D hole, a flat top O hole teardrop, and a Bayard Flat top Guitar bodied. I liked all of them but they had different strengths.

    The flat top teardrop was a good strummer but in my opinion the single notes/drone stuff got a little weak as you went up the neck.

    The F hole Gallatin was great for single notes and drones but the strum was a bit thin. I did like it quite a bit when playing with guitar and bass. I would use more percussive chords and drones and harmonies When trying to accompany my wife's tin whistle the chords were less full than a guitar.

    The D hole Yellowstone was a nice mix. The chords sounded fuller and had more sustain than the F hole. The single notes sounded very nice as well, I like the single note playing better than a flat top tear drop and almost as much as the F hole.

    The Guitar bodied octave is where I landed. The single notes have more zing (a bit more bouzouki like) but they still sound nice enough. The bass and sustain is great. It's really a Franken-instrument part mando, part bouzouki, and part guitar. The D hole sounded nicer playing melody but the bass and sustainof the GBOM means I can accompany a whistle, drive a session, or be the only instrument in a sea chanty or sing along.

    You might think of them in a spectrum as from more mandolin like to more like a guitar.
    Mando----F hole carved top octave-------D Hole carved top octave------Guitar bodied flat top----Guitar.

    Of course bridge and scale length and many other things play a factor as well!

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Helena, Montana
    Posts
    2,872

    Default Re: Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

    Here is a Yellowstone in the classifieds.

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/117861#117861

  4. #4
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Beautiful Salem County, NJ
    Posts
    2,004

    Default Re: Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

    Hello Timacn,

    Mine is a custom Weber Absaroka D hole, and uniquely short-scale and small bodied. Still, I thought I would offer my perspective.

    I think the arch-top OMs are a different animal than the flat-tops, perhaps even more so that in mandolins. For the playing I do, I love it. It is very mandoliny. By that, I mean that I agree with Chuck's assessment that there is a range of OMs from more mandolin-like to more guitar-like. I wanted one on the mandolin end of the spectrum and this one is definitely there. That is what I prefer for my type of playing (mostly melody line, lots of Renaissance, Italian folk, Scottish and Irish, but not accompanying a singer).

    Good luck with your search.

    Bob
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    39
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Weber Archtop Oval Hole Archtop OMs: Any Preference?

    Hi, I own a weber Yellowstone OM 20" scale large oval hole, built recently and purchased thru acoustic vibes music. Looks really cool.....however it seems to be built for bluegrass music....when I play a reel or jig it feels like a real workout. I've also owned a D hole weber.....same response. I own a Sobell OM from 1996.....It's Alive!!!

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
  •