Re: Oval Hole F
I think it is a real challenge to have one mandolin excel in all situations. They are built surprisingly differently (neck to body join, elevated fretboard or not, bracing (tone bar vs a parallel brace. The F hole mandolin was built by Loar to help the instrument cut through for classical music (at the time). Your Old Time and Celtic players aren't going to care too much what instrument you bring to the mix while Bluegrassers have more expectations on an f-holed mandolin.
The hybrid oval hole builds (more frets free of the body 12 vs 10) and the elevated finger board bring an oval's tone closer to an F hole mandolin but there are still differences. There aren't tons of lower priced Oval Hole F shaped mandolins Eastman covers it well. But Collings, Weber (and whatever Bruce is calling his new venture), Breedlove (K shape), Northfield, and plenty of small shop builders do build them. The F shape vs the A shape body don't really affect the sound. If I played 10 f holed A and F shaped mandolins and 10 oval holed A or F shaped mandolins you would just be guessing which was which body style.
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
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