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Thread: arch top octave Wassup??

  1. #1
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default arch top octave Wassup??

    I played an archtop OM by northfield at greyfox
    last week. i now have omas. Does anyone make
    a decent archtop octave that isn't 5000 dollars.
    maybe in the 2500 dollar range??

  2. #2

    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Eastman makes an archtop octave that goes for 700. I don't know of any others 2500 or below. Cheapest I can think of is Weber A style for 4k

  3. #3
    Registered User Todd Bowman's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    I just sold mine about a month ago here on the Cafe, but Kyle Dunn of themandoshop.com in Tallahassee Florida sells an F5 style OM his TKD brand. They are priced right at $2500.
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  4. #4

    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    To answer the OP’s question, No. not comparable to the Northfield. If you like the Northfield you won’t be satisfied with Eastman, and the F5 that the Mando Shop sells is a different animal.
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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Nyberg's carved-top, oval hole OM is listed at $3,075; lots of good reviews of these instruments (recent thread). Bernunzio here in Rochester has a couple used ones for around $2K.

    When you say "archtop," I wonder if you're looking specifically for an OM with f-holes, rather than an oval hole? Eastman makes a decent arch-top f-hole (not in the Northfield class) for around $700, but everywhere I Google they're out of stock.

    Not a huge range of choices. There are quite a few threads started by Cafe-ers who convert older arch-top guitars to OM's. Might be worth searching back, see if any of them are for sale, or if any of the "converters" would take on another project.
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    You could pick this tenor up and convert it to OM
    https://reverb.com/item/13278742-193...p-tenor-guitar
    Or this one
    https://reverb.com/item/13850420-193...ar-with-pickup
    But I'd expect the first to sound better.
    Still not going to be nearly as good as the Northfield.
    The Eastman is OK but also doesn't touch the sound of the Northfield. I'd sooner go to a quality flattop guitar bodied OM than the Eastman.

    PS- if you are going to buy an archtop OM, keep an eye out for a used Clark. They are the best I've ever played!
    Last edited by colorado_al; Jul-24-2018 at 6:20pm.

  7. #7
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by colorado_al View Post
    You could pick this tenor up and convert it to OM
    https://reverb.com/item/13278742-193...p-tenor-guitar
    Or this one
    https://reverb.com/item/13850420-193...ar-with-pickup
    But I'd expect the first to sound better.
    Still not going to be nearly as good as the Northfield.
    The Eastman is OK but also doesn't touch the sound of the Northfield. I'd sooner go to a quality flattop guitar bodied OM than the Eastman.

    PS- if you are going to buy an archtop OM, keep an eye out for a used Clark. They are the best I've ever played!
    ahh a project.. So this interests a recently retired
    mandolin player with omas. What's involved with
    converting one of these tenors over to an OM.
    is the scale length the same . Can i use an archtop
    guitar or does it have to be a tenor? Can i expect good results?

  8. #8
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by colorado_al View Post
    You could pick this tenor up and convert it to OM
    https://reverb.com/item/13278742-193...p-tenor-guitar
    Or this one
    https://reverb.com/item/13850420-193...ar-with-pickup
    But I'd expect the first to sound better.
    Still not going to be nearly as good as the Northfield.
    The Eastman is OK but also doesn't touch the sound of the Northfield. I'd sooner go to a quality flattop guitar bodied OM than the Eastman.

    PS- if you are going to buy an archtop OM, keep an eye out for a used Clark. They are the best I've ever played!
    Yes i just like the looks and sound of the archtop f hole .
    The tenor guitar neck. is it strong enough for the double
    string OM after conversion??
    I don't want an eastman for 799 . Or a Northfield
    for 4k or 5k. it's funny they are either cheap
    or high end but not much in the middle.
    This conversion Idea is sounding better.

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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    I converted a tenor guitar to an OM and it only took an afternoon.
    Check it out here:
    https://tinyurl.com/yafk2g9v
    It would be mostly the same on an archtop tenor, but you'd have to re-slot the floating bridge.
    If you use a 6 string guitar, you'll likely find the neck to be too wide.

  10. #10
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by colorado_al View Post
    I converted a tenor guitar to an OM and it only took an afternoon.
    Check it out here:
    https://tinyurl.com/yafk2g9v
    It would be mostly the same on an archtop tenor, but you'd have to re-slot the floating bridge.
    If you use a 6 string guitar, you'll likely find the neck to be too wide.
    very nice. Wanting an archtop i am going to have
    to source a tailpiece . or drill. I'd rather source
    one somewhere. any ideas.?? can't find one in stewmac?

  11. #11

    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...rchtop_Guitar/

    Also, search Reverb.com. Lots of interesting stuff comes up on their search for arch top tailpiece.
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    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...rchtop_Guitar/

    Also, search Reverb.com. Lots of interesting stuff comes up on their search for arch top tailpiece.
    yea thanks but i need an 8 string tailpiece. i'll chk reverb and fleabay.,

  13. #13
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    You'll have to excuse me but i know nothing
    much about these. Are most octave mandolin
    strings ball or loop end..?

  14. #14
    Registered User foldedpath's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by varmonter View Post
    You'll have to excuse me but i know nothing
    much about these. Are most octave mandolin
    strings ball or loop end..?
    Packaged string sets labeled for octave mandolin are loop end. However, because the scale length can vary between 22" and 19", I think many of us OM players end up with custom gauges, or a pieced-together set. If you convert a tenor guitar with a 23" scale, you'll probably want custom string gauges for best response.

    Edit to add: You'll also want to be careful not to over-stress a tenor soundboard designed for fewer strings. A standard set of OM strings might be too much tension.

  15. #15

    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    I don't think you are going to find a ready-made 8-string archtop-style tailpiece. Check with some of the octave makers using arch top tailpieces, but I believe they are either ordering customs from manufacturers or modifying a guitar tailpiece on their own. The tailpieces on both my Mowry and Girouard are for ball end strings. Northfield is using a variation of their Nugget mandolin tailpiece for their GBOM's. They might be willing to sell you one.
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Gotta say, Archtop Octave Wassup is a great song title.

  17. #17
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    I recently bought a Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin for a nice price of $550 , I've read mixed reviews on it, but I am very happy with it. I don't see a lot of them for sale and especially at that price. I'm not saying it can compare to a $2500 - $5000 one , haven't had the chance to play an expensive one yet, but I like the scale length, sound and it's built nicely
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  18. #18
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by darrylicshon View Post
    I recently bought a Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin for a nice price of $550 , I've read mixed reviews on it, but I am very happy with it. I don't see a lot of them for sale and especially at that price. I'm not saying it can compare to a $2500 - $5000 one , haven't had the chance to play an expensive one yet, but I like the scale length, sound and it's built nicely
    yea like i said above they seem to jump from
    around sub 1k to 4000 with not much in between.
    i think this project idea sounds like fun. lots of tenor
    guitars out there for sale.

  19. #19

    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Any of the usual cast tailpieces will work fine. You will have to drill, but then again you will be doing a heck of a lot more drilling to get the headstock sorted.

  20. #20
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Tom Jessen has hand built OM's on his website, one currently $2600.
    http://www.cricketfiddle.com/mandolins.htm
    I have bought 5 instruments he has built over the last 10 years. No one comes close to his bang/buck ratio. I have a 21.5" F4 OM he built that sounds better than the Webers I've tried and light years better than my Michael Kelly Octave Plus.

  21. #21
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
    Tom Jessen has hand built OM's on his website, one currently $2600.
    http://www.cricketfiddle.com/mandolins.htm
    I have bought 5 instruments he has built over the last 10 years. No one comes close to his bang/buck ratio. I have a 21.5" F4 OM he built that sounds better than the Webers I've tried and light years better than my Michael Kelly Octave Plus.
    Wow .. Agreed on the bang/buck ratio.
    and those cases he makes are beautiful.

  22. #22
    Registered User THart's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by varmonter View Post
    Wow .. Agreed on the bang/buck ratio.
    and those cases he makes are beautiful.
    I have to 2nd the opinion on a Jessen build. I got Tom to build his first GBOM & I'm very happy with it. I went with the basics & it came in just under 3 grand with one of his great cases. Attachment 169667 I played the one for sale on his site & if hadn't been so stubbornly bent on having the guitar body I would have bought that one on the spot.

  23. #23
    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Well I pulled the trigger on a gibson tg-50.
    Hope i did good ..should be here next week.
    Now i need to find a hard case for it.
    same body size as an L 50. l4 or es-150
    according to my research. Any suggestions?

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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    There is a nice arch top two point black top Rozawood octave at Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain, NC.
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    Registered User varmonter's Avatar
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    Default Re: arch top octave Wassup??

    Quote Originally Posted by Narayan Kersak View Post
    There is a nice arch top two point black top Rozawood octave at Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain, NC.
    i've actually been there. It's a nice store. I am going to go with this gibson
    archtop tenor conversion. andrew mowery is going to
    fashion a trapeze tailpiece block for me out of ebony.
    When i say archtop i mean like an archtop guitar
    like a gibson L60 with f holes . But that's a sweet
    mandolin. The guitar bodied archtop just sits nice
    in ones lap These larger mandolin shaped instruments
    slide around too much.

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