So I'll give you the long story, before I get to the point.
In 1979, my parents got me a Gibson A-1 (small crack in the back) for 375. I loved it then and I love it now. And I'm surprised they aren't snatched up when the price drops below 1500, but that's another thing. Nice WIDE fretboard. The sound is very full and rich, great for slow to medium songs....although the sustain gets in the way on fast songs. No surprise here -- that's one of the few things folks at the Cafe seem to agree on!
To balance it with an F-hole, I bought a used THE LOAR (yes I hate that name also) 400. Action seemed low, so I sent it off to Cumberland and they fitted a new bridge. It sounds fine (no bracing at all) and is pretty loud -- a fuller sound, maybe halfway between the typical midrangey ("dry") bluegrass sound and the Oval Hole Gibson A 1. Fingerboard seems a little narrower (1 2/16) and it takes a little getting used to.
Wanting to step up to the top tier --- okay, the very, very bottom of the top tier!--- I bought a used 1987 Flatiron, f hole, tone bars, integrated fingerboard and neck. It was nicely set up when I bought it. Strings okay. The fretboard on this is 1 1/16 and that's hard to get used to, but that's also another story. The sound is quite nice --- rich enough...not like a real cheapo mandolin -- but with good separation and not too much sustain.
Now, to the point -- when I play it against my THE Loar 400 (currently going for about 350-400 used) it is not as loud as The Loar. I tried playing it slow, trying to fret in exactly the right place, etc. and the sound is fine. But it doesn't seem as loud as the The Loar??
So, 1) am I nuts? 2) Could it be quieter than the cheaper The Loar because the The Loar doesn't have bracing and/or the neck/fretboard "appears" to be elevated somewhat?
Just curious.......any thoughts?
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