Let's keep the discussion to F5 mandolins so we kinda have a baseline for comparison. I think there are builders that are delivering $8-10K+ F5s that have the tone and fit and finish equal to the big four (Gil, Nugget, Dude, Monty). FWIW, I agree with the rest of what you said about those four builders. But that's not the end of the discussion.
There is no clear difference between "Good," "Better," and "Absolute Best." I've played Gils that fit into all three of those categories. A couple of them I would have had zero interest in owning. I've played some new Gibsons, a company I'm usually very critical of, and various mandolins by other makers that made me contemplate a second mortage. (As an aside, the best mandolin I've ever played was a blond Gil A5. Spectacular in every way!)
Does anyone remember those MandoTasting the the 'cafe sponsored a few times? Get ahold of one of those recordings and listen without looking at who made the mandolins. What your ears tell you may surprise you!
(I concede that a recording doesn't always capture the true essence of an instrument and there are many other variables including feel, feedback to the player, etc)
You are assuming I made an assumption. How's that for convoluted?? All I want to get across is where my opinion comes from. This is a site composed of people that have a Rogue and have been playing for a week to people that have a Loar and have been playing for 40+ years. At times it's helpful for people to know the basis of an opinion rather than it just being "Cuz I said so." So I am not assuming you don't have the same experience. Clear as mud now??
So the only point I'm trying to get across is there are a lot of really good builders out there making great mandolins, some of whom are making instruments whose quality and tone is on par with the "big four." And I don't think stating that belief is disingenuous.
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