Re: Does an oval hole have advantages?
I'll just echo that an f-hole, carved top mandolin is the more versatile instrument. Chris Thile plays all sorts of traditional and weird stuff on his f-hole mandolin.
The conventional contrast (my opinion) between oval and f-hole instruments is rooted in the contrast of sound between an oval hole Gibson and an f-hole Gibson. These two instruments had different bracing, different neck joints (i.e., 12th fret v. 15th fret) and of course different sound holes. Today, folks are making all sorts of hybrid oval holes that dilute the conventional distinctions between these original two icons.
So, you can find an x-braced, elevated fretboard, 15-fret neck joint, oval hole mandolin that is far removed from the oval-hole sound of an oval hole Gibson.
I love my oval hole Gibson. I also love my f-hole mandolins. Would hate to pick just one!
f-d
ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
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