Oval that stands up

[red7flag]

I was at a raucous jam last night taking only my Collings MTO. Before the jam started, a player came up to me saying that he could understand if he could not hear me in the jam given that I had a A model with an oval hole. I just smiled and said I was pretty sure I would be heard. He just gave me a knowing smile and walked away. He came back later and asked what brand mandolin I had. He commented that not only was it loud, it had great tone. I just smile back with the same knowing smile.

[soliver]

I can't say that I've experienced a Collings, but while Mando shopping a few months back I was indeed surprised at the volume that came out of the Kentucky oval hole I played... My next purchase will be an oval hole of some kind!

[mandroid]

Often players hear less sound of their mandolin, themselves, but those out in front hear More.

[texaspaul]

A friend of mine jumped in and bought a 1917 Gibson A-3 pumpkin top. It is a great playing mandolin. It rings and sings. We often play in a jam with 10 or more players including 3-4 banjos. I hear his breaks across the room but his rythm back up doesn't cut through very well. I love the tone on that old A-3. I wish I had raised the money first.

[Marty Jacobson]

Before the jam started, a player came up to me saying that he could understand if he could not hear me in the jam given that I had a A model with an oval hole. I just smiled and said I was pretty sure I would be heard. He just gave me a knowing smile and walked away.

I guess he just felt compelled to show you that he had half-read some internet forum topics about oval hole vs. f-hole instruments, and was prepared to make a judgment about your instrument and your playing without having heard either?

[Josh Levine]

There is a guy that comes to our jams with an mto and it has volume and tone for miles.

[allenhopkins]

Generalizations about the tone and volume of different types of instruments, always need to be taken with a grain of salt; specific mandolins often are exceptions to these "rules."

There are often greater variations between individual mandolins of the same type, than the generalized variations between types of mandolin. And it's not only "volume," but distinctive tone, that makes a mandolin's voice stand out in a group situation. Plus, no one's been able to prove to my satisfaction that F-models, as a class, sound significantly different from A-models. Scrolls and points are, as far as I'm concerned, esthetic adornments that don't make mandolins sound louder, better, or more "bluegrassy"

But that's just me...

[Mandoplumb]

The difference in sound of a F style an an A style is on my opinion nonexistent but there is a big difference on an oval hole and F holes, not one better just different. Having said that I don't limit one type to one style of music. Red Rector played an oval hole A style and he played BG. No one would sayJimmy Martin wasn't BG and a lot of his mandolin pickers played his F4. The music comes from the player not entirely the instrument.

[Jim Bevan]

I've had similar experiences with my MT O as well -- it's become my go-to 8-string mandolin for acoustic jams/Irish sessions, and it always hangs in there quite well.

[Emmett Marshall]

Yeah. You guys with the "A" models can always use a confidence boosting compliment like that. I would have said the same thing.

[Pick&Grin]

Often players hear less sound of their mandolin, themselves, but those out in front hear More.

As an oval-hole player, this is a horrifying thought!

[Pick&Grin]

Thanks for this Red7Flag. I also play an MTO and find the volume impressive.

Playing outside at a farmers market with an old-time group, someone commented on what a nice sounding mandolin I had, and wanted to know the brand. I was shocked! Playing alongside a banjo, guitar, another mandolin, an upright bass, and two fiddles, I couldn't believe that I had been loud enough for her to pick out my MTO's tone.

[JeffD]

I have a 1923 Gibson A2 snakehead. It is plenty loud and plenty bluegrassy. The tone is classic creamy Gibson. You would have to compare it with the very best of the F5s to perceive what it may lack in chop and focus.

Not being predominantly a bluegrasser I appreciate the benefits of the oval. But those times I have jammed w/ BGers, it was my playing, not the instrument, not the oval hole, that was the limitation.

I put a tonegard on it and made it into a monster. Only my rez is louder.

[pheffernan]

Before the jam started, a player came up to me saying that he could understand if he could not hear me in the jam given that I had a A model with an oval hole.

Have you ever played an oval with a Virzi, Tony? There are those who think that it adds focus or direction to the sound. I for one would love to hear your review of an instrument like the Black A4 that Eddie has in the classifieds: http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/99307#99307

[JeffD]

I was at a raucous jam last night taking only my Collings MTO. Before the jam started, a player came up to me saying that he could understand if he could not hear me in the jam given that I had a A model with an oval hole....

I can understand a person having this kind of a preconceived notion. Sure. But I cannot imagine someone being rude enough to say something about it.

I just smile back with the same knowing smile.

You did very well. I am not sure I would have the presence of mind not to over react to the comment. The things I would be tempted to say....