I know it should be the most common thing, but it isn't. How many of us buy mandolins based on specs or advertisements or simply a picture here at the cafe? I know I've bought a couple fairly expensive mandolins without ever hearing them. In both cases, I was happy at the time but not so much after I was able to compare one on one with other higher end mandolins.
My story
I was on a short tour with my band and on the way back stopped in to a music store that I knew had some nice mandolins. Whenever possible, I like to sit and compare my main mandolin to what else is available. My main instrument is a Northfield Big Mon wide nut in a honey finish. It is the prettiest mandolin (at least in my opinion). It's understated with impeccable workmanship. The scroll binding is perfect. I thought that was the one for me for the rest of my life. I didn't need anything better. I was content.
Now my prized mandolin is at a music store in another state as a trade-in. I still can't believe it. I had no intention of ever selling it. But I made the big mistake of sitting down in a nice room with 10 very nice mandolins and playing them all and comparing them and then playing more and comparing more. I think I must have been there a couple hours. I had my band mates with me to speak some reason into my brain. We all came to the same conclusion with no hesitation.
What I played: My original honey Northfield Big Mon, another Big Mon, a Northfield Artist, Northfield F5S, Collings MF Deluxe, Collings MF Satin, Gibson F-5L Fern, Gibson Sam Bush, Gibson F5G, Red Diamond (Osbourne)
Attractiveness:
#1 = My original Big Mon or the Northfield Artist. They are exactly what I want a mandolin to look like.
....
#10 = Gibson F-5L Fern. I don't like red sunbursts and white binding. I don't like large pick guards and I don't like narrow necks (1 1/16) And, most especially, I don't like bling (like the headstock inlays) I typically think of Gibson instruments as over-priced too.
The Gibson F-5L Fern was exactly the last instrument I would ever consider owning. I've always thought they were gaudy. The big problem for me was that in a side by side comparison, with my playing style, this particular Fern was hands down the best sounding mandolin I've ever played. I've only played maybe 60 expensive mandolins, but this was the best by a wide margin. I really don't like the way it looks but the sound is incredible. Notes pop off it and the low end is rich and woody. The high end punches good but it's sweeter than all the others I played. I don't like overly bright mandolins. I use it as a main rhythm instrument in an Americana band so it has to have some girth to the sound. I called Gibson this morning and found out it was made in July of this year. It has a huge open sound and it's only a couple months old. I have no idea how it would get better with age and I'm now worried it will sound worse as it ages. I know... that's stupid thinking, but it's a huge monetary investment and you have to over-think these things.
So I left the store with no mandolins. I traded in my favorite looking mandolin for a mandolin that sounds better than all the rest (but I hate the look). A luthier will scoop the fingerboard extension. (I hate the pick click) And, they will ship it to me in a week. I will need to install a K&K pickup in it once it arrives so I can use it on the next show.
Thanks for reading. That's my story... so far.
Anyone else have similar stories of going to buy one thing and leaving with another?
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