It's more than 5 or even 11. When did they change to F-14? Is that the way to tell Bozeman from Oregon? I'm all set for mandolins, just curious.
It's more than 5 or even 11. When did they change to F-14? Is that the way to tell Bozeman from Oregon? I'm all set for mandolins, just curious.
2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic
They started naming them after the scale length. I am not sure exactly when they went with the new naming convention.
Robert Fear
http://www.folkmusician.com
"Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
" - Pete Seeger
Sounds like the volume knob on an amp (ala Spinal Tap).
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Pete Martin
www.PeteMartin.info
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Western Swing music
I believe the 14 refers to the number of frets to the body, which is a separate thing from the scale length.
I see no reason to be sarcastic or snarky just because a mandolin maker decides to use a designation for their models different from Gibson's.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Some attempts at humor but I see no snarky responses.
Bill Snyder
Yes Bill, you are right. Not snarky. I used too strong a word. You hit the nail on the head. "Attempts at humor." Key word being "Attempts".
I have never fully understood the Gibson designations. Generally, the 1 through 5 system was for trim level with 5 being the ultimate, right? But then we have the 9's, which are counterintuitively lowest in adornment. And of course there is the F-12, which is presumably named after the frets to the body, I guess? So there is precedent for the sort of system Weber is using, right?
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Sorry, multidon and other Weber owners, no harm intended in my attempt at humor in asking about the new model designations.
2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic
Trying to find a rational basis for Gibson model designations is basically an exercise in futility. Perhaps at first the ascending numerical order referred to the appointments -- and price -- of the instrument, but the F-9, F-10 and F-12 were not considered superior models to the F-5; they were just different. The A-40 and A-50 were f-hole A-models, not more expensive or fancier than the A-3 and A-4. There were A-5's that were two-point oval-hole models, and there were A-5's that were quasi-F-model "lump scroll" oval-holes, and there was the famous one-of Loar A-5 that had f-holes.
Leaving aside the numerical suffixes, there's the question of what the letter prefixes stood for (if anything), or whether they were just arbitrarily assigned to different Gibson lines. I lean toward the latter, since I can't think of a good connection between "L" and guitar, "K" and mandocello, or "J" and mando-bass. I leave that task to those cleverer.
If there's a rationale for a Weber F-14, fine, but the rationale attaches to the "14" suffix, not the "F" prefix. We just assume that a mandolin with scroll and points is an "F-something," but that's only because we're emulating the (arbitrary) original Gibson nomenclature.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Ratliff calls his F model mandolins R-5`s....R standing for his name, I suppose...
Yes, I believe Allen has it spot on. The numbers Gibson used was all over the place. But the lettters, which are not part of the original question, those are something else. Random? Maybe. But we all know what an F style should look like.
Robert thinks the 14 refers to scale length, but that doesn't make sense to me since all their mandolins are the same scale length. Frets to the body makes more sense to me, although, to my knowledge, they don't make a short neck.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
At this point, I have to bring up the Rigel naming. Their Highest tier instrument, the G-5, was so named as it was a whole step above the F-5. Suits me,
2005 Rigel G5 #2196
2005 Phoenix Jazz #400
1988 Jeff Traugott Acoustic #4
2012 Eastman 905 Archtop Guitar, BLOND!
Remember to grin while you pick, it throws folks off!
dcoventry, do you mean to tell us the Rigel G-5 is tuned A-E-B-F#?
See, I can attempt humor too!
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
2005 Rigel G5 #2196
2005 Phoenix Jazz #400
1988 Jeff Traugott Acoustic #4
2012 Eastman 905 Archtop Guitar, BLOND!
Remember to grin while you pick, it throws folks off!
The 14 being reference to the frets makes total sense and would be logical based on the way many manufacturers normally number their instruments.
But in this case, Weber is going body style (F), scale Length (14), sound Hole (-F).
The F style is an: F14-F
An octave F Style with F-holes is an F20-F, for the 20" scale.
It is a little strange without the instruments having individual product numbers. Instead we have:
Bitterroot A14-F
Bitterroot A14-O
Bitterroot A14-OW (wide neck)
Bitterroot A20-O
Bitterroot F20-O
Gallatin F14-F
Gallatin F14-O
Robert Fear
http://www.folkmusician.com
"Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
" - Pete Seeger
Dave! I was in Monterey last month. Thought of you. Sounds like Ben is enjoying the 805.Aw man, that was mighty sharp of you to catch that! I better tone things down a bit before I cause too much treble.
Robert Fear
http://www.folkmusician.com
"Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
" - Pete Seeger
Thank you for the additional information Robert. Makes total sense now. I don't particularly like that system, but it does make sense.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
2005 Rigel G5 #2196
2005 Phoenix Jazz #400
1988 Jeff Traugott Acoustic #4
2012 Eastman 905 Archtop Guitar, BLOND!
Remember to grin while you pick, it throws folks off!
These names have been in use at Weber for quite a while. It is only recently that some dealers have started using them.
Trevor
Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.
The single digits used for Gibson guitars and mandolins in the early part of the century were for grades of ornamentation. After that they started using numbers indicating the selling prices like J-200, A-40, A-50, Super 400. The system became a non-system. Also some of the letters make little sense. L is for guitars (every style) but when electrics came about they were EH for elecric Hawaiian and ES for Electric Spanish. Mandolins were never M but were either F or A. Harp guitars were U or R, mandolas H, mandocellos K and mandobasses J. Then they used TB for tenor banjo, MB for mandolin banjo, RB for regular banjo and UB for ukulele banjo. Fun, eh?
Jim
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