I finally got to go by Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz, a shop I like more each time I visit. They have both Pava and Girouard mandolins. I had played one Pava but never played a Girouard, and got to play them side by side.
Both are very well made, and would be my pleasure to own.
The Pava was very warm and woody, chopped very like a Gibson, but perhaps not as midrangey, with more highs, but overall not as bright as I remember the last MT I played. It struck me as being very well balanced.
The Girouard had a very forward jangle like tone. I thought at first it might have had brand new strings, but that was not the case. It was louder than the Pava, and I thought what a mandolin to have to cut through in a band situation.
This is one of those what are you going to use it for decisions. Probably would take the Pava home if given the choice.I think I would put less bright strings on the Girourd if I could.
But man, the bounty of choices we have today is pretty exceptional. Just to be able to shop Weber, Girouard, Collings, and Pava, Northfield,(and Ellis though that is to rich for me) in an easy day's outing is mind blowing. Gibson is the hard to try out brand in my neck of the woods.
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