Mandolin Depth

[Ralf Czerny]

In looking at various mandolins, I have noticed that my Eastman 615 is about 2" deep and in looking at Gibsons and other mandolins, they look deeper. Is that really the case? If so, what effect do you think a shallower or deeper construction has on the sound. Violins are; of course, quite different, but they seem to have a much more standard depth. I appreciate your comments and look forward to the collective wisdom I always find here.

BTW, my 615 is well beyond what I expected both in beauty and sound.

[sunburst]

The depth/width/height (depending upon perspective) of the rim is usually reasonably consistent in carved arched mandolins at between 1 1/4" to 1 3/8" with outliers, of course. The thickness of the plates at their edges can make them look like there is more variation, but that doesn't affect the size of the air chamber.
Differences in body depth (internal) can affect sound by changing the frequencies of air modes and how they relate to plate modes and so forth. Sound is too difficult to describe in words to try to describe the differences, but in f-hole mandolins, deeper bodies tend toward the sound of oval hole mandolins.

[urobouros]

I have a Big mon and a Skip Kelley A5 with extra body depth. I personally think they both tend to have a more pronounced low end & warmer tone.

[Dan in NH]

Wasn’t Lloyd Loar’s background before coming to Gibson not as a luthier but as an acoustic engineer?

[Dan in NH]

Double

[doc holiday]

Wasn’t Lloyd Loar’s background before coming to Gibson not as a luthier but as an acoustic engineer?

That's right, but he was also a musician. IMO there's something to the design of benchmark instruments; the F5 for example and the Martin OM. Changing the body depth changes an instrument's tonal characteristics. Making it different isn't necessarily an improvement.

[Randi Gormley]

anecdotally, my bandolims are noticeably deeper than my snake or Eastman and they seem to have a warmer tone and longer sustain/ring. Just a note from someone who doesn't study this stuff.

[Bacfire]

I had a very early Ron Cole F-5 that was at least 1/4" deeper than Loar-spec. It was a little boomy and unfocused. Not having any sense at the time (big money work on a little money mando), I had a luthier cut it down to 1-3/4" or whatever is standard. It was a tremendous improvement and made it sound like an F-5, with a strong, focused chop and noticeably more "bite" to the overall sound.

On second thought, maybe it was a good move. I kept that Cole for over 20 years.