So, thinking about an octave oval hole
I am looking for shorter-scale, octave oval hole, and I realize a Weber is the perfect archtype of what I described - if a used one shows up I would consider it.
The trinity college one at TMS also looks like a nice budget approximation, 20 3/8 scale, oval, and sounds decent. I am a fan of flat-tops anyway. But it doesn't sound as good as the Weber (listening to multiple internet vids of both).
I am looking for a warm dark sound, something that could be used as a martin guitar substitute really. I can't play guitar worth beans, but my mando skills are steadily improving and I am thinking I could give a credible showing on an octave with a little practice.
I have heard recordings of the TC with normal strings and with flatwounds, definitely it gets into the ballpark of what I want, the flatwounds sound better to me, but maybe a bit too dark, I suppose a pointier pick could compensate there.
The TC bridge is broken from what I read, just plain wrong if you use three courses of wound strings.
Never played a flat fretboard before either, need to head over to Gryphon, they have a flat fretboard mandola I would probably get a feel for it there.
Next up in the price range are the lafferties, the mahogany one sounds better to me, closer to what I want. But assuming a used weber is around $2500ish, and the lafferty is $1700, I am thinking I should just hold out for a weber. Lafferty is 21" scale too, not as favorable as the other two.
TMS has a bunch of ponos, that look like small guitars, and have a 21.5" scale length, so I am thinking no for those.
Are there any other options out there?
Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
DSP's: Helix HX Stomp, various Zooms.
Amps: THR-10, Sony XB-20.
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