Mando Tasting, interested in your vote.

[Old Growth]

This morning i discovered...the "video" function on my new laptop(yes, I'm behind the times.) Shortly thereafter, i recorded these two video of two fine A5's. The playing isn't great but the Mandos are. I showed the videos to two different individuals. They promptly told me which mandolin they preferred and the reasons why. I am curious what others might chose based on these brief recordings. For those of you willing to share your thoughts, reasons and selection, thank you kindly.

[WaxwellHaus]

Unfortunately the second video is claiming to be unavailable for me and I cannot perform a proper comparison at this time.

[Old Growth]

Thanks WaxswellHaus...maybe refresh the page and try again?

[MontanaMatt]

Thanks WaxswellHaus...maybe refresh the page and try again?

Nope, second link is busted. So, based on my observation, the first one takes the day!

[Old Growth]

OK....my apologies, weird. It plays for me every-time. Back to the drawing board.

[Old Growth]

Alright...glad my kid is home from college as of 1 hr ago. I'm thinking it should work now. Thanks!

[HonketyHank]

Both are working for me. I like the second one better. First one is a bit bright and jangly to my ear. Second one is more mellow. A different pick choice might mellow out the tone on #1 though.

[Old Growth]

Thanks very much for your feedback.

[Gary Leonard]

I like number one. I felt it had a more modern sound, which I prefer. Brighter. And I felt it was well balanced across all strings, as well as up the neck. Number two had a more traditional sound in my opinion. If I was mainly a bluegrass player, I'd be all over that one.

They both appear to be fine instruments, will be interested in the final reveal, as well as other people's input.

[Old Growth]

Thank you kindly for your feedback Gary.

[Dave Hanson]

Both links worked for me, the second mandolin is much mellower than the first IMHO.

Dave H

[Old Growth]

Thanks Dave!

[Willem]

My vote is for the 1st but it was close. It just seems more balanced across the strings. Perhaps I am biased because I am fairly certain who built #1...

[UsuallyPickin]

Yeah …. the second mandolin has a more mature tone to my ear and it has better balance. The first mandolin sounds like it needs someone to play it for a few years. It has a good deep bark and the jangle might be cut down some with a .115 E string and a tweaked set up. Both are good instruments and worth spending time with. Enjoy, R/

[kegcrowe]

I like them both, but I agree that the first is brighter, the second more mellow

[ccravens]

Yeah …. the second mandolin has a more mature tone to my ear and it has better balance. The first mandolin sounds like it needs someone to play it for a few years. It has a good deep bark and the jangle might be cut down some with a .115 E string and a tweaked set up. Both are good instruments and worth spending time with. Enjoy, R/

This pretty much sums up my evaluation. I prefer #2 for a little bit more woodiness and depth of tone. But as everyone has said, they are really close and both of them are quality sounding mandos. If #2 is significantly older than #1, then it might not be as fair a comparison.

I'b be proud to own either.

Thanks for posting.

[Mike Scott]

I have a lousy ear plus this iPad doesn’t have the best speakers. It may be easier to discern if both vids played the same stuff in the same order. All that being said, I agree they’re pretty close, but my vote goes for #2. I prefer mellowness in my music. But that’s just me. Thanks for posting-always fun to try to figure this kind of thing out. BTW, your playing is just fine-way better than mine!

[Chuck Leyda]

I liked both but preferred the 2nd. I wonder if the first was hotter due to mic placement though?? A couple inches can make a difference! In any case I thought it was pretty close but if I had to buy one based on the video it would be 2.

[Joe Bartl]

I preferred the first. It was crisp and rich all at the same time. Somehow, though, it did seem to me that there was some difference in the recording level or ... something ... that accounted for some of the difference between them. Thanks for today's puzzler! -- Joe

[MontanaMatt]

What are the two different mandolins? Now that I’ve heard both, I’m partial to the second one, the g and d strings have a richer tone to my ear.

[Old Growth]

Thank you all for your comments. I will definitely be more mindful in the future about a few things. Such has warm up first, don't just grab the first pick i see etc(fender medium guitar pick.) I'm going to hold off for a bit on naming the individual instruments. I will likely share the information though. Thanks again.

[GDAE]

I'd actually prefer one in between the two. #1 is just a bit too bright and #2 a bit too dull.

[Charles E.]

Am I the only one hearing hearing a constant background buzz in both recordings? They both sound good except for that.

[sgarrity]

Video 1 a more modern tone. Video 2 a more traditional tone. 2 for me all the way!

[Old Growth]

Yes...buzz.....too much enthusiasm not enough mindfulness in the videos. I think i was over-driving the system. I sat calmly in my home at 2 am last night, this morning and recorded my Wienman very quietly and the recording was "much" better.
Rookie mistakes abound:/