Help making German Mandolin decision Knorr or Dean

[TerryCarson]

I have a decision to make. I am purchasing (contracting) to have a either a Dean German Style bowl back mandolin made - date 2023 or a K.Knorr La Gioiosa 12 month delivery time. Both appear to be very good options with the Knorr shorter wait and slightly less money. What would you do? I am a classical student on Artistworks and love the bowlbacks(I have a 1912 Martin and and an intermediate Italian Carmelo Catania (but I have an Eastman F style I really love too) so the wait is not a problem since I am learning and plan on continuing for years to come.

Sincerely,
Terry

[Martin Ohrt]

Judging from the Video on the Dean's site the two instruments should not sound very different from each other, I guess. And as far as I know you can't go wrong with a Knorr if you like that "German" sound.

[TerryCarson]

It's a hard decision. I really like that "German" sound!

[Jeff Mando]

Took me a second to realize you weren't talking about Dean, the electric guitar company who made Dimebag Darrell's guitar (and also cheapo mandolins and banjos....), but rather the luthier Brian N. Dean.......

OK, I get it........though, still not sure about what a German sound is....

[Martin Ohrt]

The very clean, full tone of those bowl backs that are modeled after the Seiffert mandolins. They are somewhat bigger than the "normal" neapolitan mandolin and produce a fuller tone, more like a guitar maybe.
Maybe listen to some of Carlo Aonzo's music where he plays his neapolitan mandolin, and compare that to Caterina Lichtenberg's music on her german instrument; this demonstrates nicely how the "real" neapolitan mando sound differs from the german tone.
Of course, this also has to do with the pick choice - those german mandolins are (AFAIK) nearly exclusively played with Wolle picks.

[pheffernan]

What would you do?

I’m not patient: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/139809#139809

[margora]

"What would you do?"

The Knorr. I've played both Knorr and Woll, very recently, which is basically the high end decision in Germany. The choice between the two is entirely a matter of personal taste, in my opinion, both are extraordinary instruments.. I've also played Dean's German model; he is an exceptional builder, but I would still go with the Knorr. If you are looking to go German, it is as authentic as one could get.

[MikeEdgerton]

For anyone interested Brian Dean is a long-time Cafe member that builds exceptional instruments.

http://www.labraid.ca/german