Three Beginner Questions

[Lapk]

Hi All,

Firstly, if there is some thread that answers any of my three questions, please feel free to simply direct me there if you'd like. I've searched around in the forums, but wasn't having much luck. I fear that my questions are so elementary to most musicians here, that there aren't many discussions about the topics. Incidentally, I hope to purchase my first mandolin very soon with a recently increased budget of $300 (I know that for a mandolin that's hardly any money at all, but it is what it is). Thanks for any help you can provide.

Please help me out with ANY of the following questions:

(1) - Aside from appearances, what are the differences from A-style to F-style?

(2) - Aside from appearances, what are the differences from oval holes to F holes?

(3) - Aside from appearances, what are the differences from gloss finish to matte finish?

[noah finn]

1 - There is no difference between A and F mandolins in terms of how they sound, the differences are purely visual.
Because A shape mandolins are more straight forward to build, you get "much more bang for your buck" buying A shape mandolins.

2- f holes give a more punchy, focused sound with a quicker decay - they give that classic bluegrass sound. Oval holes have more sustain, and give a sound more associated with folk, trad, old time. (Broadly speaking)
3 Differences between gloss and matt finishes are subjects of great debate- from my expierence there is no real difference to how a mandolin sounds. What does matter however is the thickness of the finish, thinner finishes are preferable to thicker finishes and a thinner finish allows the wood to vibrate and breathe, while a thicker finish will stifle or subdue the sound.

Learning the mandolin is wonderful journey and this place is a fantastic resource with so many hugely knowledgeable people so generous with their knowledge.

Welcome and enjoy!

[CWRoyds]

For $300, don't buy an F Style.
Buy an A Style.
For that price the A will be a far superior instrument.

Go for a used Kentucky, Eastman, or J Bovier.
The Kentucky KM150 is the general go to for the lower end.
They tend to sound just fine.

Shiny or matte is mainly aesthetics, and not really a tone issue.
Finish type is more important (Nitrocellulose lacquer, Waterborne lacquer, Oil Varnish, Spirit Varnish)
For $300, it is probably going to be Nitrocellulose, so no need to worry about that.

[Ray(T)]

Just to add to what the others have said, matt finishes are easier/cheaper to apply but handlng/playing wear will make a matt finish glossy; usually in patches.

I bought a Collings mandola with a matt neck a couple of years ago. The neck is now glossy purely from playing. (...... plus fingers tend to slide better on a matt neck.)

[Davey]

I play an oval hole because I can hear what I'm playing when I'm in a group as the sound comes out sideways a bit more.

The mistake I made was to turn the Mandolin too far towards my ears to hear it better and I gave myself a sore wrist.

I'm trying to learn to blank out the other instruments.

[EdHanrahan]

... handlng/playing wear will make a matt finish glossy; usually in patches. ...

Just like, given enough time, handling/playing wear will make a glossy finish matt, usually in patches.

For those who worry about aesthetics, a compromise that some have suggested is buff a matt finish, maybe with wax, to a semi-gloss; the result may change the least over time. Most of us would just play and let the battle scars accumulate as they may, because they will.

As Davey implied above, f-holes tend to project forward and be heard better across the room (good for playing against loud bluegrass instruments), while round/oval holes may seem louder to the player (at least in a quiet situation). F's also put the strings' energy into a louder inital volume with fast decay, while round/oval holes are initially quieter (all things being equal, which they never are!) but sustain over a longer time.

[Doug Brock]

(2) - Aside from appearances, what are the differences from oval holes to F holes?

I've only owned f-hole mandolins, so that's what I'm used to. When I've tried oval-hole mandolins, I've been surprised at just how different they sound! I personally don't like the sound at all - it sounds tubby and unbalanced to me. When I first started playing, I planned to eventually have one of each style if only for the variety, but at this point I don't even want to buy an oval-hole mandolin. That being said, lots of folks love and prefer oval-hole mandolins. I've often wondered how long it would take me, playing only oval hole instruments, before my ear adapted to that sound, and then how would the f-hole instruments sound?

SO, you need to try to get your hands on both types and see how they sound to YOU. If you like both sounds, then you're good to go. If you prefer one over the other, then you buy accordingly.

[JeffD]

Oval hole versus f holes. Tastes vary. They both have there adherents. The f hole mandolin usually makes a more focused percussive sound than the oval hole. Prized in bluegrass.

I prefer the oval hole sound myself. Better IMO for non-bluegrass genres.

This is one way i have heard it.

Response to someone playing an f hole mandolin - "Wow what a beautiful sound on that mandolin."

Response to someone playing on an oval hole mandolin - "Wow what beautiful music."

[LadysSolo]

Or, when you get truly addicted you can have both f-hole and oval hole mandolins! I do! LOL!!

[Mandoplumb]

He who dies with the most mandolins wins

[Br1ck]

He who dies with the most mandolins wins

Actually, he who shows up at the estate sale of the guy who had the most mandolins wins.

[Little Missy]

Actually, he who shows up at the estate sale of the guy who had the most mandolins wins.

Ha! Love it. Let me know when/where that is! I may be small, but I'm a fierce shopper!