Re: American flat top/back mandolin - for Italian style playing
Two of my favorite players of the "Italo-American" repertoire: Gus Garelick (from the Hot Frittatas) and Tony Flores, both played Gibson A50s.
Their tremolo is astoundingly expressive. Check out Gus's version of Speranze Perdute for example. Matteo Casserino also played an A50.
Jim's question is right on. Those guys aren't / weren't playing "classical" pieces and at least Gus and Tony's recordings were pretty tightly carefully mic-ed which certainly influences my opinion.
Lots of ways to go. I'm a believer of what RCC suggests. Technique. And I constantly have to work on mine. But Gus and Tony are my ideals as far as tremolo is concerned.
The only long scale model that you mentioned that I've played enough to have an opinion was a Big Muddy that a student had around the shop and I used to play a lot at lunchtime. It was a very nice, easy to play mandolin. Nice tone across the spectrum. Tremolo was like olive oil. Fine mandolins without much name cachet appeal.
The Vega made "Leland" flatbacks (spruce top / rosewood back) are the favorite US flatbacks I've played. Great resonance, super intonation, bright, but not tinny, treble and very good midrange and bass. I've pulled together a small posse of them and they are consistently excellent, particularly with the Calace Dolce strings that Jim recommended. The mahogany backed one I have, I like less.
Carlo Aonzo swapped one with me for his Pandini at a workshop some years ago and then wouldn't give it back. He said (joking) that the trade was final. I might trust his opinion, too.
Paul started the question asking about what long scale mandolins folks recommended. I've never played one of the long scaled L+H archtops. I know they have mostly been dissed here because the classical tradition / preference for shorter scaled mandos (F5s of course, and their origin, current use by BB, CT etc. notwithstanding....) but I hope for the chance to try it without prejudice.
I agree with you, Paul. There's a lot of fun to be had trying out different pieces on different mandos with different scales. And also bowls v flatbacks v archtops.
Don't let anyone tell you what's "right".
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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