I am really fortunate to have two oval hole mandolins that meet different roles. First, is the Hester F4, maple back and sides, addi top, and short scale with the fret board attached to the top. The second, is a Collings MT2-O, A style, birdseye maple, Italian spruce top and with a raised fret board. Playability: Both are easy to play and note accurately. Voicing: The Collings like every Collings I have played sounds tight. This is not a negative but descriptive term. It sounds very precise and somewhat stark. The Collings seems to respond best to a light touch as over driving does not sound nearly as clean. The Collings has not trouble cutting in a bluegrass situation, although the chop does not really bark. The Hester is softer and smoother in tone. This being said, the Hester generates plenty of volume, just might now cut in a bluegrass situation as well. Maybe the word warm fits the situation. There seems to be more overtones in the tone.
Which is better maybe the wrong question as much as which fits the music being played more effectively. So while both are oval holes, they just sound and feel different. I am just glad to have both. Now trying to explain this to my wife is problematic. She just sees them as the same.
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