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Thread: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

  1. #1
    🎶 Play Pretty 🎶 Greg Connor's Avatar
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    Default New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    I'm enjoying my latest acquisition, a used Flat Top Mandolin made by Minnesota builder Steve Rossow. Steve built somewhere around 20 mandolins consisting of F5's, A5's and only 2 Flat tops (I think) before focusing his energy on Violins.

    This instrument has great sustain and a warmer tone compared to my maple instruments.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  3. #2
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Nice

  4. #3
    Chu Dat Frawg Eric C.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Wow I really like the A5 shape! Would love to hear it.

  5. #4
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Congrats! You don't see a lot of F hole flat tops out there. Its pretty cool

    Happy picking!

  6. #5

    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Zach Wilson View Post
    Congrats! You don't see a lot of F hole flat tops out there. Its pretty cool

    Happy picking!
    It looks very nice. I was wondering how it sounded, given the f-holes on a flat top. I'm also pretty used to seeing flat tops with oval holes.

  7. #6
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Interesting. The old Waldo f-hole bowl-backs suffered from the lack of a transverse brace. How is the top of this one braced -- or is it? One advantage of arch-top is that strength can be built in through thickness carving.
    Allen Hopkins
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  8. #7
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Southern Man View Post
    It looks very nice. I was wondering how it sounded, given the f-holes on a flat top. I'm also pretty used to seeing flat tops with oval holes.
    I'm curious as well. I've never seen one in real life.

  9. #8
    🎶 Play Pretty 🎶 Greg Connor's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Here is what my Flat Top sounds like:

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  11. #9
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    That's a nice mandolin. Looks good, sounds good.

  12. #10
    Registered User Louise NM's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    I love the paw print on the headstock.

  13. #11
    🎶 Play Pretty 🎶 Greg Connor's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    Interesting. The old Waldo f-hole bowl-backs suffered from the lack of a transverse brace. How is the top of this one braced -- or is it? One advantage of arch-top is that strength can be built in through thickness carving.
    Sorry Allen, I have no idea how the top is braced. It’s resonant and perfectly flat. That’s about all I know about it’s construction.

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  15. #12
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Very cool. Love the look and cool sounding too. Really like the look of the walnut back and sides. Looks similar to some of Charlie Hoffman's guitars with the figuring.
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  16. #13
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: New To Me - Flat Top Mandolin

    Good looking mandolin! Congrats. I would also be interested in the bracing.

    Jamie
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