I now have two vintage oval hole mandolins - 1920 Gibson A-4 and a 1929 Martin Style 20. Both are in excellent condition for 100 and 91 year old instruments. The Gibson has a well repaired and stable top crack hidden by the pick guard, and the Martin has some minor top scuffing where a previous owner had improperly positioned the bridge. Both mandolins have had original teeny frets replaced by Bob Chuckrow with modern larger frets. Both have straight necks and excellent set up.
The Gibson is a much heavier instrument, with thicker plates and milder arching. The neck is substantial, with V shaping and a massive heel. The back and sides are birch, with the back featuring very distinct curly figure. Kind of special for birch. The top is finished in the dark mahogany sunburst, my favorite Gibson look. The Martin is light as a feather, with delicately carved plates. The arching is Stainer violin like, with graceful recurves. The neck is slim like a modern mandolin, with a round profile and small violin like heel. The back and sides are are curly maple, but is a well match four piece plate. It takes a careful look to discern the fact.
Tonally, the two instruments are quite distinct from each other. Neither would suit a bluegrass band, because they lack the bluegrass chop. The Gibson has a rich, thick tone, with powerful bass and solid, clear trebles. It's hard to overdrive this beast; it just stronger the harder you beat it. I wouldn't call it tubby, the tone is thick, sweet and rich. The Martin, on the other hand, has a clear and bell like quality. Because it uses light gauge strings and has a shorter 13" scale, it can be overdrive. But it doesn't need to be, because the trebles are clear and strong under a moderate attack. Both mandolins are happiest playing old time, celtic, and classical, with the Gibson tending to old time and celtic, and the Martin celtic and classical.
So I'm all set on classic, vintage mandolins.
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