Why copy errors???

[Michael Cameron]

Guy Hart and Ted McHugh?

Yes. Those guys.

[D.E.Williams]

Ok, here's a couple screen shot images to compare...just for kicks. I'm curious which people like better. Hopefully, these images will be viewable...

[man dough nollij]

What are the differences? The blue (right) one seems to have a slightly deeper dip below the neck on the left side, but that's the only thing I can see.

[D.E.Williams]

There are differences. That's all I will say right now. I'm more interested in what people find pleasing to their eye, and why, or what they don't like and why. This should be a good experiment.

[John Hill]

I prefer the smaller (looking) top point in the first one but I'd be more interested in how comfortable it is in the lap.

[ApK]

I like the blue one. I don't know why.

[sunburst]

F-holes or oval hole? Short neck (F4/F2) or long neck (F5)?
Without the context of the other design features I can't know which I would prefer.

As they are, I don't have a strong preference, they both display some of the things I think aren't quite right with the F5 shape, but I slightly prefer the red one on the left, though somewhere in between the two would probably suit me better.

[delsbrother]

The blue one looks less like an A shape with the points and scroll added on because it isn't perfectly symmetrical. I don't know if that necessarily makes me "prefer" it... The red one seems more "modern" to me, FWIW.

Isn't the L&H Style A also asymmetrical?

[Ivan Kelsall]

They seem VERY similar to me,with the exception that the top point on the blue profile is 'pointier' that the top point of the red one.That's maybe why the blue one appears to have more of a 'waist' than the red one ?. Both are pleasing to my eye,
Saska

[Tavy]

I too had to look at them several times before I could discern any differences, but I prefer the red one... slightly...

John.

[D.E.Williams]

You all seem to have found one of the differences, but not perhaps the biggest one.

John, this is the back view! One wouldn't see the f holes on the back...


Actually, I left them off intentionally so folks could concentrate purely on the outline, but f holes are appropriate here.

[D.E.Williams]

This is for those who want to see the f holes.

[Hans]

Frankly, with the number of misshapen scrolls, points, lopsided outlines, and just plain individuality I see in F5 mandolins, it doesn't matter. Those that insist on "Loar" perfection" such as which way the binding overlays or whether the peghead veneer is dyed pearwood or not are just a bit too fanatical for my taste, but who am I to say what is right.
I guess what is most important is tone...

[Phil Goodson]

Yesterday I liked the red one better, but today the slimmer waist and medial shifted scroll & narrower area at the neck look a little more sleek and attractive to me. Or am I just imagining things?
Tomorrow,.... who knows?

[TomTyrrell]

I like the look of the blue one better, the red one looks fat. How do they sound?

[D.E.Williams]

I like the look of the blue one better, the red one looks fat. How do they sound?

Right now, they sound exactly the same.



I'll be posting one more image soon just to add another subtle change, and then we'll see if folks think.

[sunburst]

OK, I still prefer the red one a little bit. The outline encroaches on the treble f-hole a little bit in the blue one. That may or may not be noticeable with an oval hole. An outline needs to work from the front and the back.

[Jim Hilburn]

I did exactly what your talking about on all of the mandolins I made since the turn of the century. I took the bass side shape from McRostie's plan and matched it on the treble side to give it that fuller more symetric look.
But since I got Adian's print I made a new mold and now I'm making them much closer to the Loar shape.

[D.E.Williams]

Ok, let's add a third option just to make things interesting.

So now what do you folks think?
I'll wait until this afternoon to explain exactly what the differences are, and to give folks a chance to chime in if they so desire.

[Hans]

Green is my favorite color...
Other than that I'd say that from 5' no one will know the difference.

[wannabethile]

I like the blue one best. It looks more even from side to side to me.

Sheesh.

[sunburst]

I still don't really like any of them, but still like the red one best.
Rather than "spill the beans" by commenting on the differences I see, I'll just say that the reasons I don't like them, and the reasons I like the red one better are not closely related to what I think you're trying to find out. I've drawn and re-drawn the F5 shape for years, and moving one line 1/32" or less can change everything and require a lot of adjustments elsewhere to compensate, and even then the context of neck length is left out of the equation.

[D.E.Williams]

This is getting interesting...

[Gail Hester]

I love the traditional F5 design which is actually identical to the body shape and a logical extension of the F4 design.

Nice research thread. It took experts hundreds of posts in the "Loar Of The Day" threads to bring out this much information.

[TomTyrrell]

I still like the blue one best. Green second, red last. Something about the scroll I think.