Campanella A-440

[joec]

So, I've finally gotten around to making a model that a lot of folks have asked about. It's an X-braced oval hole mando. A golden blonde with french polished amber oil varnish.
The mandolin has a very open and resonant tone, with complex overtones and lots of sustain--inspiring the model name. I'll try to get some mp3s up here as soon as I can. I'll have the instrument with me at the Joe Val Festival in Framingham, MA this weekend.
thanks for checking it out,
Joe

[joec]

...a couple more...

[Glassweb]

Very, very nice... a beautiful and elegant take on an American classic. Great work Joseph!

[F-2 Dave]

That's beautiful, Joe.

[Jill McAuley]

Stunningly gorgeous! I want!

Cheers,
Jill

[Bob Stolkin]

Man, that is lovely. I don't know if this makes sense, but it just looks like it sounds great!

[Richard Morrison]

My next mando is gonna have to be blonde...they've really grown on me. This one looks fantastic.

[joec]

Let's see if I can post a mp3 of this new mando.
I've got two tunes, Fort Smith Breakdown, and Frog on a Lily Pad:

[Jonas]

Ouch!
That is something else. Beautiful work Joe!

What woods did you use? Does it have a long modern neck or short neck like the old Gibsons?

How does it compare to the vintage F2 we played at Mando Bros? (That's one of two nice oval hole mandolin I've ever played, so it's kind of my reference point...)

[Oggy]

Oh no, all these ovals showing up gives me a bad case of 0-MAS... first Ellis a couple of weeks ago and now Campanella.

Looks great Joe! Sound great too, with that lovely deep resonance of a great oval hole mandolin.

[Shelagh Moore]

Love the looks and sound of this mandolin!

[Tripp Johnson]

uh-O!!!...

[Skip Kelley]

Joe, that is awesome! Love the blonde finish!

[grassrootphilosopher]

Nice sounds and sights. I like the beautiful understatement in this oval hole. It does have a longer neck (as oposed to the vintage oval Gibsons), right? Does the x-bracing give it a bit more "power" and complexity?

[Kirk Albrecht]

Simply gorgeous work, Joe.

[JEStanek]

Looks like a longer neck with an elevated fingerboard. This moves the bridge forawrd and gives it some of that unique hybrid tone. Wonderful looks and sounds. Congratulations on the fine build, Joe!

Jamie

[Don Grieser]

Joe, that's a stunning oval, both in looks and tone. Yowza. Just gorgeous.

Instead of lugging that thing all the way to MA, just drop it off at UPS to me. It would look good with those other ovals in my avatar.

[joec]

Thanks everyone!!
I appreciate all of the comments and the warm reception for these instruments. My goal with this one, and my approach re: A4 hybrids is to keep all of the warmth, bass and sustain, but achieve a more modern playability and response time under the pick. Also, I believe the X-brace provides more appropriate resistance than a transverse bar, keeping the arch in shape over the life of the instrument, and allowing me to graduate a more responsive top, rather than a thicker, structural plate.
Have a good weekend...
Joe

[Jim MacDaniel]

Sweet.

[Jake Wildwood]

Elegant.

[PJ Doland]

It seems like every time I login, you have something cool to share. How many instruments do you make a year?

[Fliss]

Wow, that is gorgeous - sounds great too! I want one!

Fliss

[Mark Walker]

Joe - okay, all the adjectives I wanted to use have been taken by everyone else!

Keep up the great work! Eye candy at its best!

[Jonas]

I've listened to the soundfiles now, and I think this mandolin sounds spectacular! Very nice work Joe.

[sgarrity]

Just listened to the sound clips. AWESOME!!!