Is it more an A or F ?

[outdoors4me]

Saw this one at Big Joes in Nashville. I can't figure if this is more an A or F. Unusual - Does anyone know have an opinion on this style?

Thanks, Beck


http://www.bigjoesguitarworks.com/sh...%26aid%3D19%26

[ColdBeerGoCubs]

It's called a two-point.

[outdoors4me]

Yep....understand it's a two point. How do they sound? Would they be at home playing bluegrass and oldtime? Is this a new style? Sorry, I'm just used to playing A's & F's.

Beck

[ColdBeerGoCubs]

The body style will have less of an effect on sound then will the type of wood, sound hole type, construction, etc.

And as far as 2-points doing bluegrass, check out Phoenix mandolins, not only beautiful but have a two-point tailored to the bluegrass niche.

[JeffD]

I like the symmetry of a two point. Its a great look.

[JEStanek]

The points and scrolls have a minimal effect on tone. Have a builder play you 5 of his A's and 5 of his F's with the same woods and general construction and I bet you would bet them wrong if your back was turned. That's a Randy Wood 2 Point. That would be pretty desirable.

Jamie

[MikeEdgerton]

They aren't a new style, they've been around almost as long as the other two.

This is a Lyon and Healy Style A (has nothing to do with the A style body we know of today, that was a Gibson designation). This was built in 1920 but they made them much earlier as well. This two-point has points that are not symmetrical.

[Potosimando]

A few months ago, when Joe first listed this particular instrument on the Mandolin Cafe, he claimed that it was the best-sounding Randy Wood mandolin that he had heard of any style--that says a lot (Joe knows his RW's). Even if it were "one of the best", it would be pretty darn sweet...but apparently this two-point struck him as "the best", at least when he first heard it. I'd suggest that you give Joe a call, or email him, if you are the slight bit interested in purchasing this instrument.

[Greg H.]

A Randy Wood is an excellent choice for Bluegrass, Old Time, Celtic, Jazz, . . . . . . . .

[jim_n_virginia]

I'd buy that mandolin if I had the dough without even trying it out. A Randy Wood two point is a very nice mandolin. You could play anything you want with that baby! And coming from Big Joe I KNOW that thing would be set up and ready to play!

[outdoors4me]

Thanks for the great info guys.

Beck

[Steve Ostrander]

Is this a good time to bring up the Gibson 3-point F-style mandolins?

[RichM]

Wow, Beck, having followed your other thread, I know you're going to Nashville and that this Randy Wood fits comfortably into your budget. Randy's mandolins don't come up for sale that often, and not usually at this price point. I would put trying this one out at the top of your list.

[Capt. E]

My Weber "Bighorn" is a two point (see my avatar), has ff holes (there are oval hole Bighorns as well) and is equal in volume and tone to any F model selling in the 4-6K range.

[MandoNicity]

I used to be a scroll addict, but these days it's all two-pointers I am interested in. They have totally captured my attention and I want one ever so bad. When I have the funds it's gonna' be a two-pointer I purchase.

JR

[Elliot Luber]

I like the symmetry of a two point. Its a great look.

I prefer the asymmetrical two points, where one is lower than the other. Funny though, I have a (symmetrical) Gibson 335 guitar, so I guess I have a double standard when it comes to mandolins.

[lgc]

I don't know what it is called but if you order 2,147,483,647 of them it costs $9,663,676,411,500.00 befor taxes. I wonder if my debit card can handle that.

[JEStanek]

It may take Mr. Wood a while to assemble 2.2billion two point mandolins. Even then, not everyone on earth could have one.

Jamie

[toddjoles]

I thought the were called C#'s!

[JEStanek]

Bill Bussman at Oldwave Hollar and Dr. David Cohen use the c# moniker... 1/2 way between a F and an A. Get it?

I'm quite the fan of the asymmetrical L&H Style A shape, myself.

Jamie

[RichM]

I must be the luckiest guy in the world, then, having owned an L&H Style A, a Bussmann C# AND a Cohen C#... although, on a technicality, the Cohen C# is a modified scroll mando, not a two point.

[JEStanek]

Right you are about the Cohen, Rich... so many mandolins... so little time.

Jamie

[big smiley guy]

I love the Lyon and Healy's with the scroll headstocks. Hopefully I'll be lucky enough to see one in person someday. Wonder how they generally compare to Gibson's tonewise?

[wamjr52]

A very good friend of mine in the local jam group that currently plays a 1993 Gibson F5 also has a 1976 Gibson what he calls an A5, but it has 2 or double points, like the old Aria M300s from the 1970's, but with an oval sound hole. Was it labled A5? as I have tried to find a picture of that model on the internet but so far no luck. He paid $460.00 for it in 1977 in Mrytle Beach SC. Great sounding mandolin.

[journeybear]

Is this a good time to bring up the Gibson 3-point F-style mandolins?

NO!!!

But a guy/gal can dream ...

BTW, the link in the OP needs to be reset. Right now it brings up an electric bass. Still has two points, though ...