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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 17, 2017 7:04:21 GMT
Mandolin related but I think the principle applies to all instruments and whilst I expect that most people See the question and answer yes without reading further I’d be interested in objective answers. I’ve currently got an Ozark “starter” mandolin (similar to this www.thomann.de/gb/hora_portugiesische_mandoline_1.htm?ref=search_rslt_Mandolin_119038_1) but I’m not happy with the tone, I’ve done a setup, put some decent strings on and whilst this helped it sounds tinny and lacks richness. If I play the same notes on my Octave (so above the 12th fret) it sounds a lot richer. Is it a case of a bad workman blaming his tool or would I be likely to notice an improvement with an upgrade? P.S. if you also read mandolincafe.com and are getting a sense of déjà vu, my apologies, I started a similar thread there as well.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 17, 2017 8:23:13 GMT
P.P.S I also plan to go and play some better/more expensive instruments just to see.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 17, 2017 9:28:49 GMT
If you don't like the tone and can afford to get something that sounds better, then yes you should upgrade.
I had an Ozark Hora mandolin when I started and while they are perfectly fine to get going with, I also wanted something a bit better after some time.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 17, 2017 9:39:18 GMT
You could do worse than check out the sister instruments to your octave mandolin, Ashbury. You'll definitely hear and feel a huge improvement without breaking the bank.
And then there's Eastman, Fylde, Davidson, Shippey etc etc.
But you're right to go and play lots. Enjoy the guitar shop trips! Do report back please!
I had a v similar instrument to yours for a while - you'll deffo find a huge improvement in, and much greater pleasure from a "better" instrument, even with only a modest upgrade.
Keith
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2017 9:45:47 GMT
My partner had an Ashbury, and it was excellent. My trips to Hobgoblin have also yielded some wonderful experiences with Moon Mandolins (beautifully made in Glasgow) and a fine Cornish maker by the name of Kas Davey.
Robbie
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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 17, 2017 11:04:28 GMT
Thanks all.
Ashbury is on my list as I’m very pleased with the octave but something says I should get something different, just for the variety. Other ones are the Eastman and Paul Hathway.
Would love something like a Fylde or Moon but they’re more expensive than I can justify paying. I’m strictly a bedroom player!
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Post by vikingblues on Dec 17, 2017 12:38:23 GMT
I went through the mandolin upgrade route at the end of 2015. Well worth the effort and the expense! I ended up trying a range of instruments between £270 and £600. There was a big variety of quality and playing comfort, and connection with the instruments. Here's a link to the thread I did about it. LINK HEREYou will see that I didn't end up with the most expensive instrument. But, as you're intending to do, a trip to try some out is the best route to ensure the "upgrade" does give you something better. There's certainly quite a variation in style of mandolins and in their measurements and in their comfort. Good luck with your search. Mark
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Post by andrewjw on Dec 17, 2017 14:26:37 GMT
My partner had an Ashbury, and it was excellent. My trips to Hobgoblin have also yielded some wonderful experiences with Moon Mandolins (beautifully made in Glasgow) and a fine Cornish maker by the name of Kas Davey. Robbie Another excellent Cornwall based luthier is Martin ColeWe have one of his mandolins...sounds lovely, has been completely stable for 10 years plus and Martin C is a naturally helpful and talented all round decent guy!
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 18, 2017 9:52:43 GMT
Adrian Lucas still one for sale. A beautiful but serious instrument!
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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 18, 2017 12:35:38 GMT
Adrian Lucas still one for sale. A beautiful but serious instrument! Lovely, but I'm afraid probably way out of my budget!
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Dec 18, 2017 12:55:31 GMT
Really cheap mandolins seldom sound good in my experience. I've also never been very impressed with the cheaper Ozark instruments I've played, although their higher end stuff may well be ok. I haven't actually played an Ashbury mandolin, but I've played several of their tenor guitars and an octave mandolin and they were all nice. If you are serious about playing the mandolin and really don't like the sound of the one you've got and you've got a wee bit to spend then I think you could get something better for not a helluva lot more, especially if you look at 2nd hand stuff.
I upgraded a Tanglewood mandolin for a Breedlove one a few years back and I haven't regretted it. I did kinda need a better one though, 'cos I play mandolin in a band. I would recommend the Breedloves, but they have shot up in price since I got mine.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 18, 2017 14:10:48 GMT
Really cheap mandolins seldom sound good in my experience. I've also never been very impressed with the cheaper Ozark instruments I've played, although their higher end stuff may well be ok. I haven't actually played an Ashbury mandolin, but I've played several of their tenor guitars and an octave mandolin and they were all nice. If you are serious about playing the mandolin and really don't like the sound of the one you've got and you've got a wee bit to spend then I think you could get something better for not a helluva lot more, especially if you look at 2nd hand stuff. I upgraded a Tanglewood mandolin for a Breedlove one a few years back and I haven't regretted it. I did kinda need a better one though, 'cos I play mandolin in a band. I would recommend the Breedloves, but they have shot up in price since I got mine. Well, you could upgrade as well and sell me your Breedlove
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Post by stringdriventhing on Dec 18, 2017 15:06:18 GMT
blah blah blahdiddy blah.... Well, you could upgrade as well and sell me your Breedlove Ha! I see what you did there. Nah, I don't get the GAS thing (or should that be MAS) with Mandolins. I see my Breedlove as a purely functional thing that I need for the band. I've no desire to get a "better" one unless something 'orrible happens to the Breedlove. One thing I discovered when looking for a mando to replace my old one was that there are loads of cheap and fairly nasty ones and plenty of really nice expensive ones, but not a helluva lot in between. Very different from guitars in that respect, where you have lots of options at most price points. When I went looking it was a toss up between the Breedlove and a cheapish unadorned Eastman - both were about £350 I think, which was a lot for me at the time. Also most guitar shops don't have a lot of choice of Mandolins, so it's difficult to try things out. I'm lucky in that one of the local shops specialises in "folk" instruments.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Dec 18, 2017 16:00:35 GMT
My fault, multitasking fail, I was reading the forum whilst on a conference call and misread your post. Can't blame for trying though
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Post by vikingblues on Dec 18, 2017 19:15:19 GMT
Also most guitar shops don't have a lot of choice of Mandolins, so it's difficult to try things out. I'm lucky in that one of the local shops specialises in "folk" instruments. A shop that specialises in acoustic and folk instruments is like an oasis in the desert. Most guitar shops just have acoustic guitars as an add on, and acoustic instruments that aren't guitars are (a) thin on the ground, and (b) no expertise and good advice is on offer from staff on them. One of the more local shops have quite a big acoustic guitar collection, but the advice tends to be limited to "yeah, it's a good one, innit" or similar. On the subject of Ashbury, the Mandolin of that brand that I favoured had Phil Davidson involved in the design of the instrument. 30mm wide at the top nut helps. Most budget mandolins have very narrow fretboards - a pain in more ways than one. Some quotes from what I saw on the two main types of mandolin when I was researching mandolins prior to trying some:- " The nuances may be up to the builder but they can't make an oval hole sound like an f-hole mandolin. They are fundamentally different in the method of sound projection. Oval hole vs. f-hole is the biggest question a person has to answer when it comes to deciding what type of mandolin they want. " " Like the "F" hole, sound is forced out quickly, its projection and focus many feet from the player. The sound of the Oval hole washes out over the player, and is far more "personal," more intimate, but more prone to being buried in an ensemble situation. " " ff hole = bark, ring, projected, bright, clean, focused, intense, fundamental tones oval hole = warm, hum, round, purr, sustained, growl, overtones. " " To me oval holes have a much longer sustain and wider band (maybe overtone) than an f hole. For that reason they are better on slower tunes like waltzes and airs. Once you get up into higher speeds that sustain becomes a liability as the notes begin to muddy into each other. The punchy, projected notes of the f hole are better for faster playing and therefore better for Bluegrass rips like Rawhide, et al. " " The overall volume appears to be about the same, but the f hole will have a more focused sound. The oval holes seem to work better when accompanying other instrument and f holes when taking leads in a band situation, cutting through the other instruments. This is one reason f holes are used in Bluegrass and ovals in Celtic type music. This is not to say that an f hole cannot be used in Celtic or an oval in Bluegrass, just that they are not as optimal. " Mark
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