Post by grayn on Sept 7, 2021 14:38:49 GMT
I picked this up from Hobgoblin in Leeds, today. It was preowned and I managed to get an even lower price, than asked. I tried it up against a couple of new Ashbury Mandolas, that were around £1300. The new models were slightly more glamourous but for tone, playability and build quality, this preowned was their equal. And for tone, I preferred it, of the three.
I know Ashbury are more known for value end instruments but their higher end gear is very good. I have owned Button and Fylde octave mandolas and this Lindisfarne is very close. I recently owned the Ashbury Iona Bouzouki, which really was up there in quality. I only sold it, as I prefer the shorter scale of the Mandola.
It is all solid woods, with Koa back & sides and Cedar top. It has a mahogany neck and binding, with rosewood (or pau ferro) fingerboard and bridge. Like my old Iona bouzouki, it has an onion shaped body. This design was requested by Hobgoblin's owner and according to the guys in the Leeds branch, it's a bit of a marmite shape. Love it or hate it. I really like it, on both mandola and bouzouki. With a 15 1/2 inch width and 3 3/4 inch depth, there is plenty here to give the instrument some fullness
of tone. I'm really not a fan of some mandolas, with arched tops and thin bodies, that tend to be hard and middly. OK, it may help it cut through a mix but I like mine with plenty of depth and ring and even some jangle.
I tune mine to GDAD, rather than the more traditional GDAE. Chords sound lovely and full, whether strummed or arpeggiated. Melody playing also works well, with a good, vibrant tone. Mix chords and melodic lines, to really get the most out of this Octave Mandola. It's an instrument that works well accompanying other instruments or the voice and can also take the lead role.
I know Ashbury are more known for value end instruments but their higher end gear is very good. I have owned Button and Fylde octave mandolas and this Lindisfarne is very close. I recently owned the Ashbury Iona Bouzouki, which really was up there in quality. I only sold it, as I prefer the shorter scale of the Mandola.
It is all solid woods, with Koa back & sides and Cedar top. It has a mahogany neck and binding, with rosewood (or pau ferro) fingerboard and bridge. Like my old Iona bouzouki, it has an onion shaped body. This design was requested by Hobgoblin's owner and according to the guys in the Leeds branch, it's a bit of a marmite shape. Love it or hate it. I really like it, on both mandola and bouzouki. With a 15 1/2 inch width and 3 3/4 inch depth, there is plenty here to give the instrument some fullness
of tone. I'm really not a fan of some mandolas, with arched tops and thin bodies, that tend to be hard and middly. OK, it may help it cut through a mix but I like mine with plenty of depth and ring and even some jangle.
I tune mine to GDAD, rather than the more traditional GDAE. Chords sound lovely and full, whether strummed or arpeggiated. Melody playing also works well, with a good, vibrant tone. Mix chords and melodic lines, to really get the most out of this Octave Mandola. It's an instrument that works well accompanying other instruments or the voice and can also take the lead role.