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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 20, 2018 19:59:34 GMT
Well, maybe not "versus", but hopefully an interesting comparison: The Gibson is an A3 carved top made in 1921, which I bought from Trevor TAMCO about a year ago. The De Faoite is a flat top, cedar and mahogany, made by our very own davewhite. The comparison is a bit difficult since there are so many different variables between the two instruments (flattop/carved top, woods, strings - the De Faoite has much lighter strings, body size, scale length - the De Faoite is much longer scale) but it was all recorded with the same setup and plectrum (BlueChip Jazz LG35 pick) so hopefully it's instructive at some level. I think you can hear at least some of the characteristics of each instrument - the strong fundamental of the Gibson, the warmer and more complex tones of De Faoite. One thing that doesn't seem to stand out on this recording is I find the De Faoite a bit louder in practice - I tend to take it to sessions for that reason, it's harder to hear the Gibson when you're sat next to a couple of fiddles and other instruments. Be interested to hear what others think? |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 20, 2018 20:52:31 GMT
Thanks but I think that you’re being too modest; what it does show very well is not just the difference between the two instruments but also the difference between a “bluegrass” and a “Celtic” mandolin.
I certainly prefer the warmth of the Da Faoite and that probably explains why I chose my mandolin over the US models I tried.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 20, 2018 22:48:50 GMT
That's a good point - it would be interesting to hear some bluegrass splayed on both instruments too, unfortunately it's not a genre in which I have any repertoire.
Just to note though the Gibson was not invented for bluegrass, that genre came much later. I think these carved top Gibsons may have been originally intended for mandolin orchestras playing classical or music hall tunes?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 21, 2018 0:37:00 GMT
Nice vid Joe, and demonstrates well the differences. Both lovely, in different ways, and suited to different uses. The ringing sustaining warmth of the De Faoite is right up my street though!
Keith
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 21, 2018 6:30:43 GMT
That's a good point - it would be interesting to hear some bluegrass splayed on both instruments too, unfortunately it's not a genre in which I have any repertoire. Just to note though the Gibson was not invented for bluegrass, that genre came much later. I think these carved top Gibsons may have been originally intended for mandolin orchestras playing classical or music hall tunes? Yes that’s my understanding of the early Gibsons too. But my thinking is that was probably the type that the early bluegrass players used before the F style, f holed mandolins came along. I would probably have been better saying that it shows the difference between flat and carved tops rather than musical styles. |
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 21, 2018 9:16:46 GMT
Great video, Joe. It was easy (even for my ears) to tell the difference twixt the two instruments but much harder to say which I preferred. I think the DeFaoite suited the piece you chose better but, as you’ve said elsewhere, that could be reversed with a different piece or style.
The Gibson was decidedly jingle-jangly and very clear whereas the DeFaoite allowed notes to play longer so seemed to almost accompany itself in places.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Feb 21, 2018 9:34:35 GMT
Some very fine playing there Joe  |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 21, 2018 10:53:24 GMT
Some very fine playing there Joe Although rather tainted by the choice of T-shirt  |
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Post by garynava on Feb 21, 2018 16:55:14 GMT
Thanks for posting the video- a good comparison- and really confirms what you'd expect. Neither better just a mater of taste as to which mandolin suits which piece of music. This why after building so many flat-tops myself, I find the need to build an arch top or two- a different voice. Looking forward to the video where you compare oval hole to f hole  Cheers Gary |
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 22, 2018 8:40:16 GMT
Good demo as it shows clearly how huge a difference there can be in type of sound from mandolins.  Clear even after YouTube compression and PC speakers have enforced their limitations. As already said it depends on the type of music you want to play which one would be best. I'd be reaching for the Da Faoite - no surprise given my collection of acoustic guitars with more warmth than clear jangly sounds. A lot of top end has me reaching for paracetamol!  Mark |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 22, 2018 11:51:37 GMT
Seems a fairly clear consensus for the Da Faoite on here. But like Gary said a matter of taste rather than one being better. Might be interesting to put the video on a US site where there's more of a bias to the bluegrass sound and see what the preference there is?
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 22, 2018 16:06:08 GMT
Might be interesting to put the video on a US site where there's more of a bias to the bluegrass sound and see what the preference there is? Aye, cos it's probably been a while since you had a good kicking  |
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Jo whoever he is.
