Octave Mandolins: Trinity College vs. Johnson

Subject: OCTAVE MANDOLINS
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 20:07:15 -0600

I would like to purchase an octave do you think the johnson would make me happier than the trinity college? There both about the same price I could go either way just would like to have what you would choose in terms of tone playability Thanks Mark Crowder.

The Celtic body styles offered by both Trinity College and Johnson are pretty much the same...both have the same exact demensions, choice of woods and hardware. The only difference will be the inlay...playability would be completely dependent on the set-up we perform before shipping...I prefer a medium action which minimizes the rattles of the strings against the frets...this is still a sound character of these instruments...

Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Octaves: TC or Johnson
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 17:43:22 -0400

Hi yet again Mickey!

Yes, I got the quote. And I've already ordered the Octave.

Congratulations...I love this body style and would love to own one myself...

Thanks for the kind words regarding my Crosspicking Mando book.

I could go on for quite some time about it, but suffice it to say it's
well organized, easy to follow and pleasing to the eye in its page
layout. Plus there's so much common sense in there, it's almost scary
:))

Thanks for the review...I will post it on our Crosspicking Mando Book page.

Yes...it most definitely has more depth to its tonal range than the
average Octave. I didn't notice the points as being in the way when I
played it...remember, you'll also have our full trade-up policy that
will give your further options at a later date.

I'll take your word for the points. Come to think of it, they don't
look that painful!

And having enticed the wife to listen to the various octaves, she
chose: The Johnson 550. She preferred its tone to the TC and strangely
enough, to the Weber Sage. More on that below

So, I spoke to Bryan on Saturday ( Nice guy!) and ordered the Johnson
and the video you have out. I'm going to ship the Yairi when the
Johnson gets here, if not sooner. I'm really hoping this is the
instrument that fits my hand. Guitar was really too big and the
mandolin too small. I have a couple of trivial questions though:

1) I noticed in the pictures of the Johnson, that in some shots it has
stainless tuning pegs and in others what looks to be pearloid pegs?
I don't care either way, but I am curious as to what to expect

The newer ones appear to be coming in with pearloid buttons...maybe they were out of the metal buttons at one time and switched over. Who's to say? I look the look of the pearloid buttons; the metal buttons would be highly durable...and less likely to chip if accidentally hit...

2) My wife and several friends who gave their opinions on which octave
to get, all said the same thing about the Webers. They didn't seem to
care for the sound. I'm wondering if this was due to a different setup
when you recorded those clips or if the timbre of the Webers is so
different that the mind just doesn't translate it as an octave?

I'm not too sure...both of these samplers were recorded around the same time...so, the set-up should have been the exact same. Recently, I've introduced an off-board mic system...and, yes, the tone produced today due to this new set-up has more presence...

Hope this clarifies things...please let me know how I might assist once you get started learning to play...at your disposal, Mickey

Just food for thought. I'm sure they're fantastic instruments.

Thanks for all your help. Can't wait for that octave to get here :)

Garry

Subject: Re: Octaves: TC or Johnson
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 20:47:50 -0400

Greetings Garry,

Glad to assist if we can:

First, we would love to work a trade with you...and even offer you
fair market value minus resell costs. However, in your best interest,
you'll want to find a model number. Otherwise, you could be
short-changing yourself. Some Yairi models can bring upwards of
800.00; and others bring only 100.00+... So, yes, this would be worth
pursuing and may give you some buying power.

Hi again Mickey. And boy do I feel stoopid :)
I didn't realize you were the same person who'd written that cross
picking mandolin book. Great book, by the way!
Okay. I've found the model ( and serial! ) number. It's an
Alvarez-Yairi DY71 and the serial # is 48632. It was made in Japan and
I believe it's circa 1995

Greetings again Garry...
Hopefully, you've received the trade-in value on your DY71...let me know if there's any way I can assist you further in making this work.

Thanks for the kind words regarding my Crosspicking Mando book.

The Johnson MA-550 would have a mellower tone with more bass
overtones to it than the Trinity College...it has a deeper body
overall.

I looked at the 550 and the only problem I have with it is those
"points" . I'm not sure about how comfortable they'd be while playing.
If it's anything like the 500 bouzouki, I'd say it would have a very
nice tone indeed

Yes...it most definitely has more depth to its tonal range than the average Octave. I didn't notice the points as being in the way when I played it...remember, you'll also have our full trade-up policy that will give your further options at a later date.

The MA-450 has the exact body dimensions and types of wood
as does the Trinity College TM-325. I believe they were even made at
the same factory; this is probably why you cannont tell the
difference on the samplers. Both are excellent Octaves...it would
only depend on which inlay you would like best...I personally like
the Celtic Knot that the TC offers.

That does explain a lot. I'll do a little more thinking on it. Not
much more, though. I'm itching to get one :))

I think I'll subject the wife to all of the video samples and see what
she likes the best. After all, I get to enjoy playing it, she has to
live with it!

That's true. However, and hopefully, the better you become, the more she'll want you to play.

Hope the above helps...Mickey

It helps a bunch. Thanks for taking the time to respond. That's very
rare these days. And also, my compliments on your effort to include,
not just sound, but video samples of the majority of your offerings.
It makes me feel like I'm truly in a virtual music store . That's rare
too!

You're most welcome...Mickey

Thanks again!

Garry

Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 07:55:14 -0700

Hi!

I'm looking at purchasing one of your octave mandolins. I'm sort of torn
between the Johnson 450 or the Trinity College model.

Unfortunately, my wife has threatened me with dismemberment if I bring another
instrument home without getting rid of one.

I've got an Alvarez-Yairi steel string guitar that I simply don't play
anymore. I'm not sure of the exact model , but it's the Koa/Graphite guitar. I
have a hardshell case with it. It has a chip out of the back (underside) of
the peghead and I believe that's all of the damage it has..

Would this worth pursuing? I won't get upset if you say "No" . I'll just find
somewhere to hide the guitar around the house until she forgets about it and
buy the octave outright ;)

I have one question about the octave. My wife never liked the mandolin because
it was too high pitched and "tinny". Would the Johnson 450 have a more
mellow/deeper sound than the Trinity College octave? I've watched some of the
video samplers , but I'm still not sure...

Thanks for your time!

Garry G. Bryan

Greetings Garry,

Glad to assist if we can:

The Johnson MA-550 would have a mellower tone with more bass overtones to it than the Trinity College...it has a deeper body overall. The MA-450 has the exact body dimensions and types of wood as does the Trinity College TM-325. I believe they were even made at the same factory; this is probably why you cannont tell the difference on the samplers. Both are excellent Octaves...it would only depend on which inlay you would like best...I personally like the Celtic Knot that the TC offers.

Hope the above helps...Mickey