Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 18:59:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Fwd: Question on Weber mandolas

Hi Mickey

Greetings again Sam,

Glad to assist further...

Thank you for your thoughtful response. You are right, I am trying to find the best of all worlds in one instrument! I know that's not possible but I hope to find a happy balance. It seems to be a tradeoff between clarity/brightness/bark/chop vs. warmth/ openness, resonance/depth.

Your suggestions are great, very helpful.

So here's what I'm trying to compare now............

a Mahogany instrument with F holes VS. a Maple instrument with Round hole.

It appears that you've narrowed down your choices...

The mahogany instrument, with matte finish and F soundholes would still have more resonance and openness of tone than the maple with an oval soundhole with gloss finish...I believe the maple woods lend themselves well to a more crisp brighter tone...yes, the oval soundhole would contribute to more openness in tone...only, it wouldn't have the warmth and resonance of the mahogany with matte finish...the f soundholes on the mahogany matte mando would contribute to more projection without too much sacrifice of openness in tone...I believe the matte finish f soundhole model would serve you well for the characteristics you're looking for...I believe you will find an overall fullness without sacrifice to bass end with this choice...remember, we also offer a full 100% trade-up value...this in itself will protect your invesment and allow you further choices just in case...

From what you've said, if I understand it right, it seems like both these combinations would have a pretty good balance of the qualities noted above....am I correct?

For example, a mahogany Hyalite with F holes VS. a maple Absaroka with Round hole.

Any thoughts on the comparison of these two options?

Everything stated above would apply...remember, the gloss finish also seems to quiet down the aliveness of tone...of which you're looking for in a mandola....

Hope this adds clarity to your choices...Mickey


Thanks again for your help Mickey, it is very much appreciated.

Sam

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Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 16:05:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Question on mandolas

Hi Mickey

Greetings Sam,

Paula at Weber referred me to you. I will be purchasing a mandola from FOTW soon, and would like your opinion.

I'd be glad to personally assist you with this...Paula's great!

I am looking for a warm, woody, throaty sound. It should have plenty of bark and decent chop. It should have plenty of percussiveness and cut but it doesn't need to be so bright as to be able to slice through a wall of sound.  I like a deep solid tone with plenty of bass and a fair amount of resonance.

Wow! It sounds like you would have the perfect mandola with all of these voicing qualities in one instrument...I've found somewhat of a give and take between models of different configurations...for instance, the flat style mandolas seem to have the most aliveness and resonance...only they do not project well and have no bark to speak of...and they seem to get lost in a larger ensemble. Notwithstanding, they carry very well for Celtic settings and seem to have a nice fullness when playing unaccompanied or with one other instrument...

To find a compromise for both resonance and bark, along with plenty of bass and percussiveness, you might want to consider an archtop mandola...with F sounholes...such as the Bitterroot...the Bitterroot would come closest to the tonal range you're looking for and still allow for some bark and percussiveness. Because of the matte finish, you'll find it to have a nice responsive resonance. The F soundholes with the archtop design contributes to nice projection and some bark...when chopping chords. I believe the mahogany woods seem to off more bass resonance than a maple model; additionally, if you're looking for some warmth, the mahogany woods serve well...This would be the middle ground between the Weber Flat Styles and the Weber F-styles with maple woods and gloss finish...

I happen to own a Weber Big Sky mandola of which offers more power than I had ever hoped to find...it offers a lot of bark and percussiveness...it falls short on the resonance and aliveness found in a matte finish mandola...it does have a throaty sound...and it does seem to hold its own on the bass end...

I like fairly traditional looking A or celtic teardrop carved top instruments, preferably with gloss finishes.

You might consider the Weber Hyalite mandola....this would have most all of the features of the Weber Bitterroot discussed above...and would offer the midway ground you're looking for in one mandola....remember, if you go with a gloss finish A, such as the Absaroka, expect some give and take in tonal characteristics...the Absaroka would have more bark and percussiveness...only less aliveness and resonance...

I don't want to spend too much, but I would like to get the sound I want which is my main priority.
I play mosty Irish and folk music, but would like an instrument that will cover most anything.
From my discussion with Paula I'm leaning towards an Absaroka with a brekke bridge and an oval hole. What do you think? Should I consider instruments made of mahogany? How about F holes? Any other considerations I haven't mentioned?

The A soundholes seem to open up the sound...there again, you'll be dealing with some compromise on the bark and projection...for versatility and a further tonal range, I recommend the F soundholes...mahogany woods seem to fit your tonal quality needs...by adding warmth and a deeper bass range...

Hope something here helps...I'd be glad to further assist...feel free to call our sales manager James @ for custom options and delivery times...keep on pickin', Mickey

I really appreciate any information you could share.

Thanks!!!

Sam

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Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 07:39:44 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Weber Gallatin Mandola

Hi, I'm very interested in the Weber Gallatin Mandola, as this is about
the limit of what I can afford and it seems to be a good instrument.
Could you give me a critique on it, and also what your price on
it would be? Thanks.
Bill Best

Greetings Bill,

The Weber Gallatin is a mahogany back and sided mandola with a matte finish...a very warm sound with lots of resonance...I own a Weber Big Sky mandola which has good projection but does not offer the warm resonance that the Gallatin does...because the Gallatin has an archtop, you'll also have better projection than a flat style mandola.

Call James @ ...he can get you a delivery date on one of these...there's only a 10% deposit required to start having one built...

Mickey

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Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 17:39:23 -0700

Mickey, Thanks for the quick response. From your info I'd quess I'm leaning toward either Weber mandola: the Yellowstone F or the Beartooth A. Which do you think would have less of a treble response, be more resonant in the lower register? Also, would you take my A-4 in trade? I would likely need to do trade as I have enough cash probably to make up the difference. Lastly, are these instruments in stock or would there be a wait? Thanks again, Jim Mumm


Greetings Jim,

Yes, we would accept your A-4 in trade...we do our best to offer current market value minus 15% resell costs...let me know if you have found one similar to yours that has recently sold.

I believe the Beartooth may be readily available...there would be a wait on the Yellowstone...if you do decide, let me know...I can get an exact date for you...

Now, if you're looking for more bass response, I'd have to say that the Hyalite would have the best Bass Response of all Weber Mandolas...for projection, the Yellowstone and Beartooth would be superior...both the Yellowstone and the Beartooth would have similar tonal range...there would be a slight difference, due to the hollowed out points on the Yellowstone...but, still, almost indistinguishable.

At your disposal, Mickey

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Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 23:55:41 EDT
Subject: Bridger Mandola measurements

Hello Mickey,

I received a color sample packet from Mary Weber the other day, as we're
finalizing the finish choices on my custom Bridger mandola. But the samples
brought up a question I had concerning the size of the mandola. Since you
have one in stock, can you answer them for me?

On the Bridger measurements...we're currently out of stock on Weber mandolas...other than a Big Sky. Therefore, I cannot get the measurements to you. I called Weber and they didn't have it at hand; however, they're preparing it for me and said that they would be e-mailing me the dimensions.

Is the size of the body of the mandola larger than a Bridger mandolin? The
sample Mary sent me is 11-3/4" wide by 14" long. To me that's the size of a
mandolin, not a mandola. The fingerboard width at the body joint is roughly
1-3/4", which is again kind of narrow in my view. Could you measure your
Bridger mandola and compare these measurements for me?

The body sizes of all Weber Mandolas are larger than any of their standard mandolins. I'm not sure where the 11.75" x 14" comes in the picture.

The Nut Width on my Big Sky Mandola is 1.25"
I'm getting 1.75" at the neck/body joint.

I don't have a Bridger mandola to measure...however, I suspect that Weber could confirm the specs you have.

If those really are correct, I think I might go for a wider neck. I have
small, fat fingers, and I already have difficulty playing cleanly on
mandolins that are about that size. I ordered a radius fingerboard; do you
think that would help my left hand on such a narrow board, or would that make
things worse?

I love a radius fingerboard myself...and wish I had one on my Weber mandola. It should help your left hand tremendously. I've noticed a major difference when playing mandos with and without radius fingerboards. I find after long playing bouts that my hand tires more easily than on a radius fingerboard.

You fingerpicked the Bridger mandola - did you have any
problems with the width or string spacing?

Not at all...the mandola offers plenty of width for both the fretting and picking hands.

I'm going to head down to Buffalo Brothers and measure a few more mandolins.
They have a couple of Bridgers there, but no mandolas. I might buy a neat old
Martin from them, though...

Wish you the best in your research efforts...be sure to let me know how I might assist further.

I have made the decision to do the custom order through you because of your
upgrade policy, setup, and obvious love of mandolas. My only qualm is you'll
get to play it before me! Any chance you'd throw in your mandola video as
part of the deal?
Darrell

Hope this helps...Mickey