Mandolas: Weber vs. Flatiron

Subject: Re: Weber Mandola
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 19:40:44 -0600

Mickey, which Weber mandola do you own?

I own a Big Sky of which I'm really thrilled with...it doesn't have the resonance of a flat style such as the Alder series...it does offer an amazing projection though...and has its own unique voicing.

I have a Flatiron 2MB that I found hanging on the wall in a local music store. It had been hanging there for ten years and had never been sold. It still had the tags on it.I have been playing it for several months. There are no cracks in the wood but it does have a few cracks in the finish on the top. It sounds pretty good but I think a new Weber would sound even better.

I'm not too sure about that...Flatirons are fun too. I'm sure your Flatiron is good in its own right. I'm not sure if I'd say that a Weber is better...or even that a Flatiron is better than a Weber...they'll both have their own voicing and personality. For instance, my Big Sky is quite a bit more expensive than the Alder; even so, the Alder has more resonance and sustain. Yet, the Big Sky has great volume and projection.

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Martha