Mandolin General Questions High-End Models

Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 23:39:07 -0400

Hi Mickey,

Sorry this is taking so long, but I do plan on trading in my Hyalite for 900 as we've been emailing... the main hang up is just trying to figure out which one to get!

Greetings Steve,

Glad to be of further assistance:

Right now I'm really torn and trying to figure out my budget... but i'm mostly thinking about either a Gallatin or Bitterroot, upgraded to maple, and possibly with a pickup installed. what would that run? do you have anything like that in stock or on its way?

We do usually have something around...or close to being shipped....only, our in-house Weber expert and contact would know...and you're welcome to call him toll free at 888-209-8434...James...

I've also been tempted by the Breedloves. I tried one at a local shop and loved the way they played and sound, i like the big neck. however, i'm not a fan of the k-shape, but perhaps I could get used to it.

The K-shape is quite innovative...I now own two Breedloves and do have the Breedlove Orca in the K-Shape...which is my only oval soundhole mandolin...have to cover all of the bases you know...this mandolin, to me, sounds like a piano and I use it mostly for fingerstyle approaches...

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

My suggestion would be to first consider what style of music you hope to achieve...and base your decision on this...body style, soundhole choice, brand...all of these factors should be weighed in with what you hope to achieve on your mandolin in tonal range. I have a Gibson F-5L that serves very well for bluegrass...it has a bark, for chopping chords, I can't find in other body styles (which is also true of the F's the Weber makes)...however, my Breedloves have a clarity of tone that's hard to find...my Rigel has a sweetness of tone that's incomparable and my Webers have a big voice with lots of richness in tone...for a mandola and octave mandolin...so, as you can see, there are a lot of variables to consider in making a choice...the one that stands the tallest would be the style of music you hope to pursue.

Get back with me if you have further questions...Mickey

Anyways, that's what i'm thinking, i'll get on it though.

-stevej

Subject: Mandolins
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 21:43:05 -0600

Mickey: Could you give me a shorten version (ranking) of mando companies. ie. where is a Weber mando on the ladder ? I know Gibson is close, or on top, and out of my price range.

I am not intersted in foreign built ones.
thanks darrel

Greetings Darrel,

To rank mandolin companies on overall merits would be subjective at best...there are sooooo many good makers out there today, it's almost overwhelming to think of listing them all...there are many fine independent builders such as Summit too...

Then there are the classifications of builders...for instance, Rigel mandolins cannot be classified as standard models since they do not make a traditional A nor F style body...

And, then, each company has their own qualifications that separate them from each other...Breedlove offers a uniquely innovated body called the K-style...and this one is powerful in its own right...yet, how can it be compared to the Gibson traditional F style? So, they're well-made in their own right...

We currently carry, in alphabetical order:
Breedlove Gibson Crafters Of Tennessee
Gold Tone Johnson Kentucky Michael Kelly Mid-Missouri Morgan Monroe
Phoenix Rigel Rover Weber

To me, personally, Weber stands as high as any being made today...I own two Weber Big Sky mando family instruments...I also own a Gibson F-5 Fern...both makes are great in their own right...and, I would have a hard time comparing them on different merits to isolate which would be the better overall mandolin...keep in mind, Bruce Weber built for Gibson at the Montana division a couple of decades ago...I hope you can see how subjective and difficult this is to put on the scales...

Sincerely, Mickey

Subject: RE: Fwd: mandolin prices
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 12:50:08 -0600

Sorry for so many questions...

Greetings Jeremy,

Is it possible to custom order a Weber Bitterroot with maple back and sides. If so who much would this be?

Yes, we custom order these quite often...

Bitterroot Mandolin WEBERBITTMANDO $2,675.00 Current Sale Price: $2,140.00
Custom Maple Upgrade from Mahogany to Maple: 250.00 Retail Your Price: 200.00
Includes Weber HS Case
Total with Custom Maple Back and Sides: $2,340.00

Is it possible to have a nut installed at the neck/body on a Weber Beartooth?

I'm not sure what type of "nut" you're referring to...

If you're referencing the neck/body joint:
The neck/body joint of a Weber is a mortise tennon neck joint...it's a combination of dovetail and bolt-on....this type of joint makes it easier to remove the neck if it ever needed to be replaced or further modified...a dovetail joint requires extreme reworking to remove the neck...and this removal can change the joint irreversibly...

If you're referencing the nut itself at the top of the fingerboard:
Yes, these can be replaced with any type of material you wish...

And finally would you recommend tone bracing vs Modified X as a long term investment?

Personally, I like the Modified X bracing...in fact, I currently own two Weber Big Sky's both with the X bracing...if you're hoping to play any bluegrass at all, I'd recommend the tone bar bracing...

I currently have a Epiphone MM50 that I bought used off of ebay. My wife says that I cannot buy another mandolin besides the one I am thinking about now until I get out of residency, and that will be a while since I am a 1st year med student. I'm ready to have my own instrument. As of right now the Weber Beartooth has caught my eye the most. I know that it is an expensive instrument, but do your customers like this instrument or do they prefer the lesser ones like the Abaroka and standard Beartooth?

I believe we've had a good response from all Weber owner's...it appears that most everyone that receives one is thrilled...again, I myself am thrilled with mine...

Are things like bracing really important?

Sure, bracing is probably one of the biggest influences of tone outside of the carved top itself and the strings....

What about the Gibson A9? Without all of the fluff, does it still play well compared to the Beartooth?

Sure, the A-9 plays and sounds great...it's an entirely different mandolin in many ways...the finish, construction, etc. are all pre-set by Gibson from their many years of manufacturing...Bruce Weber himself had worked under the auspices of Gibson during the Montana division...

I am not hung up on a F, so I would really like to get a great A-style.

I understand...and there certainly is a lot to choose from...and many are phenomenal values such as offered by the Weber Beartooth, Absaroka, Bitterroot...or the Gibson 9 series mandos...

Mickey

Thanks for your time,
Jeremy

Subject: Re: Fwd: Another Mandolin Question
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 19:00:53 -0700

Mickey,

Greetings Rick,

Glad to assist further...

The Hyalite is an excellent choice...as nice a mandolin as you could ever ask for...only, my suggestion would be to first determine what best fits your playing needs...and what style of music you hope to achieve...

The Hyalite offers a nice warmth due to the mahogany back and sides...it's an archtop mandolin that would lend itself well to a variety of styles...a very pleasant tone...roundness and resonance...with decent projection

The Quartz, with the maple back and sides, has more brilliance in tone...very bright and crisp with a decent bark for even a bluegrass setting...

Ultimately, it really depends on what you hope to achieve with your new mandolin...both the Breedlove and Weber would serve you well on most levels...only, one seems to lean more towards celtic settings...along with versatile application within many settings...and the Quartz OF would have the edge for bluegrass settings...

I know what James is referring to; he's right, the Weber Hyalite is an excellent choice...and, he's a dedicated fan of the Weber line...I own both a Breedlove Alpine and two Webers...what can I say? I love both makes...maybe someday you will own both too.

Hope this helps...Mickey

In a previous e-mail I asked about a Breedlove Quartz mandolin. You suggested that I call James. I called and during our conversation he steered me to the Weber Hyalite model. He said that I would be much happier with the sound.

I would like a second opinion before I make my final decision. How do you feel about the Weber Hyalite? Do you think it would be a good purchase? James raved about it but I just wanted a second opinion.

Thanks again for your help!

Rick McGuirk

ubject: a few mandolin questions
Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2004 17:12:00 -0500

Greetings Andy,

I'd be glad to assist:

Mickey- I just put a used Breedlove Quartz OO mandolin on layaway with you guys, and have a few additional questions. By the way, Trad has been extremely helpful.

Yes, I love Tradd...he's also a superb multi-instrumentalist...he and I have some major projects ahead of us...both on CD and Video.

I have been using your excellent website for the past few days and saw that you have a used Weber Absaroka on sale as well. I am looking to play bluegrass, in addition to leading worship at my church. So I need a mandolin that will allow me to play a variety of styles. Do you think it is worth the extra $450 to get the Weber over the Breedlove?

The Quartz OO is a specialized mandolin...mainly because of the oval soundhole...this oval soundhole adds more resonance to the instrument...along with more of an openness in tonality...this is great if you're playing by yourself or with one or two other guitars...for a full band ensemble, the F soundholes will add to projection capabilities and allow you to slice through a wall of sound. Yes, you would be very happy with the versatility of an Absaroka F soundhole model...I'm not too sure about whether it would be worth the 450.00 price difference...you might enquire with Tradd on this...this type of mandolin also works well within a bluegrass context...an oval soundhole works well within most music styles...however, it will not have the projection required of a bluegrass mandolin.

The Weber does not have a radiused fretboard. Is that a big deal?

Not necessarily...I have both types of mandolins: with and without radiused fretboards...yes, the radius fretboard is ergonomically designed...and, is part of the evolutionary growth of the mandolin...however, there are many mast mandolinists who prefer the flat fretboard...most all Gibsons made today come with flat fretboards, which says something about the popularity of flat fretboards...

What about the laquer finish versus the matte?

The gloss finish will tone down the instrument...and take away the "aliveness" of the sound...this is preferable when playing fast linear lines such as in bluegrass and jazz...and prevents reverberation caused by too much resonance as melody notes go racing by. Again, this is a matter of artistic preference...and, a matter of what you hope to achieve on your new mandolin (dictated by the style of music you will be playing).

Hope something here helps...Mickey

I want to make the right purchase the first time, and am also looking for a great deal. Thanks so much for your help. I can't wait to get my mandolin...

andy wood