Mandolin Terminology

Subject: RE: Fwd: RE: Mandolin Terminology

I was originally using the term "bluegrass style" for the F. Then I got onto the Elderly site and it seems the bluegrass style has the two horns, one on either side. Yes? No? What is the two horned style called, then?

Greetings Jenny,

They're referring to the two-point mandolin played by the likes of Jethro Burns...I'm not sure I would consider this model a "bluegrass style" mandolin...I'm sure it's the manufacturer that includes this in their model name...such as the Phoenix "Bluegrass Style" 2-Point Mandolin...which is probably the very same mandolin you're referring to...a "bluegrass mandolin" on average, would be the mandolin that set precedence through Bill Monroe: a Gibson F-5...

Hope this helps, Mickey

Subject: RE: Mandolin Terminology

Then is there another term for F model? I am writing a song to commemorate the local mandolin maker who just passed away and I need some more syllables than "F Model."
Both the A and the F have F holes, so it's not that.

Jen

Sounds like a noble endeavor...

I do not know of another specific name for the F-Style Mandolin....however, there would be a few that would allude to the F-style such as:
bluegrass mandolin
Monroe's mandolin
the Lloyd Loar
archtop mandolin
the Gibson F
Florentine Mandolin

Hope something here helps, Mickey

Subject: f style mandolin

Is the F model mandolin also called the "flat back" model?

Sure, it can be described as a flat-back mandolin...normally, the term "flat back" came into being in the early 1900s when companies, such as Gibson, started introducing a new mandolin design that deviated from the traditional bowl-back mandolins (which were addressed as "tater bug mandos")...the flat back started to take precedence in popularity and there were entire mandolin orchestras made up of mostly flat-back Gibson mandolins. There were even early display ads depicting the flat back mandolin with a broom sweeping the "tater bugs" off a roof...today, the term "flat back" has become somewhat anachronistic and is seldom used to describe a mandolin...since most all mandolins are now flat back...however, the bowl-back mandos do still have to be differentiated since they're now the unique breed of mandolin...

Mickey

Jenny

Subject: RE: Fwd: RE: Fwd: RE: Mandolin Terminology

Yeah! Hurray! I don't have to change the lyrics to the song.
Thanks for helping me be historically accurate.

Jen