NMD - impulse purchase, and an F style to boot

With both our anniversary and my birthday coming up, and having my wife's approval, had started looking more seriously for my first F style mandolin. Was thinking would wait longer when this one showed up on The Mandolin Store's website. A 2008 Weber Gallatin F. No, it's not a traditional F and it has mahogany sides and (one piece) back. So I quickly emailed TMS and asked them to please hold it for me when it showed up. By last Thursday, it was mine. Failed delivery on Saturday lead to a phone call and a Sunday morning delivery from FedEx. Which was a huge surprise. Unpacked it, tuned it up and started practicing. About an hour or so later, we headed out to an outdoor band practice. Yes, I brought this one along. Now, this is the band where the fiddler prefers the volume and tone of my Flatiron Performer over the Collings MT. So I figured she's not going to like this. Nope. Enough volume and good tone. Even my mentor, who really likes Gibson oval holes, was impressed. No, it's not a bluegrass machine. But for Finnish, Nordic and hopefully French Canadian tunes, it's great.

Why this one? Two friends who had a great influence on my mandolin interests both have mahogany backed Gallatins. One an oval hole and the other an F hole. Have always been a fan of the design. Both the scroll and headstock.

It's not mint. Someone had a capo or something on the headstock that burned into the finish on both the front and back. The original Brekke bridge has been replaced by the Traditional model. Case is the Weber model in black, not grey.

Here's a couple of photos from when I first got it, and then a video from when we were out and about today.

Attachment 189105 Attachment 189106

https://youtu.be/vv2vav_e9Ts

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Originally Posted by Eric Platt

A 2008 Weber Gallatin F. No, it's not a traditional F and it has mahogany sides and (one piece) back.

No, it's not a bluegrass machine. But for Finnish, Nordic and hopefully French Canadian tunes, it's great.

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Congrats on the catch!

That looks like the Weber model that Jeff Spirko of Southern Gothic uses. Example below. You need to learn some Cajun music now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVV2Ps3HMvI

Congrats - it's a beaut! Looks very similar to the 2000 Bitterroot F that I had. The mahogany has a real nice quality to it. Very warm tone.

FYI, I added a Tone-Gard to mine and it improved the volume noticeably, if that becomes an issue. Great instrument. Bruce does real nice work!

Nice!!! I'm very jealous :)

My Bruce Weber signed Yellowstone is by far my favorite instrument.

Happy picking!

Great looking mandolin, Eric! Those Weber’s are just top notch. I’ll bet that mahogany back and sides will sound so warm! Congratulations!

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Originally Posted by Kevin Winn

Congrats - it's a beaut! Looks very similar to the 2000 Bitterroot F that I had. The mahogany has a real nice quality to it. Very warm tone.

FYI, I added a Tone-Gard to mine and it improved the volume noticeably, if that becomes an issue. Great instrument. Bruce does real nice work!

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Thanks. You might not have noticed but it does already have a Tone-Gard on it. Am in the camp that's a firm believer in them. That was pretty much the first and only thing I did to it. Besides play.

Also noticing that the lower point is handy for keeping the instrument from scooting around when sitting down and playing.

Eric. I really like the modern F scroll on it. It sets the mandolin off nicely. I will listen to your video tomorrow.

Nice, Eric. I think I may want to learn that Polska,too.

Good for you, Eric! It is a real beauty. What a nice way to mark both special dates. Happy anniversary, happy birthday, and happy picking!

Nice! Congrats - sounds great and looks great too. I like the way they left the pores unfilled in the mahogany on the Gallatins. That's also a very cool headstock on yours. I love the neck profile on the Weber instruments. Very comfortable.