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Thread: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

  1. #26
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Can someone please explain, "traverse brace vs. tone bars". I appreciate you guys and learn a lot.
    A traverse brace is parallel to the bridge, while tone bars are, kind of, perpendicular to the bridge.
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  3. #27
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by grassrootphilosopher View Post
    but watch out for traverse brace vs. tone bars.
    So Olaf, on Gibson's tone bars are preferable?

  4. #28
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    So Olaf, on Gibson's tone bars are preferable?
    Am not Olaf, but will take a guess - transverse brace will be on Gibson oval holes, while F hole models have tone bars.

    The Strad-O-Lin is transverse braced, but it's a much larger brace than Gibson used. Am pretty sure the Gibson tops were also a bit thicker than the Strad-O-Lins, too.

    Also want to point out that a Strad-O-Lin usually has a rounded neck profile whereas a mid 1930's Gibson often is a very pronounced V shape. Unfortunately found out that that V is like the only neck shape I can't play comfortably.

    Just for the neck shape reason, I would probably steer the person towards the A-9. While some think the price is on the high side, will point out that they aren't making these anymore and what is being made by Gibson is significantly more expensive.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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  6. #29
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Thanks Eric, Good stuff. So, the 1935 A-50's all have tone bars, and are preferable.

    Also, do the 2009 A-9's have V-shaped necks?

    Now, I want a Stradolin with a V-shaped neck. Wonder if there is enough wood to carve.
    Last edited by your_diamond; Oct-31-2021 at 8:57am.

  7. #30
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    If a mandolin has ff holes it will most likely have tone bars. I don't recall seeing an ff hole mandolin with a transverse brace.
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  9. #31
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    All the A's with F-holes that I've had from the 30's have had tone bars! The best ones by far are the ones with the elevated board like the 5's IMHO. I've never had an A-75, but I imagine they sound great and have the tone-may be a bit warmer with the Hogwood body? Maple produces a brighter tone.

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  11. #32
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    If a mandolin has ff holes it will most likely have tone bars. I don't recall seeing an ff hole mandolin with a transverse brace.
    Strad-O-Lins have transverse braces. Usually a large one near the bridge under the bottom of the F holes. There are some photos around the Cafe of the insides of a few SOL mandolins.

    There might be enough wood to carve a Strad-O-Lin neck down to a more V shape, but I'm not sure that it wouldn't weaken the neck.

    As to the A-9, it might have a v shape, but it will be a narrower nut and probably less drastic V than the 1935. However, I haven't been down to Dave's to play that specific instrument so can't make a firm statement.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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  13. #33
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Ever notice that mandolins changed from bowl backs to more Violin-like instruments, after Orville Gibson's creations!

    Here is some food for thought...
    https://www.andrewcarruthers.com/cel...shaping-sound/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_post

  14. #34
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Platt View Post
    Strad-O-Lins have transverse braces. Usually a large one near the bridge under the bottom of the F holes. There are some photos around the Cafe of the insides of a few SOL mandolins.
    That's why I love this place, you can always learn something. I haven't had a SOL so didn't realize they had transverse braces.
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  16. #35
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson 1930's A50 info please

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Ever notice that mandolins changed from bowl backs to more Violin-like instruments, after Orville Gibson's creations!...
    Word is Orville G considered the violin "the king of instruments," patterned his carved-top mandolins after the carved-top violin. Did not however incorporate a sound post -- makes sense since the player's body dampens the back's vibrations, and a post would transfer this damping to the top. Violin held away from the body. both top and back are free-er to vibrate.

    Another topic: thought to myself, "Hey, many Strad-O-Lins have f-holes; how can they have transverse bracing?" It was f-hole construction and no transverse brace that doomed Waldo bowl-backs, they say; luckily I obtained a surviving Waldo mandocello.

    Got out my penlight and dental mirror, and sure enough! -- a hefty transverse brace just below my Strad-O-Lin's f-holes. So transverse bracing isn't incompatible with an f-hole top -- if you locate the brace close enough to the "bottom" to clear the f-holes.
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