Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 26 to 48 of 48

Thread: Modern Oval Holes

  1. #26
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    A couple of weeks ago a stunning, used, Girouard oval A with a sinker-redwood top showed up in the classifieds. I think it was gone in 15 minutes.
    Here’s a new one with the magic cedar top:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/194556#194556
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to pheffernan For This Useful Post:


  3. #27
    Registered User tjmangum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    ORE-uh-g’n
    Posts
    157

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    This Girouard followed me home a few months ago. Yes, the cedar top does have magical qualities!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Girouard 2 point_pintrest.JPG 
Views:	126 
Size:	93.3 KB 
ID:	203750
    " Give me some words I can dance to and a melody that rhymes" - Steve Goodman

  4. The following members say thank you to tjmangum for this post:


  5. #28

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I had the opportunity to play pretty extensively the Girourard that’s for sale at the Music Emporium while Max still had it in his shop. It is an excellent oval hole mandolin and just an awesome mandolin in general. In my limited experience it’s the best new oval I have played. I have a 1921 A2 and briefly owned a Campanella A440 and have also played a handful of Collings MT-0’s and a Pava Oval hole (plus many vintage). The new Girourard does an excellent job in my opinion of straddling the best of both worlds tone wise between older instruments and new with a great mix of bass and boom bit with fantastic clarity, sustain and overall playability. I find a lot of modern ovals to be close in tone to F hole mandolins and I personally want a very different vibe sonically when I go for an oval. I think whoever goes for that new Girourard mandolin is going to have a lot fun and make some great sounds with it.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Morgan Barnicoat For This Useful Post:


  7. #29
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Here’s a new one with the magic cedar top:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/194556#194556
    And it's gone!
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. #30
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgan Barnicoat View Post
    I find a lot of modern ovals to be close in tone to F hole mandolins and I personally want a very different vibe sonically when I go for an oval. I think whoever goes for that new Girourard mandolin is going to have a lot fun and make some great sounds with it.
    I appreciate this perspective, as I have not been impressed by a handful of hybrid ovals and perhaps have been too quick to make a hasty generalization and write off the possibility altogether.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  9. #31
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    1,466

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I have two oval holes. An epiphone mm40L and a Washburn M1SDB1. Many here would dismiss them - pac rim ‘budget’ instruments. But I find them both excellent. The F style epiphone has a warmer tone to the a style Washburn but both have great tone. Once setup properly fantastic playability. I keep thinking to upgrade the epi, but there’s nothing I’ve played that I like quite as much.
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

    Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass

    Pedalboard for ELS: Morley Cry baby Miniwah - Tuner - EHX Soul Food Overdrive - EHX Memory Toy analog Delay
    Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;

  10. #32
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I just received an email from Northfield saying that this Northfield F2S is on its way to Fiddlers Green Music Shop. Looks like a beauty especially with that sunburst flamed maples pickguard.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	D2AE6CCF-AFEB-433A-A790-8BD27441A38D.jpeg 
Views:	107 
Size:	65.8 KB 
ID:	203856
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  11. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Jim Garber For This Useful Post:


  12. #33
    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    406

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I just received an email from Northfield saying that this Northfield F2S is on its way to Fiddlers Green Music Shop. Looks like a beauty especially with that sunburst flamed maples pickguard.
    That is a beauty. Did they give any specs? If it's not a wide nut, I might be interested.

  13. #34
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes


  14. The following members say thank you to seankeegan for this post:


  15. #35

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I've had a Paul Shippey oval hole mandolin for a number of years, it's a superb mandolin from one of Brittains best builders.

    Dave H
    Eastman 615 mandola
    2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
    2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
    Eastman MD 915V
    Gibson F9
    2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
    Ibanez Artist 5 string
    2001 Paul Shippey oval hole

  16. The following members say thank you to Dave Hanson for this post:


  17. #36
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

  18. The following members say thank you to seankeegan for this post:


  19. #37

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I think Eastman make really god F-hole mandolins but of the 3 oval hole ones I have played (all F4 style) were great looking but poor on volume. Northfield seem to know what they are doing. I think you have to go and play them and one will say 'YES'.

  20. #38
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Now THAT is a beautiful F-4!
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  21. #39
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  22. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to pheffernan For This Useful Post:


  23. #40
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Now THAT is a beautiful F-4!
    I've not played that specific mando, but I've played another oval from the same batch - Will makes spectacular mandolins. It was powerful, full bodied but with great mid range cut, fast response and overall a joy to play, listen to and indeed look at. I'm sure the F4 (dunno why TME refer to it as an 'F5 Oval', as to me that's an oxymoron) is every bit as good. Will's work is very consistent and high quality. Whoever gets it will be very happy, and lucky, as there aren't that many Kimble ovals about.

  24. #41
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by seankeegan View Post
    I'm sure the F4 (dunno why TME refer to it as an 'F5 Oval', as to me that's an oxymoron) is every bit as good. Will's work is very consistent and high quality.
    It was consigned directly from Will so perhaps he calls it that. The neck is joined at the 12th fret and I am guessing also that it has either x-bracing or tone bars. That would explain its hybridity (if that is indeed a word).

    That video is too wonderful to not post it here.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  25. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:


  26. #42
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    342

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    I call it an “FO”. Traditional transverse brace. Not really a hybrid, built after the example of Gilchrist using hard maple for the back & neck.

    Will Kimble

  27. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Will Kimble For This Useful Post:


  28. #43
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Looks like the F oval is gone as well.

  29. #44
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    This is the specific Kimble oval I tried:

    https://themandolinstore.com/product...hole-mandolin/

  30. #45
    bass player gone mando
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Brooklyn and Rhinebeck NY
    Posts
    458

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	TheDecoysNovellasJune19th.jpg 
Views:	28 
Size:	591.4 KB 
ID:	207468I have two Collings oval hole mandolins, one an F-style and one an A-style. Both great mandos. Oval holes have natural reverb that f-holes don't, and I like that. But I've learned that, for amplified gigs, for that same reason oval holes are more prone to feedback than f-holes. So these days I'm playing a lot of both, depending on the setting and the material.
    Collings MT O
    Collings MF5 0
    Weber Gallatin Mandola
    Weber Bitterroot Mandola
    Weber Sage Octave

  31. #46
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    Quote Originally Posted by chuck3 View Post
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	TheDecoysNovellasJune19th.jpg 
Views:	28 
Size:	591.4 KB 
ID:	207468 But I've learned that, for amplified gigs, for that same reason oval holes are more prone to feedback than f-holes. So these days I'm playing a lot of both, depending on the setting and the material.
    I spent years playing an oval at gigs, didn't really have feedback problems. Do you mic it at the sound hole? I always find that I like the sound placing the mic behind the bridge as opposed to on the sound hole. It also doesn't feedback when there very easily.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  32. #47
    bass player gone mando
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Brooklyn and Rhinebeck NY
    Posts
    458

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    nah, all of my mandos have K&K twins through a Fishman PP to the FoH. Here's an example with the f-hole but it's not well mixed -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPPmCadga7A
    Collings MT O
    Collings MF5 0
    Weber Gallatin Mandola
    Weber Bitterroot Mandola
    Weber Sage Octave

  33. #48
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: Modern Oval Holes

    There's a beautiful looking Collings oval for sale in TMS as well:

    https://themandolinstore.com/product...-mt2-o-custom/

    A friend of mine tried it and said it was particularly good. In addition to the Kimble and Collings ovals, they also have a pair of Eastman ovals (A and F) and a flatop Northfield oval. If someone was interested in modern oval holes, they could do a lot worse than taking a trip to The Mandolin Store.

    Regarding mic'ing an oval hole for live gigs; my two cents worth. I like using the gooseneck clip on by DPA, aimed at the twelve fret. Seems to work well.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screenshot_20230509-073232.jpg 
Views:	40 
Size:	1.19 MB 
ID:	207495

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •