Northfield NS-F5S vs Big Mon

[nick delmore]

Canada finally has a Northfield dealer. I'm going to get one of the two models listed in the title. To those who have experience with Northfields, is it worth hanging on for a while until I can afford a Big Mon or is it not worth the extra money.

[keith.rogers]

Haven't played a Big Mon, but the F5S is a great mandolin. I do have to wonder if the volume of the Big Mon wins a lot of folks over, as we [humans] tend to respond more positively to louder music. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) They're clearly NF's two best selling models, so I don't think you'd make a mistake with whichever one really grabs you. Good luck!

[Dan in NH]

Pertains to my interests. In.

Here's a Q:

I know the Big Mon is available with either an Engelmann or an Adirondack top. Is the F5S only available in Sitka, or is it available with choice of tonewood?

Edit:

According to the Northfield web site no Sitka, choice of Adirondack or Engelmann.

[BrianWilliam]

Can’t go wrong but my vote is for the Big Mon with Engelmann

[Dan in NH]

Northfield Adirondack vs Engelmann

https://youtu.be/d3lBs9QK1rs

[Jstring]

I have a Big Mon (Engelmann)… It’s a fabulous mandolin and a heck of a value.

I’ve played several of the F5S model… they were all very nice (miles better than an Eastman, etc)…. But not really comparable to the Big Mon.

I think people focus too much on the extra volume that the Big Mon supposedly has…
I don’t really notice that it’s louder than any other high-quality mandolin.
But it has amazing clarity, depth, character, and tone… everything that anyone would want in a mandolin.

The F5S mandolins that I’ve played just didn’t have the same quality of tone… but every piece of wood and every mandolin is different… I’m sure there are some stellar F5S examples out there…

FYI - I’ve owned an Ellis, a Stiver, a Brentrup, a Givens, etc etc. The Big Mon is the equal of any of them… and it’s also wicked easy to play super fast Monroe tunes on it.
I sold every other mandolin I owned.. never thought I’d be down to one mando, but I’ve been completely satisfied with just the Big Mon for more than 2 years now.

[Glassweb]

If you want more woof and puff, the Big Mon with its more modern sound is for you. If you want a flat-out, woody sounding F5 mandolin for Bluegrass I'd say go with the NFF5S - to me the greatest value in a F5 mandolin on the market today.

[joh]

I have an Engelmann Big Mon. It has the woof and poof that glassweb describes. Here’s how I’d describe it’s tone:

- that “woof” makes for a really beautiful sounding double stops; double stops on other mandolins just aren’t as satisfying to play now
- very strong bass and highs
- scooped mids
- great sustain
- closed chord shapes sound extremely balanced across the courses, especially up the neck

All of this adds up to a mandolin that is awesome for playing solo or in duets, or for playing backup in a variety of genres. In jams I felt that the scooped mids caused my sound to get lost… but, that’s always going to be a challenge if you’re playing with more than one fiddler like I usually am!

[urobouros]

My Big Mon has exactly the tone I'm looking for. I also have a large bodied A style from Skip Kelley that I love so it may just be me.

[Marcus CA]

... is it worth hanging on for a while until I can afford a Big Mon or is it not worth the extra money.

I think that Northfield has done a great job of giving more bang for the bucks with their three F models. I like the Big Mon way more than the NS-F5S, and I like the Artist way more than the Big Mon.

So, yes, I think that the Big Mon is definitely worth the extra money, but as you see here and in other Northfield threads on the Café, there are plenty of happy NS-F5S owners. However, if it's going to take you a few years to save up for a Big Mon, you might consider buying an NS-F5S now, with the options of either falling in love with it or selling it once you have enough $$$Canadian to buy a Big Mon. The prices of both models will keep going up, which means that a used NS-F5S a few years from now will probably cost about the same as a new one now, and a new Big Mon will probably cost more no matter what you do now. Since "the waiting is the hardest part," you might as well wait for that Big Mon with a better mandolin.

[nick delmore]

If you want more woof and puff, the Big Mon with its more modern sound is for you. If you want a flat-out, woody sounding F5 mandolin for Bluegrass I'd say go with the NFF5S - to me the greatest value in a F5 mandolin on the market today.

Thanks, that helps clarify things. I'm looking for a mandolin for traditional bluegrass. I think I'll start with what I can afford at present (NF-F5S). I can always trade up later on if I want. Glad Canada finally has a Northfield dealer.

[jimmy powells]

Big Mon takes some beating. Everything you'd want in an all round very versatile mandolin.