Good Evening:
I was looking at the Flyde site and saw the Lucetta mandolin. Looks great. Does anyone know anything about this model? Any information would be appreciated.
Good Evening:
I was looking at the Flyde site and saw the Lucetta mandolin. Looks great. Does anyone know anything about this model? Any information would be appreciated.
Michael A. Harris
the dulcILLINI
Collings MF5 Mandolin
Collings MT2 Mandola
McSpadden Custom Mountain Dulcimer
KLOS Carbon Fiber Travel Guitar
"Home is the place we grow up wanting to leave and die trying to get back to." Nash
The Lucetta's seem pretty rare. I have seen one at the Fylde workshop, when I was there buying a bouzouki, but I didn't get a chance to play it.
I have played several of the Touchstone mandolins. My impression of the spruce/rosewood "Signature" Touchstone is that it did not sound significantly better than the standard model to justify paying the extra money, though it looked good. A couple of the Touchstones I've seen had a cedar top, like the Lucetta. They were very nice instruments - a slightly mellower sound than the standard Touchstone, with a little more bass, but similar volume. A cedar/rosewood Touchstone might be a nice combination.
Most of the Touchstone mandolins I've tried were new instruments, so I'm unable to say how the different wood combinations might change with time/playing.
There is a Youtube video of Ian Anderson briefly playing what appears to be a Lucetta here. The section with the mandolin starts about 2:40 from the start.
Patrick
I have a lucetta.
It always helps to post a link or two. Here is the Lucetta page on Fylde's site. And here are some pics.
I am curious what these sound like. It looks like the neck join puts the bridge further back on the top than the Touchstone.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
They used to do a carved top/back version of this, it's flat now unless it's a special order. (Although all Fylde instruments are special order.) I had one a long time ago!
I never fail at anything, I just succeed at doing things that never work....
Fylde Touchstone Walnut Mandolin.
Gibson Alrite Model D.
I tried one a few years ago. I wasn't impressed with the tone.
Trevor
Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.
They do tend to be very mellow, which I like!
I never fail at anything, I just succeed at doing things that never work....
Fylde Touchstone Walnut Mandolin.
Gibson Alrite Model D.
"...very mellow..." I can think of other descriptions but some may sound worse than others.
Mellow to me means quiet and with not much depth of tone. That fits the one I played. Each to their own, and I expect they all sound different.
I can't remember whether the one I played was carved or flat.
Trevor
Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.
Good comment Trevor. Most mandolinists play at home and that's why I like the mellow tone rather than a sharp/crisp sound being blasted out sometimes uncontrollably.
As you said, each to his own!
I never fail at anything, I just succeed at doing things that never work....
Fylde Touchstone Walnut Mandolin.
Gibson Alrite Model D.
I enjoy the acoustic tone, sweeter not quite so loud. However, I have found there are times when loud assists. Though I must say I am all for the softer acoustic sound.
Playing:
Jbovier a5 2013;
Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
Jbovier F5 mandola 2016
Personally, I've never found a Fylde mandolin/mandola/octave that I could live with. My '24 Snakehead has a beautiful soft acoustic tone and is great for playing at home but, in a session, I need to play it hard and it loses much of its character. That's when I turn to my Kimble A5. The harder I play it, the better it sounds. I bet the "bescrolled" version Trevor currently has in stock is every bit as good, if not better.
I have a Fylde Octavius mandolin that was my only acoustic for 29 years, it's now 32 years old and I still love the mellow sound. It has great sustain whether acoustically or plugged in using the Ashworth under saddle pick up. (See how old it is now!) I played everything on it, especially Celtic and Church "sub rock pop" music and loved it, though some on the forum might say I knew no better. I must admit I use a solid bodied electric for night band gigs; it's much easier when playing electric 10 string mandocello too. I now use a Breedlove OF for acoustic gigs, the punch is unbeatable but the sustain is not the same. The Fylde is still my "go to" at home.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Don't be confused. When the Fylde was the only mandolin I had, it had to cover all the bases, and it did. The Ashworth under saddle into the old Trace Elliot TA100 reproduced a fair approximation of the old Fylde's acoustic sound; mellow with a reasonable sustain. An unamplified Fylde Octavius could never cut it against more than one guitar, even in a small room. To go back to the OP, I must admit I lusted after the Lucetta, when I first saw it in 1982 I think, but even for a 21st birthday present the price was way too high. That's when I got the Octavius, so it's a special relationship that we have.
I have a 1979 Lucetta. I’m thinking of selling it.
Cheers. Loz
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