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Thread: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out there?

  1. #26

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I've only played GOMs by Jim Hillburn and Bill Bussmann, and I don't think you can go wrong with either of those. Top quality tone.

    I have an A body oval hole octave by Bill Bussmann that's excellent too. It's a keeper.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  2. #27
    Registered User Linds's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    [QUOTE=Chip Booth;1046750]
    Eli's OM is one of my favourites that Fletcher has made. It has a strong midrange, and isn't as deep or warm as some other of his octaves, but it really cuts through just the right way in a band context. Eli visited Fletcher's shop whena couple of them were finished and he picked it out specifically for those qualities. Cafe member Linds has one that is very similar that also knocked me out.[/QUOTE]

    Woot-Woot! Now if only I could play the darn thing well enough to be worthy of that sound. I adore my Brock GBOM, though. He even put a super-slim neck on it for my stubby little hands (it's the ivory-bound one in Chip's photos above), and it plays like a dream. Anyway, I can't imagine the OM gets much better than that.

    Chip -- when is yours going to be finished? Pretty soon, right?
    ___________
    2005 Collings MT #1045
    2011 Fletcher Brock OM #130

  3. #28
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Quote Originally Posted by mtucker View Post
    Originally Posted by Chip Booth:
    The mandolin is another Brock, one that's been around the block, used by some great players...

    slightly off topic, but how does it compare to say your Gil Mod. 3's attributes?
    I just found this question sorry...

    That mandolin was a favourite the year it was displayed at Wintergrass. It was loaned to a pro in Nashville for a couple of years during which time it got the heck played out of it. I borrowed it for several months about 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. Compared to my Gil it is a bit brighter. It is more responsive as it has had more playing time on it for sure and is probably engelmann as opposed to red spruce but it may not be quite as projective as the Gil. Though I never played them back to back, Fletcher built an A5 a year or so ago that I played at his shop a couple of times and every time I picked it up I thought "yep, that sounds just like my Gil". Nice mandolin, it went to Trevor's store in England. It was sold I guess, but is still viewable on his web site.

    A few days ago I played a brand new Brock octave that was finished (at the customer's request) by the finish guy who works for Ellis. It sounds great and looks really nice. The combination of talents made for a very nice instrument, though I think Fletcher does an amazing job of finish work himself.

  4. #29
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Here is a cheap solution built from a Harmony archtop and two banjo tuners:

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    (built by Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario - great shop if you are in the area)
    Johneeaaddgg

  5. #30

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    It is possible to find good and sheap GBOM in France :
    Framus 3/4 guitar conversions made by Mandoretro.
    Find Mandoretro on FB.

  6. #31
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I first had a Weber Bitterroot which I really liked. I had the idea of a GOM with made of walnut. I sold the Weber and Andrew Mowry made me a walnut back and sides GOM that is to die for. The tone is very much very solid, but like Trevor said, very different from a jazz guitar. Here are some pics, some from Andrew and some mine:
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    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

  7. #32

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I visited Northfield recently and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and tone of their Octave.

  8. #33
    Registered User Al Trujillo's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th


  9. #34
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Not sure if folks are still interested in this thread and new builders of GBOMs, but I thought for those out there researching the Cafe it would be worth mentioning that Andy Mueller of Muleskinner Instruments is now building GBOMs and like all of his instruments, these things are both beautiful in visual and sonic aesthetics. I am the proud owner of one of his first two. Walnut back and sides with an Addy top.

    You can find some examples of them being played:

    Here (both being played together) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQaE...ture=emb_title
    Here (full in depth explanation video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq8f-mFiH8M&t=47s
    And here (with an A style in the mix that Andy built as well) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPd2PKBwk0U&t=3s

    And photos of mine:
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  10. #35
    Registered User dylanferris's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Heiden makes beautiful archtop OMs. Check this out:


  11. #36
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    And a shout-out to Mike Black. His GBOMs are beautiful and he's really good to work with during a build. I don't have one of his GBOMs but he built me one of his arch-top A4 piccolos and it's a real beauty. Here's a link to his GBOMs http://www.blackmandolins.com/octave-mandolins.html
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

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  13. #37
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Lawrence Smart builds GBOMs. His instruments are fantastic.
    “Mandolin brands are a guide, not Gospel “
    - Data Nick

  14. #38
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I do have a question on naming conventions. It seems like everything (with one exception) on this 8-1/2 year old thread are archtops. Does a GBOM or GOM always refer to an archtop OM. If so, what about the flattop versions? They still have guitar bodies.
    Jim

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  15. #39
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Realize this is an old thread, but I’ll add Northfield and Girouard to the list.

    Jim, I call them all GBOMs, but specify whether arch or flat topped (Pono and, I think, Northfield are doing some flat tops now). But, I have no idea what those who are really into them call them...
    Chuck

  16. #40
    Registered User Pete Braccio's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I'll add Gary Lewandowski (Cedar Mountain Mandolins ). He just made this one for me.

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    Pete Braccio

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  18. #41
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Wow, Pete, that back is killer!!!

  19. #42

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    I see this thread was started in 2012! But yes, I've been making guitar bodied OM and bouzouki for years.

    Flat top:


    Cylinder top:


    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/ins...itar-bouzouki/

  20. #43
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    TJ at Cricket Fiddle in Minnesota has started making some of these. Scroll down in his website to take a look. He also has a FB page.

    http://www.cricketfiddle.com/

  21. #44

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Bayard Blain makes nice flat top (and carved) guitar bodied octave mandolins.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDeF...ature=emb_logo
    Girouard Concert A5
    Girouard Custom A4
    Nordwall Cittern
    Barbi Mandola
    Crump OM-1s Octave
    www.singletonstreet.com

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  23. #45
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Clark View Post
    And a shout-out to Mike Black. His GBOMs are beautiful and he's really good to work with during a build.
    Did someone say pictures?

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    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
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  25. #46

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Thanks, Pat. Now I have GBOMAS.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

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  27. #47

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

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    This is about as good as it gets
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  29. #48

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Fun fact. I was playing in a Celtic oriented band and really wanted an octave. I had mandolin orders to fulfill and I thought about buying a Brock that Fletcher had in Bakersfield but my wife shamed me into making my own. That led to making another 5 of them.

  30. #49

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    And it's a job, deciding on a shape and scale length, making the fixtures and all that goes with starting from scratch.

  31. #50

    Default Re: What are some good "Guitar Body Octave Mandolin makers out th

    Jim, you should have told her it was for research. I had five GBOMs until recently. I traded one for a Smart mandola. I miss the octave but love that mandola.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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