Re: Information about OMs.
Originally Posted by
JWChilders
I saw that Weber ad, but like you that crack made me pause.
If the crack is where it shows in the ad photo, it's in the upper treble bout (upper right "shoulder"), not the lower bout, and that's an area where any good repair person could add a cleat and you'd never be worried about it again. Except for resale, maybe, but a cleated crack in that spot won't be a deal-killer for most folks if the price is right on resale. If the crack was down in the main body of the instrument, that would be another story...
My sense has been that Trinity College seems to be the choice in the Cafe for entry level.
Maybe, but not if you can get a carved archtop Weber for a good price!
Good advice about the longer scale on the Webers.
I beg to differ, on that advice. The stock Weber OM's float around a 22.5" scale, like the one I have (a Yellowstone F). That's a very manageable scale length for playing melody, unless you have very small hands. Anything shorter than 22" scale is usually considered a "short scale OM."
These descriptions get goofy, because there is no standard for OM's like there is for other mandolin-family instruments. But I think somewhere around 22" is considered the closest thing we have to a standard scale length for OM's.
Lebeda F-5 mandolin, redwood top
Weber Yellowstone F-5 octave mandolin
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