If you can comfortably afford something that you really want you should get it. That said, if you already have a well setup instrument that plays comfortably and had good tone then I suspect you’re not going to play another more simply because it has a scroll. And you will pay alot more for an F instrument of similar quality.
I prefer an A style myself. I’m not a hard core bluegrass player. But there are plenty of pros who use an A:
I’m not immune to aesthetics Raymond, but the holy grail will be found in the music, not the tool. Find a mandolin tune that grabs you and you’ll want to play it on whatever instrument is in reach.
Okay I’ll stop preaching now. It IS Sunday though.
I’m not so sure about that. I’m in exactly your same position. I devote nearly all of my time to guitar. I had a really nice Breedlove A-model mandolin but had always wanted an F model. So I bought a pretty high end, very Bluegrassy mandolin and yes, at first I played it a lot. As time went by, I played it less and less and now it spends most of it’s life in the case. It’s even for sale on Mandolin Cafe, that’s how little I play it. If I’m real lucky, I may break even, but will most likely lose some money.
I’m not telling you what to do, but just trying to prevent the same thing happening to you. If you do really want an F model, like Jim said, there’s nothing wrong with buying what you want if you have the appropriate funds… and life is short. I can only relate to you what happened to me personally.
Dave’s article is spot on (thanks Dave) and I agree with it all. I would add that if you play a mandolin sitting down without a strap, an F model is much more comfortable to hold because of the way the lower body scroll (or spur as Dani called it) rests on your leg. And the upper body scroll makes it much easier to install a strap, which I believe was mentioned.
So, to answer your last question, I prefer an F-Model even though I play mandolin very little. Why? I think they just look better, are easier to play sitting down without a strap, easier to install a strap.
Hope I didn’t confuse and make your decision even harder. Good Luck!
You are very spot-on on everything that you said , much like the referred article. You also spoke the unspoken, because something that I also think about a lot is how comfortable an F-style Mandolin looks when it’s played in a sitting position. That’s a big deal for me becaus, like many of us, I spend most of my practice sessions sitting down.
I can really sense that you understand my dilemma.
But no , you didn’t confuse me. I’m more encouraged to think about this a little longer before making a decision.
While I agree that an A-Style and F-Style of equal quality are equally fit for professional use…I don’t think it’s entirely accurate to say that they will sound “the same.” At least not in my experience. While I do agree that they can both be on the same level as far as playability and quality of sound (volume, responsiveness, etc…) I would argue that there is a slight difference in the tonal qualities between the two in general. While both styles are constructed with basically the same air chambers, the added extra wood masses of the points and scroll of an F-Style do change the way the tone is shaped. To me, and A-Style is a little more open and airy sounding, while an F-Style has slightly more focus and “cut.” It’s the same way that extra mass of a guitar neck can change the tone of the guitar. In some ways I’m splitting hairs here, because every single mandolin is going to sound a little different from one example to another regardless of the style it’s constructed in. But there is a definite tonal distinction in general between the two styles. Which is better? No right answer. I actually love the economics of an A-Style mandolin because one of equal quality can be had for quite a bit less money than its F-Style equivalent. You even see more pros these days making the change to A-Style mandolins too. So if you want a better mandolin for less money, you can always go for an A-Style. But, in the same breath, if money were no object, I’d reach for an F-Style every time…because I love tradition, and an F-Style is “the Bluegrass mandolin.” Equal caliber professional playing can be done with either. Thanks for taking the time to humor me and read my ramblings y’all. Haha.
Basically ditto what everyone said above. Like Jim, I love A’s… I can get more instrument for the money. With that said… you want an F… go for it!
I’d support what Jake says about differences in tone. I suspect the difference between two otherwise identical instruments is minor, but every little thing makes a difference. All the little differences can add up to a totally different experience.
I did it. I purchased an F-Mando from the General Store.
I just got the email today that it’s on it’s way
I want to thank each and every one of you for your input in helping me figure this out. I really took everything you guys said into consideration.
As I’m typing this , I’m also listening to the song Midnight on the Stormy Deep by Doc Watson and Bill Monroe, and the Mando part is making me excited to receive the F-Style.
I have both an A style and F style mandolin,and I prefer the F style. There are a couple of reasons why:
The scroll allows for a more comfortable placement of the strap. I’ve never been a fan of using string to tie a strap behind the nut of an instrument. The same reason why I won’t buy a guitar if it doesn’t have a place behind the neck to secure the strap.
The F-style body is much more attractive.
Honestly, the sound and tone isn’t any different between an A-style and F-style (at least that I’ve ever heard)…but for comfort and aesthetic appeal, definitely the F-style is the way to go.
Thank you Dave for the information. I thought all my questions about purchasing first time mandolin were answered only to look up and see oval hole? is oval hole something different? different sound?
I have an A with F holes and an A with an oval hole. The F hole one has a carved top and back. It is basically built like an F style without the extra wood. The oval is a “flat” top and “flat” back. They sound totally different. The flat top/oval has more sustain and ring. The carved/f hole one has more cut, and depth (a deeper and punchier voice… the barky, bluegrass tone). I am not sure if oval makes much of the difference, but most ovals I have played have that more sustained sound.
hahah!
