Engelmann vs Adirondack - Mandolin Comparison
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- Опубликовано: 19 июл 2023
- I thought it would be fun to compare these two mandolins! Both are Northfield S-Series mandos, but one has an Engelmann top and the other has an Adirondack top. I currently have no official affiliation with Northfield, I just like their mandolins! Let me know what you think.
🎉Wanna chat mandolin?? I now have some availability to offer Zoom/FaceTime mandolin lessons! 🎉
🎶 Email me at kyliekaymusic@gmail.com and let’s make it happen 🎶 
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I like the clarity and the note separation of the Adirondack. The Engelmann is sweet and warm, and has a little more bass. Both are wonderful and your playing is outstanding.
The Engleman has that pop to it that really projects the notes. I sounds like its moving more air. There's a reason so many people love it.
There's not a lot of difference between them. The Engleman may be a little warmer since it's broken in. The Adirondack is a bit brighter when picking the notes, but they're very similar.😊
Very helpful comparison - thanks!!!
Prefer the Engelman for it’s warmer round tone. Great comparison and playing!
Nice comparison! I think the Engelmann sounded warmer overall. I did not expect that. The Adirondack seemed a little crisper in the picking notes, but seemed about even when strumming. Thanks for the comparison. That was fun.
But was it really a fair comparison?… I don’t think so…
I have the Adirondack, beautiful intstrument. It gets a little warmer after playing in for a few months. Both incredible sounding!
…And that would have been a fairer comparison.
Wow ... what a terrific demonstration of the sonic differences not only of these woods, but also between a new and a played-in mandolin. Awesome chops! Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching!
The Engelmann sounds warmer.
Great video and lovely playing Kylie. I like them both maybe the Engelmann a little more.
I gotta go with the Engelmann tone on this one.. The low end is a bit more prominent. Monroe's Hornpipe is a winner. You have a great tone and touch. Thanks for the side by side. I have a Northfield F series Adirondack as well. I Love it and it is breaking in nicely. Took a break from mandolin for 10 months and took up electric bass to give myself a new perspective on mando and music. But I am back too the F5 now and seeing it in a new way. Was never happy with my right hand so I am really drilling daily on right hand and being clean. Seeing results and enjoying it even more than first go round. The bass journey has me really digging in and learning the fingerboard and modes and such. Playing something else like bass from scratch really helped.
Great video!
Believe you bought one of those off me! Great playing cool to hear them back to back.
Both great sounds! Love the treble on the adi top and the bass and warmth of the engleman!
I’m a fairly new mandolin player and came across this video. This might sound strange but your rhythm demo in the middle was a really helpful track for me to practice to. I ended up slowing it down and then working up to speed on it trying to get the feel of the groove. Anyhow thanks for the video I’ve really enjoyed some of your other tracks as well
I prefer the brightness of the Adirondack. Your hands are so relaxed while playing, a goal of mine to be that relaxed. I hope you post a video soon, thanks.
I wouldn't say I had a preference, but the Engelman def has a warmer tone. - Nice playing!! Nice & even, and clear notes.
This is a very good comparison test. Playing was really consistent across them. While they are both great sounding the Engleman top sounds a little bigger, maybe more "throaty". It also has more punch on the choral work. The adi sounds brighter but no more articulate. We could attribute much of the difference to age and amount of 'play-in' on the older Engleman top instrument. The string age may contribute a little to the brightness of the newer adi. Well done comparison.
my opinion is they both sound great but based on what I hear and my experience playing these different tonewoods, Adirondack provides a slightly more complex tone, typically the Adirondack is going to respond very well to aggressive playing and it's going to hold up against other instruments in a band type situation, the Englemann has a sweet sound that would work great for solo playing. but of course, as others have already noted the differences aren't that significant.
I am a musician but not on mandolin and I sorry to report the sound difference is lost on me, however you do seem to smile more when playing the Engelmann. On a personal note I subscribe to your channel because I am blown away by your musicianship. Thanks for marvelous work.
Thanks so much for your support! 😃
After years of AD red tops my ears prefer the warmer less edgy sound of engleman. Nice comparison.
wow great comparison thank you I think I love the attack and the clean note separation of the Adirondack top but the bass on the Engelmann is noticable seems like the highs on the Engelmann has more chime to them also
Kylie you need to make more videos !!!!
Thanks for this! I think the Engelmann tone is slightly "darker", more mellow, while the Adirondack has a little more bite. However, it's a super subtle tone diff and would be interesting to hear the comparison again, say after a few months of heavy playing for the Adirondack. Also, putting new strings on both and comparing just after the break-in period would level the field a bit, reduce the number of variables and whatnot.
💯 % Agree with you!
Fabulous playing -- you showcased both very well. Both sound great; I preferred the Adirondack for most things, but enjoyed the Engelmann for some chording.
Also, the demonstration kinda underscored the value of worrying less about the instrument (which I have a tendancy to do) and the value of the "shut up and play" philosophy. It was interesting to note the differences from the materials, but at bottom, you made both sound great.
I could “feel” the difference in the tone between the instrument which has been played and broken in already - versus the one which is still new. Therefore, I don’t think it is a fair comparison, but I definitely preferred the Engelmann on quite a few (but not all) of the test, when I would have thought I would prefer the Adirondack… After all, there is a reason why the upper-end of Eastman’s mandolin line (the MD815) has an Adirondack Spruce top - and (obviously, due to bring the top of the line) costs more.
they both sound great , the engleman IMO is a bit darker , i, less bite
hello Kylie, this is always difficult to describe. A great mandolinplayer like you always manages to pull about the same tone from any mandolin. Despite that, I can hear very subtile differences. I expected that the Adirondack would be more powerfull but it seems not. De Engelmann has a bit more brightness in combination with a deeper fuller sound especially in the lower register. Maybe I got a chance to try the Adirondack soon... Your Engelmann is a beast!
Again… I really don’t think this comparison does it justice…
I love the warmth of the Engleman much better. The aderondike has too much high end for me. Thanks😊
Keep the videos coming if you can! You have a beautiful playing style which is very accomplished but also accessible for people wanting to learn these tunes. It would be so great to see your channel grow - really nice job!
Thank you! I appreciate it. Definitely hoping to get more going on the channel soon - Cheers :)
What do I think?
I think I love your playing.
Both Mandolins sounded good to me, not sure if I could discern the auble differences.
One of the best things about a Kylie Kay video is the way you smile while you are playing! I admit up front I love adi topped mandolins and guitars. The difference between the two was highlighted when you strummed chords/bluegrass chopped. I hear mostly the chord notes with the adi, and mostly the chop with the englemann. The adi is brighter, the englemann is darker, kinda moody. Someone already mentioned enhanced note separation with the adi, but I second that. They both sound great, and if it were my decision I would choose between them based on the song played in light of the above. And now for a request, when you post songs could you play them slowly in sections, describing highlights, riffs, etc? kinda like a lesson? you wouldn't have to do it all the time, only when you felt like it. I like the way you play.
Thanks for your comment! I've definitely considered doing more videos like that, so I'll keep it in mind. Cheers :)
I was shopping for a northfield with an adi top when I came across an Engelman 5bar artist series used. I fell in love with the warmth of the tone. Clearly demonstrated in your comparison (great vid btw!).
When I get in a bluegrass jam, I miss the cutting power and headroom and Adirondack top offers (especially if there’s a banjo 😅). There’s almost tonal distortion on the engelman when I dig in too much.
What made you want an Adirondack top after grooving on the Engelmann?
Hard to tell how much is the wood and how much is strings and/or 2 years played. I can only hope the tone softens as much over time on the new mando I bought, but the difference in new versus old strings here is probably the biggest factor.
In contrast the Engelmann has better sound, more relaxing. Great mandolin picking as well. I am a mandolin player also
Hey Kylie, I'd love to hear you do a version of Forked Deer if you do requests ;)
What is your assessment of the differences between the two?
I couldn't hear a lot of difference on my audio system, good system bad hearing...
I heard a difference but not enough to say WOW it could have been string age that I heard.
I know changing strings is huge on my instruments.
It would be nice to hear the same with new strings.
No complaints just observation.
I love your playing!
I know what you mean about the strings! I was in a bit of a time crunch with making this video so I didn’t change the strings. Will keep it in mind for the next one! Thanks for watching and commenting :)
@@k5mando I understand and don't want to be overly critical, you did a great job comparing. I rarely hear a difference on RUclips comparisons. Thanks for sharing!
Adi all the way!
Lots of respect for your playing! The main difference i hear is in the chop. The adirondack is a bit more piercing.
Are these instruments x braced or parallel braced?
Parallel.
I have the same model Northfield in Adirondack, about 2 years old. Now...if only my playing level did it the justice that yours does. Anyways, the Adirondack seemed a little brighter than the Engleman. Re the pick guard, I see that they have been removed on both of your models. Do you think that helps the sound?
I just don’t like the way pickguards look so I take them off! Totally a decision based on aesthetics… I don’t think it makes a difference in the sound, but I suppose it’s possible. Thanks for watching!
Is that a tune or just a progression of notes for testing the tone?
Im new to mando, but what is the title of your first tune?
What is the difference between an Engelmann spruce top vs. a Sitka spruce top mandolin (I know how an Adirondack top is like).
Thanks.
Unfortunately not yet. But perhaps at some point I will do that! Thanks for your comment!
Subtle difference to me. It appears you’re using a tone guard on the engelmann and not on the Adirondack, which, if correct, could affect my perception. I have a Northfield big mon and love it!
Thanks for your comment! Yes, I did still have the tone Gard on the Engelmann for the video. Not sure if it effects the tone since I was playing sitting and not touching the back of the mandolin much. Still possible though, as I have seen tone gards affect the tone on certain mandolins! Cheers :)
The difference is less than 1%. I would expect the same difference if you compared two englemanns or two adirondacks. If this was a medical double blind study, you would say you were comparing adirondack vs englemann but actually play the same instrument twice and review comments :0) I really enjoy your song selections and technique. Best wishes.
Do the fretboards have a radius?
Sorry I did not see this comment earlier! Yes , 5.7” at the nut, 7.7” at the 20th fret
What is the name n price of your mandolin ? ....
Northfield F5S... $3500.
What is the correct spelling - Englemann or Engelmann? I want to find it out at least)))
Haha, I ran into the same question and had to change the spelling halfway through video editing 😂 From what I can see, it is Engelmann..
And what's that tune? I should know, but...
Monroe’s Hornpipe :)
the non Adirondack has a deeper tone, the old strings? Even the "chop" , your ghost notes have more bass than the Adirondack. Strings? Top wood?
There is a difference, but not that great. Both instruments sound like a mandolin and with good tone.
finally I can hear her voice...!!!! unfortunately don't sing....
Engleman lacks punch, clarity, etc that makes Adirondack the tone of choice for years. Even on a pair of second-rate brand of mandolin /. first-rate brand of Chinese mandolin the difference is striking. Sorry, but I can't understand why a top notch player isn't playing a top notch instrument like a Gibson or Collings or Ellis or Hinde or Kimble - instead of two mediocre instruments built by Chinese luthiers who didn't grow up listening to or playing American bluegrass and don't have the acoustic "ears" that a luthier/professional musician like Dave Harvey has. As my father used to say, if a fast-food joint can sell a burger for a dollar can imagine how little they paid for the beef and the quality of that beef that they could buy at such a low price? I've never heard a Northfield nor played one nor owned one that didn't have a mediocre sound production - one of my pals and I both bought one and owned it for 24 hours before chucking it back to the dealer. Even a Weber Gallatin sounds better. So, Kylie, I will pray daily that you post a video of you playing a Gibson or some other brand of better than average instrument.
Spoken like a bluegrass snob.
I own a 2023 Northfield "Big Mon" NFB-F5E (Engelmann). Also own a 2005 Collings MF5-V and a 2004 Weber Yellowstone (cedar top). Bruce Weber (Montana Lutherie) reset the neck a couple years ago. The Northfield feels great and the sound has warmed beautifully the past 6 months. It's the mando I grab most often. The Weber also feels great and has a warm, complex tone. The Collings is available for sale.
Something must be wrong with my ears then. I think Northfield makes excellent mandolins that sound great without the big price. For me, the individual instrument can sound great or flat whatever the name on the headstock. I have heard Loar era Gibson mandolins that sold for a fortune but sounded flat to me. and I have also heard Weber's that didn't rise to the top. An instrument must be played to discover its real worth.
Main character syndrome?
You and your pal must have bought lemons
@@Junction144Bluegrass He AND his "friend" both bought Northfields and returned them... really? I have my doubts.