The all walnut looks sensational, but that spruce and maple has incredible dynamism. High throaty gold notes and big chest growl. Oddly, to my ear, the spruce walnut combo sounds most like a traditional flattop mandolin. Great pop and eagerness.
The spruce/walnut combo is my favorite here, with all walnut coming in second. Nothing wrong with the spruce/maple either, and those are pratically THE mandolin tonewoods. The other two just push my buttons harder on an instrument that's halfway to a guitar in its role.
Deep and dark for me. The all walnut or the walnut with spruce for a bit more sparkle. The maple was nice but a bit too bright for me. I'd love to hear the difference between an all walnut and all mahogany. I love my all solid mahogany uke and now I'm looking to try my first mando family instrument. I'm leaning towards the octave mandolin or more likely octave mandola. The range of the family let alone the woods and body styles is mind bending at this point. Can you just send me one of each please and I'll send back the runner ups when I've decided. Cheers! :-)
The all walnut looks sensational, but that spruce and maple has incredible dynamism. High throaty gold notes and big chest growl. Oddly, to my ear, the spruce walnut combo sounds most like a traditional flattop mandolin. Great pop and eagerness.
The spruce/walnut combo is my favorite here, with all walnut coming in second. Nothing wrong with the spruce/maple either, and those are pratically THE mandolin tonewoods. The other two just push my buttons harder on an instrument that's halfway to a guitar in its role.
They all sound great!!!! ..... but the Italian spruce top, maple back and sides stole my heart!!!
Thank you for this! It answered the exact question I was wrestling with!
Deep and dark for me.
The all walnut or the walnut with spruce for a bit more sparkle.
The maple was nice but a bit too bright for me.
I'd love to hear the difference between an all walnut and all mahogany.
I love my all solid mahogany uke and now I'm looking to try my first mando family instrument. I'm leaning towards the octave mandolin or more likely octave mandola. The range of the family let alone the woods and body styles is mind bending at this point.
Can you just send me one of each please and I'll send back the runner ups when I've decided.
Cheers!
:-)
#1 maple back/spruce top
#2 walnut back/spruce top
#3 walnut/walnut