Terrific recording and comparison editing. This is one of a few videos where the full sound of the mandolin with all of its nuances could be heard. Most notably, the tone of the hollow ring behind the note, as well as the envelope of the pick attack sounded like I was sitting there playing the instrument. Great work! P.S. the Gil takes it for me with how lively but clean all the notes are
That Nugget has got a perfect bluegrass tone! The other 2 are great also, but I'd give the Nugget top prize in blind taste test. Do the Nugget and Gil have flat or radiused fingerboards?
They are all very similar. I think the Nugget is a little darker sounding and Gil a little more clear, the other one is a mix of the two. All sound fabulous. I have six mandolins and would gladly trade them all for just one of yours! But mine all sound great too.
Nugget for the win! We're living in the golden age of great mandolin building, but I have always thought Nuggets stand out even compared with amazing builders like Gilchrist, Monteleone, Dudenbostel, Kimble, etc. I also like the fact that it's the only one where the pickguard doesn't cover up half of the treble side f-hole. I understand that Gilchrist is going for the closest replica possible of a Loar F-5, but there's just no good reason why a pickguard should cover the sound hole. I would say that's the one design flaw in Loar F-5s, and Kemnitzer wisely corrected it.
Gil too bright. Not as much roundness to the tone. Nugget has such a sweet tone. Hogan sounds too new. All three are really beautiful. Playing is great on all three! Nugget has great attack, but then the decay is very rich. Hogan just a little quieter than the other two. Needs more time to become “played in”.
You play to perfection, with feel and dynamics!
Terrific recording and comparison editing. This is one of a few videos where the full sound of the mandolin with all of its nuances could be heard. Most notably, the tone of the hollow ring behind the note, as well as the envelope of the pick attack sounded like I was sitting there playing the instrument. Great work!
P.S. the Gil takes it for me with how lively but clean all the notes are
They all sound wonderful in your hands but I prefer the richness of the Gilcrest. Great job!
Well done, Jake. This is, hands down, the best instrument comparison video I have seen to date. Spot on, and user-friendly. Thank you, and kudos.
That Nugget has got a perfect bluegrass tone! The other 2 are great also, but I'd give the Nugget top prize in blind taste test. Do the Nugget and Gil have flat or radiused fingerboards?
The Nugget has a radius and the Gil is a flat fretboard! I don't have to much trouble going back and forth between them luckily.
The Nugget is a killer.Wonderful color,overtones,clarity and definition.Really informative to hear this from an excellent player!
I love every mandolin, but I have a soft spot for the Nugget. Thanks for the kind comment!
They all sound incredible. Hard to pick. Maybe the Gilchrist?
Still in love with that Nugget! Thanks for the reminder that I need to practice AND get better at my fancy editing skills.
I sometimes wonder if I try to hard on editing these things haha
They are all very similar. I think the Nugget is a little darker sounding and Gil a little more clear, the other one is a mix of the two. All sound fabulous.
I have six mandolins and would gladly trade them all for just one of yours! But mine all sound great too.
Yep, I liked the Nuggets tone best too. You are very talented!
Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!
Killing it, Jake!! GREAT VID!! I see you, bud. :-)
Dude! I miss you man, hope you been doing well.
Nugget for the win! We're living in the golden age of great mandolin building, but I have always thought Nuggets stand out even compared with amazing builders like Gilchrist, Monteleone, Dudenbostel, Kimble, etc. I also like the fact that it's the only one where the pickguard doesn't cover up half of the treble side f-hole. I understand that Gilchrist is going for the closest replica possible of a Loar F-5, but there's just no good reason why a pickguard should cover the sound hole. I would say that's the one design flaw in Loar F-5s, and Kemnitzer wisely corrected it.
As a bluegrass player I love the tone of the Gilchrist, but for the classical music the nugget wins
Thanks for taking the time, Jake. Which of these instruments would be the one, if you absolutely had to choose?
I am partial to the Nugget though each of these are special in their own right. The Nugget just has the things I look for in a mandolin!
for eveness and response I like the Hogan
The Nugget is the best, all were really good though
Gil too bright. Not as much roundness to the tone. Nugget has such a sweet tone. Hogan sounds too new. All three are really beautiful. Playing is great on all three! Nugget has great attack, but then the decay is very rich. Hogan just a little quieter than the other two. Needs more time to become “played in”.
All wonderful. The Nugget is my favorite, but there are much better Nuggets. I wouldn’t choose any of these for bluegrass.
Thanks for the comment. I think the Nugget works really well in a bluegrass context, it hasn't let me down yet!
What would be your bluegrass mandolin of choice?