I’m very much a beginner but am fortunate to have found a killer 2013 David Harvey built Fern that is very powerful and shares a lot of the tonal attributes that are among the best of the best I’ve ever played. I think more than any particular model or even to some extent builder, each mandolin is very different from another and I got lucky because mine is truly an exceptional example.
I enjoyed hearing about your mandolin and I think it sounds great even though I mostly listen to you on my phone, however I feel that the credit for the clear and consistent tone is your technique. Since we will most likely never meet and you don't sign my paycheck I have no reason to ingraciate myself to you but you are one of the players I listen to as way of gauging how I am coming along trying to improve my tone. I started playing in the 70's but quit in the early 2000's because of wrist pain. Luckily, now in my 70's, I have enough pain all over that the wrist pain seems insignificant by comparison, so I am back to playing mando and concentrating on tone. Thanks
Hey! "Profesional" bass and guitar player here. My first mandolin was a rogue A style. I had to sell but got an eastman recently! Thanks for the videos! They help me learn!
Very informative! I'm in the market for a mandolin. I've played guitar for about 50 years so the idea of not getting something nice just goes against every nerve. That's a beautiful mandolin. It's way above my talent level at this point but still looking for something I'd enjoy picking up.
I play on an Eastman MD 315! Before we bought it James at the Mandolin store down here in TN went through so many of these models to find a good one for me. We picked one out and I've been playing for about 6 months and mandolin is my absolute favorite!
Yes David, a very nice mando. I have a Flatiron A-5 I pretty much built myself back in the '90s when I worked in the factory in Belgrade, MT. I still play it and replaced frets to the 12th with wire from StewMac. I have played a friend's Eastman F-5, but this A-5 is all the mandolin I should ever need. All I do is a bit of busking and informal jamming here and there. Thanks for the show and tell. Bob
I recently got a Kentucky km-1050 which has the slightly wider neck and radiused fretboard. So much easier to play than my old Gibson A1. Sounds great too and is improving the more I play it. Someday love to get a really high end one but for now I'm pretty happy. Yours sounds perfect to me.
I had Oliver build me a Custom LS Voiced Rosine F-5, he was a JOY to work with, he modeled it after my Dec,1st 24 Loar with Virzi-he mis-matched the top wood, and did a slip-matched back-I picked out all the wood, I went with the sweet Black Cherry finish as well! I'd recommend Oliver's work to anyone! Actually when I posted the progress of my Rosine on the Cafe Apitius page I sent a few guys to him for some builds! I was just happy to help out a GREAT builder!
I have the first mandolin from Bruce Weber's new shop in Big Fork Montana. Bruce has been a friend for over 20 years and I have owned 3 other mandolins from the old shop. This one is a two point with a one piece adi top and maple back. It also has sustain that seems to last forever and the neck fells great. I am so lucky to have him as a friend. George Lane in Montana
I play a Gibson Master Model Performer A [or a Flatiron "What the Heck Is This?"]. It says "The Flatiron" in abalone inlay with an abalone Fleur de Lis on the headstock, but has a Gibson (Nashville factory) sticker with a Gibson model name, serial number, and patent history. Also, the main design elements are pure Gibson base model: just a few fingerboard dot inlays, a nice nitro sunburst fine-grained spruce top but plain brown everywhere else, concealing some nice flamed maple. I've read that just after Gibson bought Flatiron they started putting the Flatiron name on the pegheads of some of their least expensive Nashville produced mandolins. I like its wide dynamic range: played very quietly it sounds good with lots of detail, and it really roars without buzzing on big loud chords. And it was nice to get an American instrument for a price just slightly higher than that of a Chinese instrument. I've also had good luck with three inexpensive Gibson guitars and a Gibson banjo that play well and sound good for a very fair price but have little to no decoration.
Oh wow, you play with Catherine BB! I taught her jazz in Wellington, NZ some years ago. I was the jazz guitar teacher at the university here and she studied there for a while. Great player and lovely person. Anyways, I’m learning mandolin at the moment and finding your videos useful. So far I’ve had some great gigs on mandolin and yet really don’t know how to play it, ha (but I can read music so get orchestra gigs and theatre shows). Thanks for your videos
Awesome, thanks for the behind the scenes video - and insight into why you like your mandolin - so that I can know what I want when looking for a mandolin, as well!
Love the mandolin geek talk! So fun. I play a 2019 Collins MF and love the crisp high tones that really ring out. Going to go learn that Grey Eagle tune now. Thanks David!
David, thanks for sharing info about you mandolin. Very interesting design elements and it sounds great. I’m playing a 2017 LaPlant which I love. Lloyd LaPlant is 92 years young and is still building great mandolins. I also have a 1926 Gibson A1 which is super fun to play.
I don't know yet what model mandolin I have but it cost a good amount of money. I'm an intermediate guitar player already. I saw a Russian man on CZcams play a small stringed instrument that really intrigued me and I watched videos of other ancient stringed instruments. Then one day it popped into my head- Mandolin! And I got one. It has really increased my interest in my guitar and I hope I can continue to practice both every day.
Fretboard radius -- if you start with the curve of the fretboard, then imagine that same curve continued on for a complete circle, that circle's radius would be the fretboard radius. The smaller the radius, the less flat the fretboard. So in this case the fretboard radius flows from 7.5" near the tuners to 12" near the bridge means the fretboard has more curve near the tuners and is flatter near the bridge.
David; I have been playing a mandolin that is very unique. Remember Jessee McReynolds' favorite Stiver mandolin, with blonde top and Brazillian rosewood sides and back? There was a luthier in Bristol, Tennessee named Thurman Millard, operating about forty years ago,who made one that looks just like the Stiver. Thurman was an influence on a majority of the local mandolin luthiers in my area today. It has West Va. Red Spruce top, and Brazillian rosewood back and sides. It is also unique in that Thurman completely overlaid the headstock and fretboard in mother of pearl. It sounds amazing. I've had it out to several jams, and it cuts though like no mandolin I've ever played. It also has the best fretboard for playing I've ever seen.
Hey David, Thanks for sharing the details about your Mandolin, a lot of us picker nerds really enjoy that kinda stuff. I had an Eastman MD515, but sold it in 2018 when I had Audey Ratliff build my custom R5 Mandolin, which I love. My wife and I name our instruments as well, and I named mine Audey after his “father”. A few cool things that make my mandolin special to me is, being a big fan of Adam Steffey, I knew Adam has had 3 Ratliff’s (the first being #3), Audey is also credited with being Adam’s first Mandolin instructor. Lastly, I’m a lefty, like Audey, so having my mandolin made by a left handed luthier makes mine a bit more special to me, plus Audey is a great guy. I am very much happy with the one Mandolin. I do suffer from GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) though. I have 10 guitars currently with more on the wish list😊. Keep up the great work, you are an inspiration to so many of us. Love your mandolin, but it is your talent that makes it sound so great!
Not to be too pedantic but GAS actually means "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". I say that because it's not limited to guitars (just ask my wallet). That condition has afflicted me with respect to guitars, mandolins, basses, drums, keyboards, amps, pedals, mics, plugins (for my DAW), and on and on..... Another way to quantify the GAS condition is captured in the formula for how many (T) of choice one really needs: T = N + 1, where N = the current number of guitars, mandolins, etc. one owns. Wives hate this formula....
So that's how you say Apitius? I was always saying A-peesh-us. Thanks, David! And I love my 58 Gibson F-12, just as old as me but looks and sounds much better.
Love to see you in Australia again... South Australia! It's a stunning instrument! Two of mine have flat fretboard, one of them is a lot harder to play. The other is radiused and very comfortable, easier and more fun to play. I have and Eastman MD315, an Ibanez and a 100yr old German archback.
Mike Black A5 copy, a couple of years old. I love it! Also a L&H style C I’ve just had refretted and is a lot of fun to play and plain beautiful to look at.
@@lowtone9 Congrats. You're going to love it. Did you get the virzi model? The tuners and James tailpiece are fabulous. It stays in tune really well too. Mine is #12 and the cool thing is I can look at pictures of it in his gallery/ archive. I bought mine second hand from a guy in Australia where I live. It was a bit of a gamble not being able to play it as he was in a different state but I am so glad I took that gamble. I always get positive comments from people that hear it when I play it at a jam etc.
@@Gman1044 No, I didn't get the Virzi. I'm afraid that the virzi sacrifices too much volume. i like the sound of the gibson ovals, but they are already relatively quiet.
Huzzah for the old Flatiron workhorse! Still rocking mine (the one mando I’ve purchased, from 2001), though I did customize it a bit and had the fingerboard radiused in 2002. I’ve got a new axe on order, coming late next year. Thanks for the intro to Stan!
I always admired your mando. I just acquired a new Gibson Goldrush. It also has the smaller f-holes. It really is a work of art both aesthetically and tonally. I’m really excited to experience the opening up journey.
I’m playing a starter kala soprano ukulele tuned to GDAE with Aquila 31U strings. My only gripe is that I don’t have more notes than just an octave with 12 frets. I’m a guitar/bass player first so my first inclinations are either to buy an epiphone concert uke and change the strings (cherry sunburst lp, acoustic electric, 19 frets, $170) or a gold tone electric 5 string tuned CDGAE.
I am playing a Northfield Big Mon now. The thing that really blew me away with this mandolin was the sustain and the volume compared to my previous mandolin (Eastman 505). Now if I can just learn to not play sour notes.
A quick explanation of neck radius. The larger the number, the flatter the curve...if you draw a circle with a 7" radius, a piece of the circumference the length of the nut will have the same curvature as your fretboard at the nut. Fretboards are usually not as curved where they meet the body of the instrument, so a bigger diameter circle, which yields a flatter curve...
Your Apitius sounds absolutely amazing! I had a hard time not choosing the Apitius voicing, but I just really love the sound of Oliver's Loar Spec voicing as it has that vintage dry tone. He is almost finished with my Apitius Rosine LS, should be shipping end of month. Waiting for over a year has been so hard, but I think it's going to be incredibly worth it.
YES! Love that mandolin! that deep sustained sound is a force to be reckoned with! so nice! I would love a apitius studio a one day! Currently playing 2015 Northfield Big Mon honey amber. My first and only real axe so its not going anywhere. Slightly bigger holes and body veering off a bit from whats traditional. Also has the woody airy but sweet tone and amazing sustain very variable imho. The mystery and beauty of the mandolin!!! Great Vid! Thanks
Thanks for this walkthrough David. Your mando seems to have many of the same specs as my Mowry F5. The wood(engelman top, figured big leaf maple back and sides), sidebound neck and peghead, I also had Andrew refret with EVO a couple of years back. It seems I seek many of the same things as you do. The mother of pearl detail in the nut is interesting. I feel that I have to kind of control a bit more how I pick the E for it not becoming to harsh. That is the only thing soundwise that I would like to improve on my Mowry. Other than that it sings. The D also sustains forever and the overall clarity is nice. I really love the sound of your mando and your playing. Cheers from Iceland.
The Apitius is a beautiful looking and sounding instrument my friend, I met Oliver at the Winterhawk Festival in the early 90's and he inspired me to keep building my LeBlanc Mandolins. I met you at the County Bluegrass Festival in Fort Fairfield Me and I believe you tried one of my mandolins. Enjoyed your post David, thanks for sharing.
Great video . I have a Northfield F5s that I am starting to enjoy more as it opens up. I had a Pava Player A style but found it a bit lifeless. I think my favourite is my Mike Black oval hole that I got second hand and the tone on that is lovely and rich and has great sustain. The varnish finish does wear a bit and it's starting to look a bit rough but the sound is great and the patina adds to it's character. Play on guys.
Remarkable mandolin , has a great sound , and great tone ,real woody sound to me , that i like i , but out of my price range , maybe one day , thanks for sharing David ,this was great !!!!!! Oh i am playing a Breedlove A model satin finish , plays well ,and is loud . God bless !!!!
When you first got that Apitius, I could instantly tell it was more open than your Flatiron and you weren't struggling to make volume. It's been enjoyable to hear it round out and mature in its tone. I'm currently playing a BRW 2-point, but I don't think Ben Wilcox is an active maker. Have you had a chance to contrast it to one of his "first generation" mandolins? I think Ashley Broder's is the tone champ of all mandolins! Love your playing, and thanks for your contributions to the mandoverse!
Breedlove Quartz, round hole. It was cheap when I bought it, $1200 with the case it came to $1500. Still have not mastered it, but to do that you must play. I have had it for 14 years. Breedlove no longer makes Mandolins so getting specific information regarding certain rmeasurments has been impossible. I am having to guess at things. That is it.
I have a northfield model A. Which is a great player and holds up well in both bluegrass jams and irish sessions. I also have a jj ryan F style mandolin on the way. Which I am very excited about!
@@LarsLarsHansen great to hear! I think she might have shown me some pictures of the one she was building for you to highlight some of the features of mine. Congrats with the buy. I'm picking mine up late january during celtic connections.
@@samvermeulen9740 Not long to wait now, I think I saw yours with the first coats of french polish on it. I like how mine sound different than your average Collings/Weber, and the neck is super comfortable. Gonna be exciting to hear it after 6 months of heavy chopping.
@@DavidBenedictMandolin Does the MOP under the E effect the fretted notes? Logic would dictate that the nut is removed from the sound equation once a fret is involved. Unless I'm missing something. I'd love to hear your take, David. Personally, I believe a zero fret makes the most sense for consistency of note sound (and tuning, maintenance)..
oh man, that mandolin maker is right near where my wife and I were living when we got married. will have to keep them bookmarked in case I ever win the lotto or something and afford something like that lol
Hey David, that's an amazing instrument! You talked about your pickup a bit (and that you don't really use it). Do you have any suggestions for natural sounding pickups to use whenever you play in a band with a drummer? I currently use a McIntyre transducer pickup that's stuck to the inside, as it's the most natural sounding pickup I could find. We use in-ears, but I'm afraid I still won't be able to use a mic due to stage noise. And I like the freedom to walk around.
David the first thing I noticed was mandolin on the wall. Isn't that a no no? During heating season the walls are colder and air side is warmer so a possibility of condensation on the mandolin back, plus the colder surface. They say an inside wall is OK but never on an outside wall exposed to the elements. Playing a Collings MT made in 2019, and loving it. A more extreme compound radius starting at 5.5 up to 11.5" which took me awhile to get used to it. BUT - a used 2004 Apitius master grade mandolin has made an appearance. A solid one piece back with burl maple and other custom appointments and wondering what the difference would be compared to the newer internals of the 2015 onwards models? Need to give Oliver a call to discuss. Price is really up there, for a used instrument in mint condition, but his website now says that he is not accepting orders due to the backlog. So folks grab one if and when you can.
Hey there! Thanks so much for watching my video here! And thanks for the tip on the wall hanging. I haven't been too worried about it, because we haven't been running the heat in our house here in SC. The temperature has been very mild and humidity has been good. Also, I don't leave it hanging all the time, its more of a movable decoration that I put up when filming these videos 😆. And I actually don't know too much about the specs of his older models--haven't really played any of the older ones either. I'm sure Oliver could fill you in though if you're interested--definitely reach out to him on his website--nicest dude ever!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin I did and Oliver gave me the specs on that mandolin. A custom order by a collector. An immaculate mandolin but it has a 7.5" radius all the way. Never heard of that on a mandolin and cannot imagine what that would be like playing up the neck at 7.5? So I'm going to pass on it.
Another great video David, love your style (topics, editing, etc...). More importantly, your mandolin has all the tone one would expect from an instrument. I wonder if you would switch for somehing else ?
Thank you kindly! I'm pretty set on this mando at the minute, but I've been talking with Oliver about maybe getting another one of his instruments down then line!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin what about a video discussion with the luthier (builder) ? Maybe a new series for a custom instrument. The DB mandolin videos series.
Nice mandolin. I've also been thinking I'd like a custom mandolin built to my specs. Can you recommend any luthiers who can build me a mandolin for a reasonable price?
@@DavidBenedictMandolin awesome, me too. I like how the 11.5 E seems to make a lot of difference. I guess Thile was onto something regarding the overall string balance 😉
I’m very much a beginner but am fortunate to have found a killer 2013 David Harvey built Fern that is very powerful and shares a lot of the tonal attributes that are among the best of the best I’ve ever played. I think more than any particular model or even to some extent builder, each mandolin is very different from another and I got lucky because mine is truly an exceptional example.
Congratulations!
Nice man!
That's great!
I enjoyed hearing about your mandolin and I think it sounds great even though I mostly listen to you on my phone, however I feel that the credit for the clear and consistent tone is your technique. Since we will most likely never meet and you don't sign my paycheck I have no reason to ingraciate myself to you but you are one of the players I listen to as way of gauging how I am coming along trying to improve my tone.
I started playing in the 70's but quit in the early 2000's because of wrist pain. Luckily, now in my 70's, I have enough pain all over that the wrist pain seems insignificant by comparison, so I am back to playing mando and concentrating on tone.
Thanks
Hey! "Profesional" bass and guitar player here. My first mandolin was a rogue A style. I had to sell but got an eastman recently! Thanks for the videos! They help me learn!
Awesome! Happy to help!
Very informative! I'm in the market for a mandolin. I've played guitar for about 50 years so the idea of not getting something nice just goes against every nerve. That's a beautiful mandolin. It's way above my talent level at this point but still looking for something I'd enjoy picking up.
Ah thanks Bri! There are so many good mando options out there! Check out the Mandolin Cafe builders list if you haven't already.
I play on an Eastman MD 315! Before we bought it James at the Mandolin store down here in TN went through so many of these models to find a good one for me. We picked one out and I've been playing for about 6 months and mandolin is my absolute favorite!
I have the same and love it.
Me too, upgraded from a 140€ Washburn. I love it
So great!
Yes David, a very nice mando. I have a Flatiron A-5 I pretty much built myself back in the '90s when I worked in the factory in Belgrade, MT. I still play it and replaced frets to the 12th with wire from StewMac. I have played a friend's Eastman F-5, but this A-5 is all the mandolin I should ever need. All I do is a bit of busking and informal jamming here and there. Thanks for the show and tell. Bob
I recently got a Kentucky km-1050 which has the slightly wider neck and radiused fretboard. So much easier to play than my old Gibson A1. Sounds great too and is improving the more I play it. Someday love to get a really high end one but for now I'm pretty happy. Yours sounds perfect to me.
Ah thanks so much Michael! Glad you like it!
I had Oliver build me a Custom LS Voiced Rosine F-5, he was a JOY to work with, he modeled it after my Dec,1st 24 Loar with Virzi-he mis-matched the top wood, and did a slip-matched back-I picked out all the wood, I went with the sweet Black Cherry finish as well! I'd recommend Oliver's work to anyone! Actually when I posted the progress of my Rosine on the Cafe Apitius page I sent a few guys to him for some builds! I was just happy to help out a GREAT builder!
Love it!
I have the first mandolin from Bruce Weber's new shop in Big Fork Montana. Bruce has been a friend for over 20 years and I have owned 3 other mandolins from the old shop. This one is a two point with a one piece adi top and maple back. It also has sustain that seems to last forever and the neck fells great. I am so lucky to have him as a friend. George Lane in Montana
Love it! Such a cool story!
I play a Gibson Master Model Performer A [or a Flatiron "What the Heck Is This?"]. It says "The Flatiron" in abalone inlay with an abalone Fleur de Lis on the headstock, but has a Gibson (Nashville factory) sticker with a Gibson model name, serial number, and patent history. Also, the main design elements are pure Gibson base model: just a few fingerboard dot inlays, a nice nitro sunburst fine-grained spruce top but plain brown everywhere else, concealing some nice flamed maple. I've read that just after Gibson bought Flatiron they started putting the Flatiron name on the pegheads of some of their least expensive Nashville produced mandolins. I like its wide dynamic range: played very quietly it sounds good with lots of detail, and it really roars without buzzing on big loud chords. And it was nice to get an American instrument for a price just slightly higher than that of a Chinese instrument. I've also had good luck with three inexpensive Gibson guitars and a Gibson banjo that play well and sound good for a very fair price but have little to no decoration.
Oh wow, you play with Catherine BB! I taught her jazz in Wellington, NZ some years ago. I was the jazz guitar teacher at the university here and she studied there for a while. Great player and lovely person.
Anyways, I’m learning mandolin at the moment and finding your videos useful. So far I’ve had some great gigs on mandolin and yet really don’t know how to play it, ha (but I can read music so get orchestra gigs and theatre shows). Thanks for your videos
Awesome, thanks for the behind the scenes video - and insight into why you like your mandolin - so that I can know what I want when looking for a mandolin, as well!
Love the mandolin geek talk! So fun. I play a 2019 Collins MF and love the crisp high tones that really ring out. Going to go learn that Grey Eagle tune now. Thanks David!
Collings is so great. I have an ‘07 MF and I agree with you.
Sure thing Richard!
David, thanks for sharing info about you mandolin. Very interesting design elements and it sounds great.
I’m playing a 2017 LaPlant which I love. Lloyd LaPlant is 92 years young and is still building great mandolins. I also have a 1926 Gibson A1 which is super fun to play.
Thanks Chris! Sounds like you've got a keeper!
LaPlant makes some of the nicest instruments I have ever played. He is also just a great guy and super fun to play with.
I play a 2001 apitius classic. Love it!
You are such an incredible talent and a true inspiration to myself and others as a player. Thank you for the content you provide.
Thank you, David, for sharing about your personal mandolin. A very enjoyable review for me as a mandolin nerd. Dan
So glad! Thanks Dan!
I don't know yet what model mandolin I have but it cost a good amount of money. I'm an intermediate guitar player already. I saw a Russian man on CZcams play a small stringed instrument that really intrigued me and I watched videos of other ancient stringed instruments. Then one day it popped into my head- Mandolin! And I got one. It has really increased my interest in my guitar and I hope I can continue to practice both every day.
Be careful! The mandolin might just take over all your practice time--it's so fun to play! 😆
Thanks for showing us your Apitius! Sounds great!
Playing a Lewis F5,
And Giacomel J5
Fretboard radius -- if you start with the curve of the fretboard, then imagine that same curve continued on for a complete circle, that circle's radius would be the fretboard radius. The smaller the radius, the less flat the fretboard. So in this case the fretboard radius flows from 7.5" near the tuners to 12" near the bridge means the fretboard has more curve near the tuners and is flatter near the bridge.
I've built 4 f-5s and your's is a sweet Mando! Thanks for sharing !
Sure thing, Peter!
David; I have been playing a mandolin that is very unique. Remember Jessee McReynolds' favorite Stiver mandolin, with blonde top and Brazillian rosewood sides and back? There was a luthier in Bristol, Tennessee named Thurman Millard, operating about forty years ago,who made one that looks just like the Stiver. Thurman was an influence on a majority of the local mandolin luthiers in my area today. It has West Va. Red Spruce top, and Brazillian rosewood back and sides. It is also unique in that Thurman completely overlaid the headstock and fretboard in mother of pearl. It sounds amazing. I've had it out to several jams, and it cuts though like no mandolin I've ever played. It also has the best fretboard for playing I've ever seen.
Very cool!
So nice to hear your description of your beloved instrument.
Thanks Gwenn!
Hey David, Thanks for sharing the details about your Mandolin, a lot of us picker nerds really enjoy that kinda stuff. I had an Eastman MD515, but sold it in 2018 when I had Audey Ratliff build my custom R5 Mandolin, which I love. My wife and I name our instruments as well, and I named mine Audey after his “father”. A few cool things that make my mandolin special to me is, being a big fan of Adam Steffey, I knew Adam has had 3 Ratliff’s (the first being #3), Audey is also credited with being Adam’s first Mandolin instructor. Lastly, I’m a lefty, like Audey, so having my mandolin made by a left handed luthier makes mine a bit more special to me, plus Audey is a great guy. I am very much happy with the one Mandolin. I do suffer from GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) though. I have 10 guitars currently with more on the wish list😊. Keep up the great work, you are an inspiration to so many of us. Love your mandolin, but it is your talent that makes it sound so great!
Thanks Don! Love Steffey's playing too! Sounds like you've got a great mando too!
Not to be too pedantic but GAS actually means "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". I say that because it's not limited to guitars (just ask my wallet). That condition has afflicted me with respect to guitars, mandolins, basses, drums, keyboards, amps, pedals, mics, plugins (for my DAW), and on and on..... Another way to quantify the GAS condition is captured in the formula for how many (T) of choice one really needs: T = N + 1, where N = the current number of guitars, mandolins, etc. one owns. Wives hate this formula....
So that's how you say Apitius? I was always saying A-peesh-us. Thanks, David!
And I love my 58 Gibson F-12, just as old as me but looks and sounds much better.
I believe so! That's awesome! Haven't played too many gibsons from the 50s
Love to see you in Australia again... South Australia! It's a stunning instrument!
Two of mine have flat fretboard, one of them is a lot harder to play. The other is radiused and very comfortable, easier and more fun to play. I have and Eastman MD315, an Ibanez and a 100yr old German archback.
That's so great, Bronwyn! Hope I can make it back to Australia sometime soon!
Mike Black A5 copy, a couple of years old. I love it! Also a L&H style C I’ve just had refretted and is a lot of fun to play and plain beautiful to look at.
I have a Mike Black oval hole that I'm never going to let go. I would love one of his A5's too but you can't have everything. Cheers.
That's great!
@@Gman1044 i have one of his A2s on order.
@@lowtone9 Congrats. You're going to love it. Did you get the virzi model?
The tuners and James tailpiece are fabulous. It stays in tune really well too.
Mine is #12 and the cool thing is I can look at pictures of it in his gallery/ archive. I bought mine second hand from a guy in Australia where I live. It was a bit of a gamble not being able to play it as he was in a different state but I am so glad I took that gamble. I always get positive comments from people that hear it when I play it at a jam etc.
@@Gman1044 No, I didn't get the Virzi. I'm afraid that the virzi sacrifices too much volume. i like the sound of the gibson ovals, but they are already relatively quiet.
I play an Eastman md815 and really enjoy playing it I m trying to learn more tunes on the mandolin really enjoy learning from ya.
Huzzah for the old Flatiron workhorse! Still rocking mine (the one mando I’ve purchased, from 2001), though I did customize it a bit and had the fingerboard radiused in 2002. I’ve got a new axe on order, coming late next year. Thanks for the intro to Stan!
Nice one! Still love my Flatiron too!
2003 Pomeroy F5 #40. It's a dandy
Nice!
I always admired your mando. I just acquired a new Gibson Goldrush. It also has the smaller f-holes. It really is a work of art both aesthetically and tonally. I’m really excited to experience the opening up journey.
Very cool! Congrats!
I’m playing a starter kala soprano ukulele tuned to GDAE with Aquila 31U strings. My only gripe is that I don’t have more notes than just an octave with 12 frets. I’m a guitar/bass player first so my first inclinations are either to buy an epiphone concert uke and change the strings (cherry sunburst lp, acoustic electric, 19 frets, $170) or a gold tone electric 5 string tuned CDGAE.
I am playing a Northfield Big Mon now. The thing that really blew me away with this mandolin was the sustain and the volume compared to my previous mandolin (Eastman 505). Now if I can just learn to not play sour notes.
That's awesome! I also play an Eastman. Northfield is really awesome
At least the sour notes will sound better.😃
@@Gman1044 But... also louder 😂
@@denny9634 Louder and sweeter sounding sour notes. Maybe that's a win? 🤔
Sour notes are my favorite!
A quick explanation of neck radius. The larger the number, the flatter the curve...if you draw a circle with a 7" radius, a piece of the circumference the length of the nut will have the same curvature as your fretboard at the nut. Fretboards are usually not as curved where they meet the body of the instrument, so a bigger diameter circle, which yields a flatter curve...
Thanks for the explanation!
Your Apitius sounds absolutely amazing! I had a hard time not choosing the Apitius voicing, but I just really love the sound of Oliver's Loar Spec voicing as it has that vintage dry tone. He is almost finished with my Apitius Rosine LS, should be shipping end of month. Waiting for over a year has been so hard, but I think it's going to be incredibly worth it.
Awesome! Congrats!
YES! Love that mandolin! that deep sustained sound is a force to be reckoned with! so nice! I would love a apitius studio a one day! Currently playing 2015 Northfield Big Mon honey amber. My first and only real axe so its not going anywhere. Slightly bigger holes and body veering off a bit from whats traditional. Also has the woody airy but sweet tone and amazing sustain very variable imho. The mystery and beauty of the mandolin!!! Great Vid! Thanks
Those Big Mon mandos are great!
I would like to see you compare a regular mandolin to a steel mandolin.
Ah nice! Never played a steel mandolin before. Will have to get me one of those some day
Lovely reel and playing.
Thanks so much, Robert!
Thanks for this walkthrough David. Your mando seems to have many of the same specs as my Mowry F5.
The wood(engelman top, figured big leaf maple back and sides), sidebound neck and peghead, I also had Andrew refret with EVO a couple of years back.
It seems I seek many of the same things as you do. The mother of pearl detail in the nut is interesting.
I feel that I have to kind of control a bit more how I pick the E for it not becoming to harsh. That is the only thing soundwise that I would like to improve on my Mowry. Other than that it sings. The D also sustains forever and the overall clarity is nice.
I really love the sound of your mando and your playing. Cheers from Iceland.
Thanks so much! Andrew is another fantastic builder!
The Apitius is a beautiful looking and sounding instrument my friend, I met Oliver at the Winterhawk Festival in the early 90's and he inspired me to keep building my LeBlanc Mandolins. I met you at the County Bluegrass Festival in Fort Fairfield Me and I believe you tried one of my mandolins. Enjoyed your post David, thanks for sharing.
Very cool! Yes, I remember, lovely mandolins you make!
@@DavidBenedictMandolinThank you my friend.
Great video, I love the detail and the sound of your Apitius. I play a 2006 Ellis F5 and just love it.
Rock on!
Really enjoyed this . What a beautiful looking and sounding mandolin .
Many thanks!
Great video .
I have a Northfield F5s that I am starting to enjoy more as it opens up. I had a Pava Player A style but found it a bit lifeless.
I think my favourite is my Mike Black oval hole that I got second hand and the tone on that is lovely and rich and has great sustain. The varnish finish does wear a bit and it's starting to look a bit rough but the sound is great and the patina adds to it's character. Play on guys.
Love it!
Remarkable mandolin , has a great sound , and great tone ,real woody sound to me , that i like i , but out of my price range , maybe one day , thanks for sharing David ,this was great !!!!!! Oh i am playing a Breedlove A model satin finish , plays well ,and is loud . God bless !!!!
Thanks Ronnie! Those Breedloves are so unique!
When you first got that Apitius, I could instantly tell it was more open than your Flatiron and you weren't struggling to make volume. It's been enjoyable to hear it round out and mature in its tone. I'm currently playing a BRW 2-point, but I don't think Ben Wilcox is an active maker. Have you had a chance to contrast it to one of his "first generation" mandolins? I think Ashley Broder's is the tone champ of all mandolins! Love your playing, and thanks for your contributions to the mandoverse!
Ah thanks James! Haven't gotten to play any Oliver's older axes, but would love to compare.
I've got an Eastman 305. It's serving me well for now, but seeing vids like this make me antsy to expand my collection!
Haha! I know, that Gear Acquisition Syndrome is a dangerous thing!
Breedlove Quartz, round hole. It was cheap when I bought it, $1200 with the case it came to $1500. Still have not mastered it, but to do that you must play. I have had it for 14 years. Breedlove no longer makes Mandolins so getting specific information regarding certain rmeasurments has been impossible. I am having to guess at things. That is it.
I have a northfield model A. Which is a great player and holds up well in both bluegrass jams and irish sessions. I also have a jj ryan F style mandolin on the way. Which I am very excited about!
I just picked up an F-style from Jill last week, and it's great. You're in for a treat:-)
@@LarsLarsHansen great to hear! I think she might have shown me some pictures of the one she was building for you to highlight some of the features of mine. Congrats with the buy. I'm picking mine up late january during celtic connections.
@@samvermeulen9740 Not long to wait now, I think I saw yours with the first coats of french polish on it. I like how mine sound different than your average Collings/Weber, and the neck is super comfortable. Gonna be exciting to hear it after 6 months of heavy chopping.
@@LarsLarsHansen I'm confident it will be a beast after some breaking in. Super excited for mine anyway.
Very cool! JJ Ryan is an awesome luthier!
Just checked out the price list for the Apitius mandos. OMG! Soooo expensive! A very humbling experience in deed.
Dang, that thing sounds good!
Thanks Brian!
I’ve been waiting on this video lol
Haha! Happy to oblige!
Awesome. Thank You.
Thanks, David. That's one beautiful and wonderful-sounding piece of kit. Score!
My pleasure!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin Does the MOP under the E effect the fretted notes? Logic would dictate that the nut is removed from the sound equation once a fret is involved. Unless I'm missing something. I'd love to hear your take, David. Personally, I believe a zero fret makes the most sense for consistency of note sound (and tuning, maintenance)..
I have a McClanahan via delorosa. In live in travelers rest also
Northfield NF5SE. Nice warm tone at an affordable price 😊
Those mandos are great!
Cool mando. I have an F5s.
What does the SE mean. Special Edition?
oh man, that mandolin maker is right near where my wife and I were living when we got married. will have to keep them bookmarked in case I ever win the lotto or something and afford something like that lol
So cool!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin yeah :D
Hey David, that's an amazing instrument! You talked about your pickup a bit (and that you don't really use it).
Do you have any suggestions for natural sounding pickups to use whenever you play in a band with a drummer? I currently use a McIntyre transducer pickup that's stuck to the inside, as it's the most natural sounding pickup I could find. We use in-ears, but I'm afraid I still won't be able to use a mic due to stage noise. And I like the freedom to walk around.
David the first thing I noticed was mandolin on the wall. Isn't that a no no? During heating season the walls are colder and air side is warmer so a possibility of condensation on the mandolin back, plus the colder surface. They say an inside wall is OK but never on an outside wall exposed to the elements. Playing a Collings MT made in 2019, and loving it. A more extreme compound radius starting at 5.5 up to 11.5" which took me awhile to get used to it. BUT - a used 2004 Apitius master grade mandolin has made an appearance. A solid one piece back with burl maple and other custom appointments and wondering what the difference would be compared to the newer internals of the 2015 onwards models? Need to give Oliver a call to discuss. Price is really up there, for a used instrument in mint condition, but his website now says that he is not accepting orders due to the backlog. So folks grab one if and when you can.
Hey there! Thanks so much for watching my video here! And thanks for the tip on the wall hanging. I haven't been too worried about it, because we haven't been running the heat in our house here in SC. The temperature has been very mild and humidity has been good. Also, I don't leave it hanging all the time, its more of a movable decoration that I put up when filming these videos 😆. And I actually don't know too much about the specs of his older models--haven't really played any of the older ones either. I'm sure Oliver could fill you in though if you're interested--definitely reach out to him on his website--nicest dude ever!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin I did and Oliver gave me the specs on that mandolin. A custom order by a collector. An immaculate mandolin but it has a 7.5" radius all the way. Never heard of that on a mandolin and cannot imagine what that would be like playing up the neck at 7.5? So I'm going to pass on it.
Another great video David, love your style (topics, editing, etc...). More importantly, your mandolin has all the tone one would expect from an instrument. I wonder if you would switch for somehing else ?
Thank you kindly! I'm pretty set on this mando at the minute, but I've been talking with Oliver about maybe getting another one of his instruments down then line!
@@DavidBenedictMandolin what about a video discussion with the luthier (builder) ? Maybe a new series for a custom instrument. The DB mandolin videos series.
@DavidBenedictMandolin Re your description, I've always thought that a mandolin should be called a hatchet rather than an axe.
Love it thanks!
Glad you like it!
Nice mandolin. I've also been thinking I'd like a custom mandolin built to my specs. Can you recommend any luthiers who can build me a mandolin for a reasonable price?
Check out Oliver's work for sure! www.apitiusmandolins.com/
Good god i want one
Can you speak a bit a more about inspiration from the tool?
David, when you travel, do the airlines always allow you to carry it on? And where in the plane do you keep it when flying?
I’ve only had to check it once, but otherwise I carry it on the plane as my personal item and put it in the overhead compartments.
I'm a new mandolin learner. I was thinking about a Seagul Mandolin., are those a good mandolin? I have a Ovation Mando.
Did I miss the nut width or is it standard Gibson 1 1/16
Sorry if this has been addressed but what strings do you use on your Apitius David?
I've been using the D'Addario XT CM sets
@@DavidBenedictMandolin awesome, me too. I like how the 11.5 E seems to make a lot of difference. I guess Thile was onto something regarding the overall string balance 😉
What is the cost of this mandolin
What's the price on a mandolin mandolin that?
Wait… Vanguard?! Isn’t those cheap mandolins?!… Oh, wait - that’s Vangoa, not Vanguard… Nevermind!