A-Style vs F-Style Mandolins: Who Wins? 3 Brands, 3 Prices.
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- Today John and Jeremy answer the Ultimate question: Should you buy an A-Style Or F-Style Mandolin? We have 3 brands, all at different price points to compare! Which do you prefer? Can you tell the difference? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00 - Intro
01:09 - What Are We Doing?
04:05 - Eastman A vs F
05:38 - Eastman Reveal
06:35 - Kentucky A vs F
08:12 - Kentucky Reveal
09:02 - Weber A vs F
10:35 - Weber Reveal
10:58 - Conclusions
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Check out the full performance of "Bluegrass Special" here: • "Bluegrass Special" | ...
Check out all the incredible Eastman & Kentucky Mandolins we have in stock now:
Eastman: bit.ly/3a24OmD
Kentucky: bit.ly/3WnO7oU
Thank you for watching!
Make sure to subscribe if you liked this video to see more: bit.ly/TheAcousticShoppe-CZcams
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#weber #mandolins #AcousticMusic #dreadnoughtguitar #guitars #acousticguitarreview #bluegrassguitar #theacousticshoppe #mandolincomparison #astylevsfstyle #guitartips #blind test #webermandolins #mandolintest #fstylemandolins #mandolincomparrison #newmandolins #eastmanmandolins #mandolintest #blindcomparison #kentuckymandolins - Hudba
The A style mandolins were consistently warmer, while the F style mandolins were consistently brighter. I did not expect such a difference but it was very easy to hear. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
I prefer a warmer-sounding instrument. Thanks for catching that distinction. I guess I should look for an A-style mandolin.
A-style every time.
I'm shocked, there's more difference between the A and F than I thought going into this. You really hear it on the chops.
I agree
We're glad you could hear it! Thanks for watching!
I had to make this "big decision" last week and I endet up with a mid-class A-Style Mandolin.
As a guitar player I wanted to have this warmer sound. You can hear the difference in this video very good!
I'm happy with my choice and it's great fun to learn a "new" instrument.
I like the F-styles because it stands out more. But this really makes me want an A-style for the times I want more of a supporting instrument.
In terms of looks, F-style wins no contest.
It doesn't hurt to have both!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . but wat if it looks silly? :)
I hear the deeper tones in each of the A style mandos but prefer the F style for Bluegrass to cut through the other instruments and vocals. I actually thought the Kentuckys outshined the others, but that's just me. All six sounded good in the hands of Jeremy!
I've always wanted an F style but I keep getting A's just because when I buy another one, I get more bang for my buck. As a proud owner of two Kentuckys I gotta say that KM150 sounded pretty good considering you didn't go with a KM250 or 500 that would have been more similar.
Of the six instruments played, I loved the Kentucky A style the most. Love the warm tones of the lower strings.
F styles have a cooler strap attachment point :) I really struggled when I bought my Eastman. I actually placed an order for an A style. But I knew I wanted an F style, The shop let me change my order to an F. For me it was just a visual choice. I like the scroll and Florentines on the F style. If I had bought the A I would be sitting here thinking "I wish I had bought the F". Nothing wrong with As. Same strings and fret board and you get to hold on to more than a few dollars. Whatever you buy, if you're a fat boy like me get a tone guard. It will make a huge difference. Keeping the back of mandolin off your body lets the wood vibrate.
The F-Style does have the coolness factor! 😎
Great information. Thanks, guys!
I like the sound of the KM-150 even though it’s cheaper.
Big thank you for your opinions.
Thank you Acoustic Shoppe! This is a fantastic video. Much appreciated.
Loved this!
We used to call the scroll "the $3,000 straphanger". And, way back, when we first started seeing the imported mandolins, the Kentuckys generally had more of the woody tones we wanted for bluegrass.
Love that name for the scroll! 😂😂
Love your content. I think I've watched every mandolin video you guys have done, as I'm researching for my next step up from an old MK Legacy I inherited from my FIL. Thanks for all the info. Nice playing, ,btw!
That's awesome! Thanks for using us as resource, that's definitely a goal of ours when we make videos!
This was an excellent and very insightful video. For my part, I had to listen carefully to hear a difference and I took a guess at the end of each section. Each "guess" was correct, so the difference for me was not as great as it was for others. However, I suspect the difference might have been more apparent if I had a better headphone or were listening to them live. Thanks for the video.
One of my students told me about this video. Really well done and fantastically played. I have a Kentucky KM-250 which I really like. Had I the budget, I would've gotten an F-style and this confirms that. I like both and would own both but would really like an "F" over an "A" if I could afford it dollar-for-dollar. My "Kentucky "A" is a really good mandolin for my needs. I do recommend it.
Damn good picking. Love my 305 Eastman.👏👏👏🇨🇦
Thanks for this!
Thanks for watching, we hope this was helpful!
As always great content fellas 👌
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video
Listening to this again. I picked them exactly the same as John. I liked the f-style better for the Eastman and Kentucky, and sort of preferred the A-style for the Weber. Part of that though, could have been the music selection for each. I thought the music for the A (as opposed to B) emphasized the high end a little bit. In any case, fantastic video by you guys.
Thanks for this video. This was fun and informative. I didn't know what the conventional wisdom says about the sound of A vs F mandolins, but I have an Eastman 305 mandolin, so on the first test I guessed based upon which one I thought sounded like my mandolin. (I bought the A style because it was less expensive.) I guessed correctly and noticed that the sound seemed to jump out of the F style more, while the A style had a rounder sound that floated out of the instrument. The same characteristics helped me pick the A and F style Kentucky mandolins correctly. I blew it on the Weber mandolins, though. The tonal characteristics seemed to go one way at the start of the clip then flipped the other way near the end. I stuck with my first guess, which was wrong. Anyway, thanks for doing this video. I learned something today!
This was a fun one to make! We try our hardest to be informative so we're glad that you learned from the video, thanks for watching!
I agree with everything you said. I personally prefer an oval sound hole in either type I think they have superior sound.
Took the words right out of my mouth about the tone difference.
Definitely a difference, though personally I prefer the A sound.
I like the A style Eastman best. Considering the Eastman md505cc due to your demo. Almost 60 years old and want to learn to play.
I easily noticed the difference between each pair (although on Weber it was the slightest). I had heard A-style usually has more bottom-heavy sound, but I didn't think it would be THAT noticeable. Also, I did like a lot every each of those mandolins. I usually play Kentucky KM-500 myself.
Pretty surprised that I liked the A's in every case. I've owned A's and F's and I currently play an F. But, with these particular mandolins, I'd go with the A.
What piece are you playing? Sounds amazing!
They sounded very very close. If it wasn't a comparison, I probably wouldn't notice any difference. But since I listened very carefully I preferred the sound of the Eastman A to the F and the Kentucky and Weber F's over the A's. And oh, by the way, Nice Playing!
As a guitar player I preferred the F of Eastman and the last choice, very noticeable on the chops! The Kentucky sounded most similar to me. Great job all around, camera,editors et al.
Thank you! You just can't bet those nice chops!
My impression from your test is that the A-style is consistently warmer and rounder in tone than the F-style. I play an A-style - Gibson A-9 - because it was to me the best sounding mandolin I found at the price I could then afford to play. Generally, I think that overall there is a focus, tightness or pointedness to the F-style sound that could be better in a bluegrass band situation. I’m a solo folk style player and find that, although I wanted at first to be able to buy an F-style, my A-style probably does at least as good and possibly better job for the use I put it to. Now if I could have a dream fantasy mandolin, I think I could go for Tim O’Brien’s Nugget A-style. For me, though, it’s not a big deal. I’ll be 77 in a couple of weeks and I do most of my playing at home, for myself, family, and friends.
Thanks for all the great things you send out!
I didn't get it right until you played the Weber. I prefer the Weber A style as it had the best sound of all. Great time watching and listening. Thanks again.
That A-Style had something special!
I have the Bourgeois M5A model mandolin and it’s a true banjo killer. I bought it from the Acoustic Shoppe last December and absolutely love it!
I just bought one too and let go of my Eastman MD805 and I love it too!
The A style Webber is much more expensive than the Eastman so they
are kind of comparing apples to oranges.
What about picking up a mandolin-banjo?!
I’m a newbie and I couldn’t tell the difference in any of the pairings. Just when I thought I heard something different, I changed my mind. Excellent video comparison and tutorial.
Over time, the more you play and listen to yourself and others the better your ears will become at detecting the tonal differences!
That's really surprising. I like the warmer tones and on every comparison, the one I liked turned out to be an A. I thought my feeling would be what you are describing; I didn't think there would really be ANY difference.
Good mando content guys 👍
Thank you!
I've been looking to buy a new mando. For a long time I thought I needed an F style but lately I've been giving the A models a second look. That Weber sounds sweet. Thanks for your vids. Love to visit your shop but I live in Canada.
It would be awesome if you could ever make the visit!
I liked the Weber A in this shootout, but for the Eastman and Kentucky, I really couldn’t tell the difference. For me, I find the F style easier to hold and doesn’t squirm around on my like the A. Plus, the F scroll gives a nice place for the strap. So the amenities (and looks) of the F sort of make it a winner even if they do sound the same.
Wow, I need to try more A Styles.
Maybe A is much better for background or supporting roles, F definitely better for lead.
The Stradivarius arch is a wonderful thing!
I found the Eastman and Kentucky A Mandos were more appealing to my ear. I like the warmer sound, at least that’s how I heard it. For the Weber, it was a toss up. I think the F on the Weber was more rounded over the low and high ends, but just by a hair.
To my ear there were differences: the F style sounded more full of the Eastmans, the A-style for the Kentuckys and both sounded equally good for the Webers.
Excellent comparison video!
Thanks so much for watching!
I really love my Kentucky A style Km-500 it sound great and it’s it was loud. I have Michael Kelly f-style to compare it but is has broken neck.
Over headphones, Favorite was F for Eastman and A for Kentucky and Weber was a tossup.
I " guessed" right on all three but it was SO close. I think the F styles are a little more precise and defined...if that makes sense!
I was really surprised at how nice the a-styles sounded in this comparison.
F style a little punchier and slight more tonal clarity. It’s all subjective. I could tell which was A & F even though blurred. The F curling was noticeable. 😉 my opinion A is just as good as F and the clean design of the A is more pleasing to my eyes.
One of each would suit me . I have a Washburn A style,looking for a price comparable in a F style
There’s definitely a tonal difference between the two styles. I picked the correct ones even with my eyes closed. That’s NOT to say one is better than the other, anyway what we hear is very subjective. Where the F style cuts through though is with the chops, they are definitely brighter and punchier. But apart from that there is no way I could say I prefer one over the other. Great video guys!
You're speaking truth! Thanks for watching!
There’s definitely a very consistent difference which reinforces the f-style’s application to bluegrass. The Webers sounded great! I don’t know what it is about Kentucky, but I just never enjoy the sound or the look of them. Visually, they remind me of the $200 plywood model I had as a young teen, especially the weird peach-like colour of the rosewood fretboard! Eastman definitely come head and shoulders above them for me.
Higher end A for same price as mid level F. F styles LOOK cool, but I play celtic, classical styles. I have two A styles, an Eastman and a Collings. I may eventually pop for an F, but no hurry. Both of my instruments are really sweet.
Would've liked a comparison of each style between the cheap Eastman and the expensive Weber. See if the extra money buys any extra sound.
We've actually done a couple of similar comparisons with Gibson mandolins VS Eastman: czcams.com/video/kmY8K0pFjv8/video.html
The Eastman there was a significant difference, and I much referred the Eastman A style's warmth. The Kentucky there wasn't much difference, and I had no preference between the two. The Weber there was only a slight difference, but this time I slightly preferred the F-style.
As you said near the end, an F-style costs significantly more than the equivalent A-style. Mandolin would not be my primary, or even secondary, instrument. My budget would (just) extend to a solid wood top in an A-style, but I'd still be looking at a laminate top in a F-style.
Nice comparison. I found the F each time, but can I sing with it? Unfortunately for the wallet, I liked the Webber Yellowstone A.
Charlie Daniels played an F style, nuff said 😁 The last pair both sounded the same to me.
My choices were the same a Johns. And I too liked the Weber A over the F. Its noticable in the chops also. I own F mandolin just because I like the scroll. But I have always been told A's are better for the money. EE
I'm a celtic music fan, and I would like to buy an Eastman MD 505 CC N.
Eastman has so many models…
Where would you rate this model in terms of $/quality in the Eastman mando line ?
Thanks in advance ? Keep up the good work.
Gino.
The Webers really stand out and for the price difference they ought to.
Great video! I liked the Weber F-style best. Slightly brighter and more definition on the notes. What was the price difference between the two Webers?
It looks like the F-Style was $5,999 & the A-style was $3,999.
I guess my poor ears are a blessing. I couldn't hear much difference which would save me $2,000 on a Weber.😅 I have an Eastman MD 505 that I like and will probably never upgrade.
i would choose the one that played the easiest. Playability. That felt the best in my hands.
I know a lot of brilliant players who have A styles but I'm afraid if I play anything but an F Bill Monroe with come back and haunt me.
Unless Bill is buying your mandolins it's none of his, or his ghost's business!😂
I could tell the difference between the A and F for the Eastman and Kentucky, but even though I noticed a slight difference with the Weber, I mixed up which was which, so I couldn’t tell.
I'd be interested in seeing you compare two of the same mandolins to each other. Say, two identical Eastman 315's against each other to see how they differ from maker to maker from the same manufacturer using the same wood. Then do two A styles. Heck, go all out and compare three of the same to each other. 😆
Also, this is a tough one for me because I'm currently looking to buy my second "beginner" mandolin. I'm more drawn to the bottom end of the A's, but in a band situation that would likely get lost in the mix more... so I'm drawn once again the the F, plus the F's just look gorgeous!
I closed my eyes and couldn't tell when he switched the Eastmans.
I am not a mandolin player but I have played with a few and I have always thought that F styles tend to be a bit more resonant particularly with open strings as well as projecting a bit more clarity. My choices during this video using that criteria were accurate. That being said it’s 50/50 so I could have just got lucky in terms of which sounds “better” I think that is relative to song as well as accompaniment. I can see situations where each would be the optimal choice.
Just re-watched this and thought it was interesting that the Webers sounded identical to me.
They're both so incredible!
@@AcousticShoppe I realize we're not actually replying to the Chapman bros, but I pretend anyway. 😆
Sometimes you are, they at least read everything!
Eastman: F style. Kentucky: A Style. Webers were very close. If I were forced to make a choice: F style.
Great video, would like to learn the song you’re playing during the comparisons. Does it have a name?
That would be Jerusalem Ridge!
Thank you! Looking forward to it!
I couldn’t hear much difference in the Eastman. But the other F styles are louder more sustain and cut through the mix. I liked both Kentuckys even though the A style was a lower level
I have an F style, but I actually preferred the A on all 3 counts.
More than the difference between A and F, this comparison showed me how much better the Kentucky mandolins sounded than the Eastmans.
I thought the F Eastman sounded better than the A style. I thought the A style Ky. sounded better than the F style. I agree the Webers sounded very similar. I would consider any difference between the Webers to be just the wood and not the A vs F style. My big surprised was how "good" the Ky A style sounded to me. But I'm not a BG player. I play, or attempt to, play Old Time Fiddle tunes. not chopping cords but playing melody trying to make each note distinctive and playing open cords. I have a Hans Brentrup 21V which is an A style with violin varnish that I bought 20 years ago. It is a wonderful mandolin. I went through five mandolins before the Brentrup. Your playing was great. Evidence that a really good musician can get a great sound out of inexpensive and moderate price instruments. A hacker like me can get a good sound out of a really good instrument but it cost! I really like this type of video comparisons.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for the feedback!
well i have never been a fan of A style mandoline but i picked the A over the F in every comparison im really shocked
Wow. This was a great video, and by the end of it, I was forced to admit that I like the sound of the Astyles better than the Fs. Since I am soon to be upgrading from my starter mandolin (a $400 "The Loar" Fstyle), this realization has made the financial aspect of upgrading to a better instrument a little more manageable, since the A's are cheaper. Nice job on the video. I wil be buying my new mandolin from The Acoustic Shoppe, BTW. While I'm here, I just wanted to say that although you two look much, MUCH older than me...we are about the same age. I've now watched so many of ya'lls videos, You're like my two knuckleheaded little brothers and every time I watch one of your videos I want to give the both of you a good wedgie or some other similarly painful little-brother torture technique. I just can't ever decide which one of you deserves it the most. I will say, however, that I'm leaning heavily towards the big guy. Thanks fellas. Keep up the good work.
We'll take it if you're buying a mandolin from us! 😅
Funny, the lower point, if it's up to me "Get Rid of the Points!" In comparing the Webers, I'm in love with the tone of the A-style. All y'all made those mandolins ring, but there's no doubt that you get what you pay for. To my ears, the lower end F-Style mandolins had a very sharp (not pitch), tinny sound and I would prefer the A-Style mandolin. However, I agree, in the Webers, it really was a toss up, though I liked the A-Style with the harmonics being on the bass side. One caveat -- we're listening over the internet, digitally processed. You really have to go out and play them. When I bought my Northfield A5 Special (sorry, guys), it's tone was smooth honey...
That's super true, it's always better to play before you buy!
I absolutely couldn't tell the difference in the webers
Take your pick to what sounds best to you.
What is the tune? Great playing!
At the beginning we're playing BLuegrass special: czcams.com/video/34VlpySKydY/video.html Then during the challenge we're playing Jerusalem Ridge!
I got a late 20s snake head. Very Few Fs can beat that sound. That Gibson tone is hard to replicate! Especially in the pre-war models. My daughter (Amanda Lynn) has consfiscated my Snake head LOL! I got a K505 Kentucky and it is a fine mandolin. But the Gibson was something!!!
I am an A mandolin fan....recently got my first F, and am having to get used to that body style...seems even more headstock heavy, and a little awkward to hold. I would always recommend an A for a beginner/intermediate player(best you can afford).
That's very true!
A seems to have a better low end, Id like to see a A f hole and a A with oval soundhole shootout
We for sure have an oval hole comparison on our forever growing to-do list!
If you start playing you need a instrument that looks to you and says deep into your mind "come on, play with me" so if you prefer the shape of an F-style, take a n F-style even if you buy lower quality. because if start playing it doesn't matter how good your instrument can sound because it won't for a long long time. And that means you have enough time to save money for a really good second mandolin.
The other variant is F hole or oval hole? Using F holes was a good equalizer but --- there is a tonal difference
What song are you playing
A -model is always the most user friendly!
I guessed the first two pairs correctly but failed on the last pair.
An Oldschool mando showdown and it’s high noon 😂🤠🤣
That's how we do it! 😂🤠
The only tone difference between an A and an F .... Is the way you hold.. it changes your attack angle ... period .. the tops are carved the same way ... the scroll is for looks and holding it (You tend to hit it harder .. the scroll is a block of wood ...It doesn't make it vibrate more .. in fact it might even cause it to be tighter with that block of wood maybe soaking up the soundboard movement in some cases .. But the major circle , aka speaker, if you will are shaved to the same specifications... as demonstrated right here.... the F sounds a little tighter ..which Jeremy is right ... the treble is what punches through the crowd .. not tje lows so much .... way too much treble=tinny which is the over thick tops, too much bracing, and of course plywood tops do .. (Plywood sounding more like a rattle can) lol
Just a Luthier way of looking at it guys ?
That scroll is more for prestige...
Mustang vs Maverick... same car
To my ears the A styles sounded better until you played the Webers. That F sounded awesome!!! Unless my wife dies soon, it is far out of my budget 😂😂😂
Ultimately, it is subjective.
Since the play sounds continuous, and you change instruments several times, I am wondering how you record and process these videos. Is the switching done with digital post-processing or more like old-style film editing?
We just film with a metronome & cut in the editing process!
Well done, then! @@AcousticShoppe
How do you get the A style to stay balanced from the strap. Drops down in amore horizontal postion than staying on an angle. Seems like I'm always fighting to get the neck to stay in position. Does the F style slide arounfd like the A style?
Jeremy recommended a leather strap with a suede shoulder patch, that may help with the slipping issue.
I'm coming to mandolin from over 40 years on guitar and bass in bar bands and have struggled with neck dive, too. Based on suggestions from Mandolin Cafe I ran a leather boot string from my strap to under the strings just behind the nut. Problem solved. 🙂
@@phlipperbrooks129 Thank you for the response. Appreciate your thoughts on this.
When will you do the same show on Northfield , Pava , Collings , and Ellis ?
We would love to have any of their instruments on the show and if we ever get in used models, we certainly try to. Let them know you want to see their instruments reviewed by us!
I HAD A TUCKER A MODEL SOLD IT SO I COULD AFFORD A GIBSON F5 G WISH I HAD IT BACK!
I have a Loar f 310 mandolin. What do you think of that company?
We think Loar's are a nice, well-priced, starter mandolin!
I can't hear the difference.
TO my ears: Eatman: F, KY: A, Weber: F
I agree , but the Weber''s were the most similar in my opinion.
What is the name of the song you are playing
In the Comparison section it is Jerusalem Ridge.