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    F or Oval Hole?

This question gets banged around frequently, for example. The keys to
the difference as applied to the Eastman line are primarily in arching
and neck length:

  • The neck joins at the 15th fret on the F hole models and the 12th
    fret on the oval hole models.  The oval hole models feel compact
    in the hands, but provide more limited access to the upper
    register.  
  • The bridge lies further down the mandolin closer to the tailpiece,
    shortening the afterlength.  On an F hole model, the bridge lies a
    bit above the widest part of the body, while it is at the widest point
    on the oval hole.
  • The arch on the top is essentially a dome on the F hole models.  
    On the oval hole models, the fingerboard flows onto an elevated
    area of the top, resulting in a sort of cylindrical section between
    bridge and fingerboard, an area occupied by the single oval hole.
  • The F and oval holes both use tone bars, the F hole model
    having a bass tone bar near the bass F hole and a treble bar
    further towards the center.  The oval hole models have bars that
    spread slightly from either side of the hole under the wings of the
    bridge.  They also have a brace just below the hole.
  • The sound differences are a bit over emphasized.
  • The oval hole mandolins have a slightly "tubby" sound, like
    playing in an oil drum.  The treble and bass have different
    characters. Often they're very sweet.  Celtic and folk musicians
    often prefer them.
  • The F hole mandolins have a more focused, percussive, punchy,
    "woody" sound, often with a bell-like aspect, a rapid decay
    ringing.  
  • I like the F holes better myself, but I've done more performing on
    the oval holes. I don't understand this myself!
 
 
         
       
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