I think you are correct about the bridge differences. I also think the solid spruce top is pressed into an arch from a piece of spruce which has a uniform, chunky thickness. A carved, solid spruce top would be graduated for resonance. Of course, the plywood top is also pressed from a board of a uniform thickness, but might be thinner because it is inherently stronger so more responsive.
You are right about those things. Carved tops do have a noticeably stronger and robust voice and are better suited to competing with other instruments in a jam session. Pressed tops take significantly less mastery and work to build.
@@joebiker8466 I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but it does look better in person as opposed to on camera, and I'm a sucker from blue coloured instruments.
@@daledanowski9962 You've got a good ear for picking the one that sounds "better"! In this case, the actual spruce top was ruined by a bad, cheap bridge.
@@charlesmontgomery7002 You were able to pick out the one that sounds "better!". It shows a cheap, bad bridge will totally nullify a decent spruce top on Mandolin A.
How did you do? Did you guess correctly?
My knowledge of mandolin sound is not great enough to know which has the spruce top, but mandolin B sounds more mandolin-esque to me.
Then you have a good ear for the mandolin sound.
I think you are correct about the bridge differences. I also think the solid spruce top is pressed into an arch from a piece of spruce which has a uniform, chunky thickness. A carved, solid spruce top would be graduated for resonance. Of course, the plywood top is also pressed from a board of a uniform thickness, but might be thinner because it is inherently stronger so more responsive.
You are right about those things. Carved tops do have a noticeably stronger and robust voice and are better suited to competing with other instruments in a jam session. Pressed tops take significantly less mastery and work to build.
I guessed a because of the sustain
Mandolin A
B
The paint ruined A
@@joebiker8466 I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but it does look better in person as opposed to on camera, and I'm a sucker from blue coloured instruments.
@@MountainHomeJerrel I was joking ,I was claiming. Tha blue paint muted tha sound and caused me to guess B 😬👍 I like blue2
@@joebiker8466 oh, hahaha
@@joebiker8466 it's so hard to catch sarcasm in written text sometimes. Haha
I think mandolin B has the spruce top.
I was wrong. :~(
It just comes to show how having a poor setup or a bad part can ruin an instrument's voice. I'll post an update after I replace the bridge.
B sounded better. A styles wont sound like F styles.
B
@@daledanowski9962 You've got a good ear for picking the one that sounds "better"! In this case, the actual spruce top was ruined by a bad, cheap bridge.
B
@@charlesmontgomery7002 You were able to pick out the one that sounds "better!". It shows a cheap, bad bridge will totally nullify a decent spruce top on Mandolin A.
@@MountainHomeJerrel thanks. I enjoyed the info!