Some woods definitely produce deeper and richer tones. An F-Style mandolin is much traditional for bluegrass music. The F style mandolin as we know it was invented in 1923. All the best in your mandolin playing, and good luck! There is no clear cut answer here, but let us start by saying that given equal quality, there is no discernible difference in tone between an A vs F Style mandolin. The truth of the matter is, an A-style mandolin sounds precisely similar to an F-Style mandolin. If you don’t care about what the others think and wish to get the best playing mandolin and save your money, The A-style mandolin should be the way to go. The main reason you are going to buy an Ovation mandolin is obviously the pickup. I have both an 'A' style & an 'F' style Mandolin,tonally quite different but just as loud as each other. For instance, Folkmusician sets up all the mandolins to the same action and correct intonation. If that is the case, then you may wonder why someone would ever pay so much more for an F-style mandolin! The simple explanation that an A-style mandolin does not require much labor to build would best answer this question. There is a solid wood block which fills up the greater part of the scroll. From the above overview, it is evident that the difference between an A-style and an F-style mandolin lies in looks. It did take a few more years before it caught on and became the standard. As a luthier, I strongly believe that A-Style and F-Style mandolins are NOT the same for reasons other than cosmetics. In short no. Comments will be approved before showing up. Best Mandolin For Irish Music (Buying Guide & Reviews). The scroll, points and headstock on an F-style require significantly more handwork to produce compared to an A-style. While this is not evidenced as far as tone is concerned, among a number of players, it is assumed that you should get an F- style mandolin. What kind of music do you wish to be playing? Almost everyone prefers the look of the -Style mandolin and many are willing to pay the premium to own one. An A-Style body having “F” soundholes is possibly the best trade-off if you wish to play bluegrass, and you’re on a small budget – that is, below $500. It is really a personal (and financial) call here. You can spend less and get the same quality. In the end, if you want peer recognition there is some benefit to purchasing the F-style mandolin. Don’t be embarrassed, and you are not alone! However, there are many other slight differences between the two, which lie in other factors, which include playability, the kind of music the mandolins play, and much more. Die F-Style-Mandoline zeichnet sich durch den gerollten Cut am Korpus aus und hat eine geschwungene Kopfplattenform. The Loar’s LM-520-VS mandolin comes with a compensate adjustable ebony bridge. Typically, there might be differences among various mandolin models. Nearly everybody prefers the appearance of the F-Style mandolin, and a lot of people are at will to pay the premium price to possess one. You heard that, right! The scroll, headstock, and points on the F-style mandolin call for significant handwork to produce than those on an A-style. A-style vs. F-style, F-holes vs. If this is the case, you may be wondering why anyone would pay so much more for F-style! THese have great workmanship for the price point. Manche Modelle kommen mit klassischen F-Löchern, andere haben ein ganz normales Schallloch. What we are left with is a top and back, which produces similar outcomes for all reasons and functions. Those points are solid and do not contribute to the sound chamber. The truth is, A–style mandolins sound exactly the same as F–Style mandolins. 5 Best Mandolins Under $500 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews, Types Of Mandolins (Guide To Understanding Mandolins! Oval. While this is not true as far as tone, among many players it is expected that you should have an F– style mandolin. Features: F-style; spruce, maple, and rosewood wood used; weighs 2.9 pounds. Mandolin vs Ukulele - Which to start with. Especially when their appearances are so different, and most of the pros that we see play F-style mandolins. The mandolin (or mandolin-type instrument) has existed for millennia. These differences do cater mainly to preference of course, and not every instrument will sound the same. An F does create a different balancing point with a strap around the scroll vs an A style with the strap tied around the headstock. They come in one of two main body styles: A- and F-style. Pros . The Gibson guitar company invented both styles. Action and intonation will be based on the setup. This is to the extent that an F-style can cost as much as 30% to 50% more than the price of a similar quality A-style mandolin. If I am looking at learning the mandolin for the very first time should I start with an A style or just go for the f style? Being familiar with these and having installed hundreds over the years, a few have risen to the top. F-style mandolins are all modeled after fabled Gibson models of the 1920s and are favored by bluegrass players due to their history and the defined "choppy" nature of their sound. And it is a vital question! F-style and A-style mandolins came into existence in the early 1900s. I'm sure this has been covered but I couldn't find a good straight forward answer (though it might be because there isn't one). We are always being asked what the best mandolin pickup is. The F-style, or Florentine mandolin, was the first version to be created; the A-style came shortly thereafter, to accommodate different types of music.