Oval Hole Mandolin Comparison: Vintage vs. Modern
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The Ellis is a beautiful instrument but the Gibson's sound takes us on a journey.
I find instrument comparisons interesting but mostly entertaining. I'm 61 and have been playing music since I was in second grade. Every instrument I've ever had was a hand me down or the best I could afford at the time or I happened across a deal.
Even if you love the sound of either of these instruments, both may be hard to find in the market today and we end up with what's available and what we can afford.
I really enjoyed the content and appreciate the time you put into the community.
Just a comment not a criticism. Thanks Barron.
The Ellis has a brighter crisper sound and seems to work better for many different types of music. Thanks for the demonstration!
I would prefer the clear tone of the Ellis over the Gibson, especially on the G and D strings. The Ellis sounds better to me in every example except the last piece you played where the Gibson's softer tone fit the music better.
That old Gibson has a more "tubby" sound that I like in an oval hole. You are very luck to have that gem in your possession. The Ellis oval is very nice as well. I'd be happy to own it as well. Thanks, Baron. Bob
NIce comparison, I did prefer the darker gibson tone, earthy and woody
Yes, I ❤ woody tones of a mandolin! This is why I feel I enjoyed the Gibson more, as well!
Both sound good - but my favorite is the vintage! I really ❤ those woody tones - and the vintage one had that perfect woody tone. I could close my eyes and just enjoy listening to it! 😀
That was fun! To my ear they are quite similar, but that makes sense with both being oval holes with D'Addario strings. Both sound great in your capable hands,
The Ellis is great, but man that Gibson just sounds beautiful. I have to get out and find myself a good Gibson A.
You HAVE to do a comparison of both ellis mandolins!! I know you did one of the gibson and the f hole ellis but id love to see one of both ellis mandolins PLEASE
As a novice player and builder I loved this video.
I also own a 1924 A model Gibson which poses's a sound very similar to yours, it's well recognised. They have the 'tubby' G string and mine is Birch.
We all hear different things, especially through poor quality computer speakers but I really enjoyed hearing how Mr Ellis has addressed that issue yet maintained the 'A' sound. To my ear the strings are more balanced. Thanks mate and thanks for describing the physical differences.
Boy I sure do like that vintage Gibson. To me it sounds very clear. So I’m guessing it’s in the ear of the beholder? Perhaps my hearing picks up or doesn’t pick up things that other folks can hear. I do have a 1917 Martin bowl back; it‘s as light as a feather. For that reason alone I love it. And it does have a nice crisp, clear bright sound. So I’m wondering how much the vintage Gibson weighs versus the Ellis that you compared it to? In summary the Gibson gets my vote, I think I’m outvoted but I like the clear sound, especially in the higher tones.
The old one as I like the mellow , Woody sound .😁
Me, too!
I like the soft tubby sound of the Gibson but then I have always loved the vintage Gibson sound......
Loved the comparisons. I preferred the Ellis for the first examples and the Gibson for the last two. They're both amazing in your hands!
I aspire to play classical music and I really enjoyed the sound comparisons of the two instruments in your video. I have an f hole mandolin and it was great to hear the tone of your oval hole mandolins. I like both but the modern mandolin sounds great to my untrained ear. Enjoyed the video.
I own a 1920 A-2 in very similar condition. It, of course, does not have a truss rod and has a paddle head and came with a solid bridge (which I have replaced). It sounds very much the same as yours, with a more "tubby" sound. I must add that Gibson began building their A-4 with an elevated fingerboard about 1920. One of those would have been a more accurate comparison to the Ellis (I live about 2 miles from his shop and is a most interesting tour). The Ellis is probably better suited to the modern ear, but I too prefer the Gibson. Maybe because I own one? It is great to hear both played from the listener's perspective. Thanks
I like the gibson. Sounds more mellow
I am surprised to find I like the tone of the newer Ellis over the Gibson. I don't know if it is the X bracing, raised fingerboard or the slightly heavier strings that make a difference, but I found the G strings on the Gibson to be less "round" in tone, perhaps even a little "buzzy" (not fret buzz) compared to the Ellis. It surprises me because I would have thought that the aged wood of the Gibson and thinner, less glossy finish would have improved the tone. Again, a great comparison to hear the unique tonal qualities of each instrument.
I watched the video a second time. I do love the sound of that Ellis.
Both sound great to me. I wonder if the Ellis would sound softer like the Gibson if it had the lighter strings.
I liked the Gibson the best sounded more deep not so tinny like the Ellis
Thanks Baron. Both got a great sound. I think the Ellis is a little cleaner and hence possibly more versatile, but the Gibson has more character
They sound way different to me. The Ellis is probably objectively "better" sounding. Funny, I have an "A" from about 1922 and yours sounds very like mine. Interesting how the specifics of build really lend a distinctive character to the instrument. It's also interesting to me that others here said what I was thinking: the Gibson sounded best on the last example.
I prefer the Ellis. It has more of a deeper tone.
And incidentally, the old Gibson has my vote :)
How in the world did the term "tubby" get applied to any mandolin's timbre?
Sorry but I find the differences in tone / sound / "voice" striking. (Cosmetics don't make an instrument sound better!) Ellis does a fine job of reproducing the original Gibson A but with modern features like X bracing and raised fretboard. His oval hole A certainly has a sweet pretty sound. But it lacks the richer tone or gutsy character of the original Gibsons. Granted, the single parallel bracing produces a kind of "tubby" voice but I prefer a little more masculine "growl" over the sweet pretty voice of the Ellis. To borrow the lingo of the culinary arts I prefer savory over sweet with regard to the "voice" of an instrument. I wonder if X bracing is really that big of an improvement over the parallel in A models.
I do like the guard across the back ! Sweaty here in S.E. Asian, are they expensive and where can they be obtained ?
Thank you for all of your videos.
What was the last song that you played?
George Gruehn says that vintage archtop Gibsons are built to withstand medium gauge strings. Vintage Flat top mandolins require light gauge.
It would be a fair comparison if the Gibson were strung with same string set as the Ellis. I don't feel like it got a fair shake due to the lighter gauge on it. I own a 1923 snakehead strung with 11-40 and it sounds far more robust and similar to the Ellis. I am convinced it sounds more powerful and robust because of the heavier string gauges.
Thanks Baron. I have a Ratliff F style mandolin currently with an arm rest and a tone-guard. I just bought a 1924 Gibson A2Z, which has not arrived yet. I noticed you had an armrest on your Ellis, but not your Gibson, is that because the fretboard is raised on the Ellis and not on the Gibson? Just curious, have you tried an armrest on your Gibson A2?
Whats the song you played at the end?
Ruby with the red hair, as in the movie "Cold Mountain", and also called "Shove the pig's foot a little further into the fire", a lovely tune :)
Very nice! Traded my old Gibson for an old banjo a few years ago, but now trying new lower priced oval-hole models. Wish you'd do a three way comparison with Eastman & Kentucky.
Both.
Horses for courses.
The Gibson for the soft tunes the Ellis for a bit more bite.
Oval hole sounds mellow by Breedlove with f holes cuts like a knife almost 2 different instruments 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🤩🥳
I just bought a 1924 Gibson A Junior Snakehead; very similar to what you have here. I love it, a bit warmer than my Mid Missouri M0 flattop.
They both sound very nice, but I personally find the sound of the Ellis much cleaner than the Gibson.
Gibby.
They're different, but I like them both.
I find this Gibson too dark and quiet :)
Is it wierd that I like the old one better?
For me, the older mandolin sounded better playing melody whereas the newer mandolin sounded better playing chords.