Oval Hole vs F Hole Mandolin Sound Comparison

Comparing the sound difference between two Dubova Mandolin.
BOTH of these mandolins are currently FOR SALE!!
One has an x brace and oval hole, while the other has unparalleled tone bars and f holes.
Both have medium gauge strings.
Sound.
Always a tricky and subjective thing to describe and explain.
How do you think of sound?

[@grahamnunn8998]

The guy who fitted the K&K pickup to my A Style, oval hole handed me an F hole A style he had just finished. It was voiced with more mid to cut through a bluegrass band, quite a shock at first but I loved it. Sadly, it cost about three months of what I could earn teaching but it was a work of art, like these!

[@dubovainstruments]

Thanks for sharing that story! Each instrument a unique voice. Glad you got to experience a few different ones!

[@davidlawspoonful]

They both sound killer

[@dubovainstruments]

Thank you!

[@kft590]

The oval sound has more lows and mids, and the high are rolled off a bit. The F-hole sounds like a traditional mandolin.

[@shineisle2263]

ස්තූතියි 🌹❤🇱🇰👍

[@mccypr]

Thanks! Happy holidays! 🌞🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@tobaccopipe27]

what are the names of these two respective mandolins?

[@dubovainstruments]

Just a couple mandolins I had just finished making.
I didn’t name them or anything.

[@tobaccopipe27]

@@dubovainstruments oh these are yours? the blue one looks sick, they both do

[@dubovainstruments]

Thanks! Blue one is an in-stock build. If interested, it’s available for purchase still. Just email: [e-mail]

[@joesiemoneit4145]

i like both. but wouldnt it be necessary for both instruments to have the exact same construction, as well as finishing layers? i know oval holes have a different bracing than f holes, which also must affect the sound, right? i play both, as well as bowlback. i messed around with my first mandolin, which is an oval hole a-style, i took off the varnish and it sounded much louder and more smooth.
anyway.. i subbed to your channel, so keep the good stuff coming! ;)

[@dubovainstruments]

Yes. You bring up good points with having a more controlled examples, but I think from playing so many you can “generally” say that the bracing and slim hole location affect overall tonality when compared to “f hole” mandolin with its respective bracing.
Again, sound is subjective. Along with all the possible variables to control.
At least for me, it’s not often I have one of each lying around to really compare how they seem (to my ear!).
Thanks for following along!

[@timbetween]

Man, those are some good looking mandos - thanks for sharing!

[@dubovainstruments]

Thanks for checking out!