NMD - 2015 Custom Weber Vintage F

cigarfan · #1 07-24-2015, 06:02 PM

The Weber Mandolins factory is located in Bend, Oregon. The Custom Vintage F model is reminiscent of the mandolins of the early twentieth century with the tone and volume to match its wonderful mojo. It is the only standard Weber mandolin model built with an oval sound hole and modified X bracing.

This instrument is an all solid wood, carved mandolin. The 'vintage' part of the model name is a reference to the wood used in the mandolin. It is made from very old wood. A violin maker near Weber's shop in Montana retired years ago and sold his stash of tone wood to Weber. The wood used in my mandolin is part of that acquisition and it has been aging for decades. The mandolin sounds wonderful. Decades of curing has made the wood more responsive and it's voice is more 'mature' than most new instruments, but not nearly as rich as it will be after a few years of playing!

My mando has the following deviations from standard specs:

Nut Width: 1 3/16"
Ablam Replace MOP in "The Weber" logo (headstock)
Change fretboard markers to buds in Ablam
Faded Leather Burst
McClusker Armrest
Truss Rod Cover - Ebony w/engraved Abalone Inset - all lowercase cigarfan (coming soon)
One-piece AAA Maple back (Quilted)
Binding change to Tortise/Ivory
Tuners: Change to Gotoh Nickel
Special lizard inlay on fretboard extention

Standard Specs
Body Type: Traditional F
Top: Hand Graduated Solid Red Spruce with Antiqued Ivory Bound Oval Hole and Double Herringbone Rosette
Bracing: X Bracing
Back/Ribs/Neck: AAA Flame Maple
Nut Width: 1 1/8"
Peghead Veneer: Antiqued .100 Ivory/Black/Ivory Bound Ebony, F- Style
Peghead Inlay: MOP “The Weber” with MOP and Abalone Flower Pot
Fingerboard: Antiqued Ivory Bound 10” Radius Ebony with Double Cut-a-way
Fret Markers: 6mm MOP Dots
Frets: .080
Body Binding: Antiqued .100 Ivory/Black/Ivory Top and Back Binding
Color: Burgundy Burst
Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Truss Rod: Dual-Action Adjustable
Bridge: Weber Traditional Bridge
Tuners/Hardware: Nickel Grover Tuners/Nickel Tailpiece
Scale Length: 14"
Case: Deluxe Shaped Hardshell

I am more than tickled with my new mando. Love the wider nut and the fat round notes that are characteristic of oval holes. Bruce (Weber) tells me 50 hours to break in (and learn it is a mando) so I'm busy working on that. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Additional photos

icuker · #2 07-25-2015, 03:45 AM

Very, very nice! Congratulations. I love the color style and inlays. Hope to hear a soundbite when you feel up to it.

KarGuitar · #3 07-26-2015, 12:42 PM

Awesome mando. I sold mine last year and miss it's awesome, tubby low end!

K-vegas · #4 07-26-2015, 12:59 PM

Nice.

I've played a few ovals and underneath the nuance there is a tubbiness or 'honkeyness' to a few notes that drive me nuts.

Would like to hear/play an oval the cleaned that up and left you with the bell tones.

Have fun with this one. Nice addition to the collection!

fatt-dad · #5 07-27-2015, 11:06 AM

interesting mandolin design. I'd love to hear it for sure. It looks great too!

I will comment on the marketing though. Consider, "The Custom Vintage F model is reminiscent of the mandolins of the early twentieth century with the tone and volume to match its wonderful mojo." There is nothing about this mandolin that has anything to do with any mandolins made more than 10 or 20 years ago. The old Gibson f-model, oval hole mandolins all had 12-fret neck joints (this is at 15 frets) and all had transverse bracing (this is x-braced). Heck, I don't even think x-bracing even came up until recent decades?

I'm not taking anything away from this mandolin. Heck it's likely a monster - something I'd love! I just don't like shorting the history of mandolins by claiming this design harkens to some old vintage vibe.

f-d

Bingoccc · #6 07-27-2015, 12:51 PM

I find that stunningly beautiful. You're a lucky guy.

cigarfan · #7 07-27-2015, 04:27 PM

Well, thank you gentlemen for the kind words. And thanks Fatt-dad for your words of wisdom. I pulled the hype right from the Weber website. You're right though. X-bracing is a relatively recent thing. I think Weber was saying the tone and volume is reminiscent, not the construction.

pickitPaul · #8 07-27-2015, 06:52 PM

Nice classy beautiful woods. What kind of strings are on her or him?

darylcrisp · #9 07-27-2015, 09:30 PM

Dennis
that is a thing of beauty, and I'm sure with Webers build quality its a thing on tone also.

absolutely love your choice of color on this, its all class!

d

CoolerKing · #10 07-28-2015, 04:19 AM

I just got a Weber Gallatin F about a month ago, very cool instrument!

cigarfan · #11 07-28-2015, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickitPaul

Nice classy beautiful woods. What kind of strings are on her or him?

Thanks pickitPaul. I'm lovin' the looks but the tone even more.

It has the original strings on it now but I have a set of D'Addario coming soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by darylcrisp

Dennis
that is a thing of beauty, and I'm sure with Webers build quality its a thing on tone also.

absolutely love your choice of color on this, its all class!

d

Thanks d. I did turn out as I had hoped. I upgraded to quilted maple on the b/s and very happy I did. Awesome in person. I'll bring it with me when we get together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

I just got a Weber Gallatin F about a month ago, very cool instrument!

Very nice Matt. Weber takes a while to make em' but they are worth the wait. Congrats on your new acquisition!

CoolerKing · #12 07-28-2015, 06:17 AM

I played violin way before guitar, and got into mandolin in college because of the tuning. Now that I'm picking it back up, if I stick with it I'll upgrade to the diamondback in a year or two.

cigarfan · #13 07-28-2015, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

I played violin way before guitar, and got into mandolin in college because of the tuning. Now that I'm picking it back up, if I stick with it I'll upgrade to the diamondback in a year or two.

Cool. I played guitar way before mandolin and I'm just now starting to get it.

I have a Diamondback I just might be ready to let go in a year or two. Be in touch.

KarGuitar · #14 07-28-2015, 07:16 PM

It's true that Weber's Custom Vintage doesn't have everything that an old Gibson F4 oval has as far as construction, but some might say that is a good thing. It's more of a hybrid, with a bit more power and spunk IMO, with it's F5 bridge placement and modern construction.

I think Weber really nails it with these. The oval hole really brings out the base, which isn't super strong on some of their F-hole models, while retaining a volume and clarity.

There are a few less appointed Weber oval holes out there, more like Bitterroots, and I'm going to jump one when I see one.

cigarfan · #15 07-29-2015, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarGuitar

It's true that Weber's Custom Vintage doesn't have everything that an old Gibson F4 oval has as far as construction, but some might say that is a good thing. It's more of a hybrid, with a bit more power and spunk IMO, with it's F5 bridge placement and modern construction.

I think Weber really nails it with these. The oval hole really brings out the base, which isn't super strong on some of their F-hole models, while retaining a volume and clarity.

There are a few less appointed Weber oval holes out there, more like Bitterroots, and I'm going to jump one when I see one.

+1 Agreed!

And Weber has achieved the increase in bass without the so-called "tubbiness". I love how much sweeter the tone than with the f-hole models. But crystal clear, clear, clear.