|
|
Post by calv on Apr 13, 2013 6:28:52 GMT
Hi all  I'm embarrassed to say i have a Washburn mandolin hanging on my wall that has never had more than a few chords played on it. Reason for this is because i have struggled with how narrow the neck is. Coming from acoustic guitar and a little banjo, there is such a huge difference, and subsequently the strings seem so close together, it's hard to fret them accurately enough. The first fret is just an inch wide, i wasn't sure if this was the norm with mandolins? I bought it on a whim after seeing it on the net, luckily i only payed £130 for it. I did have my eye on a nice one from Keiran Maloney in Ireland for about £500, but if it was the same size, i think i'd have been well miffed. As i say, i've gotten a few chords from it, and the kids have picked it up now and again, so i wouldn't say it's wasted. I do love the sound of a nice mandolin and would be willing to maybe invest in one later if my fat fingers fitted it.  Thanks, Calv. |
|
|
|
Post by Trevor TAMCO on Apr 13, 2013 6:52:17 GMT
Hi Calv,
Carved top and back mandolins are typically 1 1/8" at the nut and don't often vary by more than 1/16". Flat top mandolins are generally wider, up to 1 3/8" is common.
|
|
|
|
Post by calv on Apr 13, 2013 7:31:17 GMT
Thanks Trevor, much appreciated. Thats it, my fingers are on a diet! Calv. |
|
|
|
Post by Mike Floorstand on Apr 13, 2013 16:56:16 GMT
Hi Calv - have a look at Dave White's (of this ilk) De Faoite Ceol Binn, these push the boundaries of scale length and nut width for mandolins - mine has a nut width about 1 1/3rd inch (34mm). I suspect "guitarists struggling with mando-spacing" is a common phenomenon, but I've yet to meet a guitarist who hasn't been impressed by the playability of the instrument Dave made for me. I even had a fiddler remark how easy it was to play too!
Cheers
|
|
leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,120 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Apr 13, 2013 17:34:30 GMT
Calv, Dave is sending one of his mandos round on a road trip - check with Dave to get involved!
|
|
|
|
Post by sigmadel on Apr 14, 2013 22:23:41 GMT
Calv, Dave is sending one of his mandos round on a road trip - check with Dave to get involved! You got in there first Leo , thats exactly what i was going to say . Calv i too have a cheaper mando and its hardly been touched since new due to the nut width and frets being so close together and my fingers arent exactly fat so goodness knows how the bigger fingered man/woman manages . I was going to put my name down for the road trip but im finding theres just not enough time in the day just now plus im trying to concentrate improving my guitar playing first . Stick your name down for the trip its a great way of getting to play superb hand made instruments . Derek. |
|
|
|
Post by calv on Apr 15, 2013 7:57:35 GMT
Thank you for the replies, i see it's not just me. I appreciate the offer of being included in the road trip, but i think i'll opt out of that one. Reasons being, i don't know enough or play enough of the mandolin to warrant having a decent one to try, you could give me Bill Munroe's original and i'd still make it sound bad at the moment lol. Plus i am clumsy as hell. Enough said. Thanks again for the offer though, i'll probably take a trip to Trevor in Brighton one day, give me a chance to try a few good quality ones there. Don't panic Trevor, i'm not that clumsy that you couldn't let me in the shop lol, i mean i just have such a hectic home with the kids and wotnot, i wouldn't trust a nice instrument like that in my house. Calv. |
|
|
|
Post by jcatherwood on Jun 25, 2013 18:07:00 GMT
You could always look up your nearest local luthier who makes mandos. Just as with guitars, I build mandolins to order, specify your preferred nut width and sit back and wait a few months....
|
|
garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
|
Post by garynava on Dec 26, 2013 10:42:31 GMT
Just like to say that I'm now offering my mandolins "The Standard" and "Standard Plus" with a wide neck option i.e. up to 35mm wide at the nut. Cheers Gary |
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Dec 31, 2013 20:07:21 GMT
Hi Calv. I used to really struggle with the tiny neck on the mandolin and when I played it for a while and went back to the guitar the guitar neck seemed massive. All I'll say is that if you persevere with it you get used to it eventually. After a couple of years of playing mando I can now switch from one to the other without any problem. I'm still a pretty rotten mando player tho :-)
|
|
Jo whoever he is.
