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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 22:23:52 GMT
I just had a look on Adrian's website mandovark, but couldn't see it. Sounds like the one you bought is similar to the Shippey Axe model that Robbie pointed out to me (which I have spent a lot of time looking at - and unfortunately, I think the prices just went up.....!).
Anyway - while not really understanding guitar physics at all, I could see the sense in a theory that suggested something like.....the string vibrations are "collected" and amplified by the top, and a flat top might be a more sensitive "pickup" for that purpose, but that the sound projection might be "shaped" somehow in a more distinctive, sweeter way by a carved back.
Most likely physics nonsense, and I'd welcome being shot down by any of our luthier community, but it sits comfortably in my head!
Peter
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Post by mandovark on Aug 5, 2018 22:31:45 GMT
I just had a look on Adrian's website mandovark, but couldn't see it. Sounds like the one you bought is similar to the Shippey Axe model that Robbie pointed out to me (which I have spent a lot of time looking at - and unfortunately, I think the prices just went up.....!). It is still there, but it’s cunningly hidden at the bottom of the ‘steel string guitars for sale’ page. I haven’t played any Shippeys so can’t really compare them, but they have a great reputation among players on the Mandolin Cafe forum. I was very tempted by one of his octave mandolins a while ago. |
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 22:48:37 GMT
Ah - found it - thanks mandovark.
Now need to research octave mandolins - had a look at a couple of threads on Mandolin Cafe etc and there seems to be a sense that coming from guitar to the mandolin family octave mandolin might be less of a seismic shift...
Need to go and play some!
Peter
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 5, 2018 23:19:58 GMT
... Now need to research octave mandolins - had a look at a couple of threads on Mandolin Cafe etc and there seems to be a sense that coming from guitar to the mandolin family octave mandolin might be less of a seismic shift... Need to go and play some! Peter Depends what you want to play, Peter. If you intend to play largely melodies, then go for mandolin (with as wide a neck as possible) as the stretches are quite manageable. If you want to play strummy and accompanying kind of stuff then an octave mandolin is the way to go - lots of very easy two fingered chord shapes (in GDAD) with nice droney things happening. The biggest change is getting used to 7 frets between the notes of strings in the usual GDAE tuning, though it is actually fairly intuitive when picking out melodies; more so than on guitar. Have a look at Dave White's website for some interesting stuff re mando - www.defaoiteguitars.com/page21.htm and octave mando - www.defaoiteguitars.com/page46.htm Keith |
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 23:33:10 GMT
Ah - that's useful insight - I'll have a look at those links - thanks Keith.
I don't strum much, rather more likely to be picking out melody stuff or gently picked backing lines for songs - nothing to violent......
Thanks for the pointers!
(Obviously, the real answer is to have one of everything with strings, like Leo......)
Peter
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Post by Onechordtrick on Aug 6, 2018 10:29:48 GMT
... Now need to research octave mandolins - had a look at a couple of threads on Mandolin Cafe etc and there seems to be a sense that coming from guitar to the mandolin family octave mandolin might be less of a seismic shift... Need to go and play some! Peter Depends what you want to play, Peter. If you intend to play largely melodies, then go for mandolin (with as wide a neck as possible) as the stretches are quite manageable. If you want to play strummy and accompanying kind of stuff then an octave mandolin is the way to go - lots of very easy two fingered chord shapes (in GDAD) with nice droney things happening. The biggest change is getting used to 7 frets between the notes of strings in the usual GDAE tuning, though it is actually fairly intuitive when picking out melodies; more so than on guitar. Have a look at Dave White's website for some interesting stuff re mando - www.defaoiteguitars.com/page21.htm and octave mando - www.defaoiteguitars.com/page46.htm Keith I'd echo what ocarolan says. Different instruments and the sound samples in the links above show that quite well. It may be more a reflection of my limited abilities but I find melody playing easier on the mandolin than on the octave due to the shorter stretches. You're welcome to try mine if you like or I could try to put a recording up, although my ability is way, way below the standard on here and may be enough to put you off any stringed instrument... |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 11:22:50 GMT
My own journey with mandolin was kind of a downward trajectory! I started off with a borrowed Tobin Bouzouki- terrific for strumming on, far to long for playing tunes comfortably. Then I got a Weber octave mandolin- Marginally shorter scale, but a good all rounder for playing both chords and tunes. Then went down to a mandola. That was a bit of a short lived afair, as it was too long to play tunes comfortably using mandolin fingering, and didn’t quite have the right sound for chordal accompaniment. It’s also a pig to play for most Irish tunes given its tuning, although there was a little ‘cheat’ you could use involving a capo at fret two. Then, when I started playing mandolin, I felt I had arrived! By that stage I felt like I was just about ready for mandolin, and I still feel it’s the instrument I have had most fun with over the years.
If you are looking for an octave mandolin there are a few good ones to choose from- I sold my Eastman octave to my mate Davey Dodds (writer of ‘The Magpie’) and he absolutely adores it. It’s what he uses most often live now, rather than his very pricey Phil Davidson mandolin. You should also check out those cute little Pono guitar shaped octaves. Try TAMCO or The Southern Ukulele store here in Bournemouth. You should also find the excellent handmade Moon range in a few Hobgoblin stores. Very nicely made, no frills instruments. Phil Davidson has also been known to have a few second hand flattop instruments that he has made over the years. A friend of mine has a very nice sycamore back and sides model with 20” scale length, that makes it an absolute doddle to play tunes on.
Robbie
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 6, 2018 11:41:19 GMT
Thanks Onechordtrick - looks like a mandolin for me following all the helpful comments and pointers here. And fear not - my mandolin playing when I get one will make you look a mando-star! Thanks again ocarolan - those videos are really useful - that western red cedar / mahogany mandolin is sweet isn't it - love the Bach cello suite piece. Any idea who that bearded medieval minstrel chappie is they've roped in to do the octave mandolin demo's? Bet he's wearing tights. I like you're downward trajectory story @robbiej - with it's happy ending of course - further confirmation of mandolin for me - at least as the starting point. I shall keep you all posted on what I look at and where I end up - and will doubtless seek further help along the way! Peter |
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Post by ianh on Aug 6, 2018 16:24:28 GMT
Thanks Onechordtrick - looks like a mandolin for me following all the helpful comments and pointers here. And fear not - my mandolin playing when I get one will make you look a mando-star! Thanks again ocarolan - those videos are really useful - that western red cedar / mahogany mandolin is sweet isn't it - love the Bach cello suite piece. Any idea who that bearded medieval minstrel chappie is they've roped in to do the octave mandolin demo's? Bet he's wearing tights. I like you're downward trajectory story @robbiej - with it's happy ending of course - further confirmation of mandolin for me - at least as the starting point. I shall keep you all posted on what I look at and where I end up - and will doubtless seek further help along the way! Peter Glad to hear the mandolin research is paying off Peter! hope you find something nice I'm personally lusting after a mandocello, although they are fearsomely pricey. You r mention of the Bach cello suite reminds of this advertising video for the Gold Tone mandocello: |
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 7, 2018 9:53:28 GMT
Glad to hear the mandolin research is paying off Peter! hope you find something nice I'm personally lusting after a mandocello, although they are fearsomely pricey. You r mention of the Bach cello suite reminds of this advertising video for the Gold Tone mandocello: Wow. That does seem a remarkably reasonable price. And such a sensible shape. Much better than the Nick Oddy/Show of Hands type. You can play them sitting down. Mind you, I'm sure someone will say that this is a mando cello, and the other type is a cello mandolin or vice versa. I confess I don't know the difference. And he says it's tuned CGDA. I think SK tunes his GDAE or GDAD. Any road up, this looks like a great instrument. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2018 11:19:11 GMT
Steve ‘s is actually an octave Mandolim tuned GDAD.
For Mandocellos, Eagle Music had a second hand Weber back along for a VERY reasonable price. Just a word of warning that on Mandolin cafe those Goldtones had a few issues when they first came out. Might have been resolved now.
Personally they are too unwieldy for me- scale length makes them tricky to play tunes (espceically Bach!) and a little muddy for chords. But they do produce a thunderous sound though.
Robbie
P.s if you are looking for a good handmade mandolin, I was browsing Coda’s website yesterday and they had a flattop Moon for about £500. I think Martin used to have one of these.
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Post by minorkey on Sept 24, 2018 11:49:08 GMT
Well I got mine out for the first time in a while. Its dreadful, needs a set up, but it only cost £60 a couple of years ago. I should have just walked away really, especially as when the guy was tuning it up a high E string snapped. Put another one on, got it home, discovered the intonation is out, tried to do it myself, boing, another high E snapped. In the cupboard it went. I dont know enough about them but I'm pretty sure the saddles should be a series of peaks rather than being just flat, like this.  |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Sept 24, 2018 12:58:12 GMT
Well I got mine out for the first time in a while. Its dreadful, needs a set up, but it only cost £60 a couple of years ago. I should have just walked away really, especially as when the guy was tuning it up a high E string snapped. Put another one on, got it home, discovered the intonation is out, tried to do it myself, boing, another high E snapped. In the cupboard it went. I dont know enough about them but I'm pretty sure the saddles should be a series of peaks rather than being just flat, like this. Setting up a mandolin is fairly easy - there's a great book available from someone on mandolin cafe. Or pm me an email address and I can send a copy. Regarding the saddle, there's no such thing as a standard bridge for a mandolin so yours doesn't look especially unusual. What mandolin is it? |
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Post by ianh on Sept 24, 2018 13:04:53 GMT
I'd second the comments from Onechordtrick on Rob Meldrum's set-up guide. It's really useful and practical, and helps you to set up the intonation using only a digital tuner The bridge you've shown does look a bit wide with over-deep notches for the strings. This may cause string buzz. I bought a new adjustable bridge for an old mandolin, on ebay for under a fiver - well worth it. If you know a handy woodworker, there is also the option of a fixed bridge on the 'Red Henry' style which is reckoned to increase volume and tone - see the details on www.murphymethod.com/index.cfm?event=pages.content&contentId=87Ian |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Sept 24, 2018 13:11:20 GMT
I'm pretty sure that I've got a spare adjustable bridge in my box of bits, if it's any use let me know and I can pop it in the post. Can't check at the moment as I'm being confined to my office by two large men wielding power sanders....
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Jo whoever he is.
