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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | WOW! and WOW again!
Beautiful! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I'm gonna try the CGDA. If this self-taught plunker understands correctly, this thing is basically a fifth down from my mandolin, correct? So logically, the finger positions for the chords remain constant, but the chord is different. It strikes me as a similar concept to using a capo. [/QB] CGDA Mandocello tuning is way lower than that. It's a full octave below tenor mandola, which itself is lower than mandolin. The big problem is the scale length. All but a few open-string mandolin chord shapes are far too much of a stretch on a mandocello, especially when combined with 4 pairs of heavy all-wound strings. You need to stop thinking of it as a big mandolin, it just doesn't work.
The idea of the mandocello came about during the mandolin orchestra craze of the early 1900's. They even made bass mandolins. The mandocello's role was the equivalent of a cello in a string quartet or string section of an orchestra. It might be an idea to listen to some music which includes cello to get a handle on where the mandocellos range fits into the scheme of things.
Personally I'd go down the Bouzouki route. A lot more versatile and physically a lot easier to play. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | I have no idea what a mandocello is, even after reading the description. (The 'cello' part seems like you should play it with a bow.) But it is beautiful for sure, and a tribute to the skills and craftsmanship at Mom.
I say we throw 'em a real curve ball. How about an Ovation guitar/sitar combo? Love to see the neck on that puppy. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | A few of observations two days in:
1) This instrument isn't strung, it's cabled.  I've never seen such a thick gauge of bound wire on anything other than a piano! Those of you who think a 12-string can strengthen your fingers oughta get hold of one of these!
2) It's loud...very loud...especially for a SSB.
3) The tone is amazing! I didn't even realize it, but I killed 20 minutes just strumming G-C on it yesterday. It's balanced, confident, and oh so resonant. I've heard the phrase "rumble in the belly" used here often; you should feel it on this thing when you strum any chord that leaves that bass-C pair open. This thing growls so much, I've started to call it Growler instead of mandocello.  That's the first time I've ever named an instrument. With a little perspective for its voice, it could even work as a solo instrument.
In case there may be any room for doubt, I like it very muchly!  |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | You will get tired of the 20-40-60-80 strings. That's why I was thinking of the octives on the bass two. Mine is a ssb too and they have a big sound, of course my ss Bass does too. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 270
Location: Yorkshire, England | Tune like a CGDA like a Tenor banjo and you'll be OK - this is the same guitar finish as my 1868 Elite - Looks good ! |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 270
Location: Yorkshire, England | By the way, just in case anyone hasn't mentioned it, the strings should be 4 identical pairs,(C,G,D & A) not like the octave strings of a guitar.
I have actually owned (it was my Dad's) a Mandocello, the tuning relates to the Viola, as the Mandolin relates to the Violin, or Fiddle. |
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A First For The Mothership, Wait'll you see this!
