Mandolin Players

[pcypert]

Probably a stretch on these boards, but do we have any mando pickers here? There's threads for everything else but no 8 string love

I've been playing for about 6 years or so but am horrible. Anyone else? I split my time between standard and Zouk/OM.

Paul

[Vinny!!]

I can kinda play.  I wanted to learn how to play "Losing my Religion" by R.E.M. and "Monty Got a Raw Deal" also by r.e.m.  So I know how to play those two songs!  I borrowed a friend's mandolin, with rusty strings and hardware, but it sure stayed in tune!

[pcypert]

Yeah those are two good ones to get started on. More guitar style playing than mando too so easy to pick.

Paul

[Harvester]

i've got a few fixer-upper mandos

kays, harmonys, an airline and a 1935 dobro basket case !

3 of them are playable and i'm learning
it's fun but too loud to practice late at night ... i want to make an electric one

AP

[dug]

I used to play around with one, but I sold it.

It was alot of fun.

[pcypert]

Harvester, check out the mandobird from epiphone for a fun electric to play around with

[akezys]

Anyone know where I can find a cheap but not-bad octave mando?

[pcypert]

For good octaves I'd check out the Garrisons. If you can find one used they're a good value. Also the old Mid Missouri Mandolin company. Latly Gypsy mandolins makes an interesting octave solid wood. These are all solid wood and sound great. The old Flatirons are way overpriced at this point for what they are. People upgrade a lot and these three pop up a lot on the 'bay.

Paul

[flatfiver]

Mid-Missouri is now called Big Muddy in case you're looking for new ones.

I had a Fender octave mando for a while, I actually bought it to play one gig and then unloaded it shortly thereafter.  Octave is a lot of fun to play (even on that Fender POS), it's like playing a guitar but you get that cool mandolin sound.

Anyone played a mandocello?  Those are some sexy beasts.

Right now I've got an absolute crap Dean A-style with a big honking single coil pickup in the middle of it.  I've been lusting after some of the Michael Kelly's we've got at work - I'm thinking about an oval hole, they've got such a nice round sound.    I played an awesome Eastman oval hole F-style once and fell in love.

[pcypert]

Oh yeah, completely forgot... for either Octaves or Mandocello an old archtop conversion is awesome. You get an old kay or other brand acoustic guitar (the ones with f holes are sweet for this) and just get a couple hundred bucks worth of luthiery done (new nut and bridge and drill new holes for two extra knobs) and you have a super great sounding, vintage octave or cello!

Eastmans are better value than MK's...but buy used, they take a hard hit on the used market. Their cellos are sweet since they use their archtop bodies. Really sexy instruments....

[Marko]

Yeah man. Mandolins are brilliant. If anybody hasn't played one before, they are very loud for a small instrument. I have a Turner MM215 which cost about £150 seven years ago, which was a bit of a bargain I think. I recently re-adjusted the bridge to make it more playable and it's now quite sweet. You have to think 6 or 7 instead of 5 if you know what I mean. Fantastic instruments. Difficult on the wrist for a while, but you soon get used to it. Here's a grainy pic of the little fella!

[nitro cellulite]

i have my F4 1922 up on ebay right now. Lloyd Loar era. Hate to see it go but need the money right now!

[taurodont]

I own 5 mandolins( 3 with f-holes, 1 oval hole, 1 tater bug). I have a teardrop shaped mandola with f- holes comissioned. Look out for my offset 4 string mando that is in the works.

If I was looking for an Octave I would check the Mandolin Cafe Classified section daily. I have purchased a high end instrument thru there in the past and it was a good experience.

I love mandolins but you can't play 'em like guitars. Takes a while to sound like a mandolinist and not a guitar player on a mando. Becoming semi-proficient on the mandolin has really increased my creativity on the guitar.

[Flurko]

I've got a Stagg basic one, but quite fun to play, and a nice instrument to carry around. The tuning is very interesting coming from a guitarist's point of view, i think.

[SpookyReverb]

For good octaves I'd check out the Garrisons.

I agree. I had one for a few years (Bought it for $400, not bad). It really did sound amazing.
It had a deep guitar-ish sound, and played really well.
Garrison really knew what they were doing, they were put together extremely well.

Here's are a few photos of my old one: