mandolin

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corg

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i dont really know if this is the right forum, but i figure why not. anyone have any experience with mandolins. just a little info, learning curve, etc. currently, just play guitar and sax, looking to get a new guitar and possibly some other thing to kind of broaden my horizons. i know a few of you play a banjo, what about that. any suggestions on another instrument to go with? thanks a bunch for your help :)

corey
 
Don't have a mandolin, but like the way they sound and will probably go there when the money is available.

One piece of advice I got was to tune it like the top 4 strings of a regular guitar, that way you already know how to play it.

have fun
 
foo said:
Don't have a mandolin, but like the way they sound and will probably go there when the money is available.

One piece of advice I got was to tune it like the top 4 strings of a regular guitar, that way you already know how to play it.

have fun
Click to expand...

yea, thats a good idea, but i dont know, it seems like its kinda defeating the point. i want to learn something new, and im actually quite possibly borrowing my girlfriends violin soon, so, i think, not sure, but think, the mandolin's strings are same tunings as violin, anyone confirm or deny that? anyways, so, i guess ill wait for a little more feedback :) thanks a bunch foo!

corey
 
I've got a couple, plus a mandocello. I'll take my '62 Gibson A-40 on most jobs, it's a nice change from guitar.

I'd suggest learning to play it in standard GDAE tuning and learning the full chords to get your fingers stretched out. After that it's pretty easy and to me, more logical than guitar.

Here's a couple of places to go hang out:


http://www.mandolincafe.com/
http://www.mandozine.com/
 
philboyd studge said:
I've got a couple, plus a mandocello. I'll take my '62 Gibson A-40 on most jobs, it's a nice change from guitar.

I'd suggest learning to play it in standard GDAE tuning and learning the full chords to get your fingers stretched out. After that it's pretty easy and to me, more logical than guitar.

Here's a couple of places to go hang out:


http://www.mandolincafe.com/
http://www.mandozine.com/
Click to expand...

thanks for the links, im checking them out right now. yea, if i get a mandolin, i want to learn to play it in it's standard tuning. also, do you really have to actually have small hands? i dont have huge ones but big enough to the point where i can wrap my thumb around my acoustic guitar and fret the low e. so, i dont know, i guess maybe tonite, i might try to stop by sam ash or something and just play around with one for a bit, see if it is me. thanks a lot for the good info philboyd, anything else is appreciated! :)

corey
 
c7sus said:
Yeah, mandos are tuned the same as violins and fiddles.

I'd stick with standard tuning too, like Philboyd said.

You should be able to find a decent used "A" style from a number of builders for around $400-600US. I picked up a 1947 Martin "A"
for $475 about 7-8 years ago, and had it converted to lefty for $100.

I would recommend AGAINST the imports. They look nice cosmetically, but what they have in looks they seem to lack in tone and bark.

Another option might be a kit from Stew-Mac. You can probably build a much nicer mando than you think. And while the kit may not "look" as nice as the imports, it's gonna sound WAY better. Plus, you get the fun and experience of building your instrument!!!
Click to expand...

thanks for the response c7sus! :) so, an a style over an f style. can anyone tell me the difference in the two, playing styles, etc. also, anyone have any idea on if it is a problem i dont have circus midget hands? i dont know if im quite ready for building, im kinda weary of the kind of work i would do, im not the most skilled person, although ill look into it and see exactly how hard it would be. yea, i could see putting about 400-500 into this, so, you guys think a mandolin over a banjo ? ok, so, what i know so far:

-Stick with standard tuning
-Go with an A-Style (or is this a matter or prefernce kind of thing)
-No Imports
-Possibly order a kit

another half hour at work and i think im gonna go play some before i head home :) thanks guys!

corey
 
A style mandos are simpler and therefore cheaper to make than F styles, but it doesn't mean they are cheap.

If I were you I'd shop around for a used Gibson A style, it'll cost more but you will NEVER lose money on your investment.
 
I have a 1941 A-50. I'd love to have an F model too sometime. I'd definately stick with standard tuning. They're actually very easy to get used to.
 
well, i didnt make it to sam ash yesterday, my car has been in the shop and my dad picked me up and took me home. but, i remember the last time i was there, they didnt have a huge collection. anyone no a place near tampa florida that has a good selection of mandolins? yea, ive been looking, and f-styles are way more expensive, so it seems an a-style is in line. i cant wait to get one though, its getting exciting, thanks guys! :) :D

corey
 
Hi There
I play guitar in a celtic rock/folk/punk band called The Electrics.( www.theelectrics.com )
Mandolin was the last thing i thought i would ever be playing, but ive quite enjoyed it for the last couple of years.
All i can do is learn stuff or write my own parts on it though,
cant really jam along at all.
Before i was a full time member of the band they asked me if i wanted to go and do an open air gig to maybe 6/7,00 people in England. Of course i jumped at the chance. THEN ,,they told me that i would have to learn 4 songs on mandolin before it. AARGGHH! So i had to learn them from scratch to do the gig.
AND ,it turned out it was being filmed for a local tv show too! Jeeez,,,i wasnt"cool" that day!
It was rather nerve wracking i must say, but i got away with it.
Lately though,ive been back on guitar for the whole set,cos the other guitarist quit. So now the fiddler does mandolin too.
he hates it though for some reason. Heehe!
He cant get used to using a pick i think. You can hear my efforts here,, www.mp3.com/theelectrics 2 songs if i recall.
Stick with it mate,,its pretty good fun!
I bought a Fender Electrics SB mando from www.thomann.de for £180. Sounds great,,,but one of the g strings is NEVER quite in tune which is VERY annoying indeed.
so its usually a "nearly" tuneup i have to give it. Both strings are sitting on the one saddle thing though, so i have no idea how it can be remedied.
Keep On Rockin
JimmyD

corg said:
i dont really know if this is the right forum, but i figure why not. anyone have any experience with mandolins. just a little info, learning curve, etc. currently, just play guitar and sax, looking to get a new guitar and possibly some other thing to kind of broaden my horizons. i know a few of you play a banjo, what about that. any suggestions on another instrument to go with? thanks a bunch for your help :)

corey
Click to expand...
 
I have a piece of junk Johnson A mando... Sounds fine but don't stay in tune too well... Get the job done for me though, not being a pro and all..

It is a very pretty mando but it is very cheap.. :D
 
Last edited:
...anybody know what brand/model of mando appears on the Zeppelin stuff?...
 
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