On ebay a large variety of these Celtic-star instruments, from the mandolin family.are available. These range from 2 types of mandolin, 2 'irish' mandolas, an octave mandolin and a bouzouki.
What puzzles me is that one of the irish mandolas is tuned the same as the 23inch scale length octave mandolin but it is only 17and half inches scale length i.e. GDAE.
Does anyone have one of these instruments or would know what an 'octave' of this size would sound like compare to a more 'normal' size?
Thanks, any information would be appreciated.
Mootman
A short-scale octave mandola would need much heavier strings to make a reasonable sound at that pitch and short scale, and would probably be a lot less "toppy" and more mellow in consequence.
This would make the instrument less likely to be heard above the thrash of other instruments in a noisy session. I play a 'zouk, even longer scale than an octave mandola for the same notes, as it has a good top end resonance.
You're probably much better off getting used to coping with the mandola range and tuning if you find you need to have that shorter scale to suit your dexterity, or use a mandola in standard tuning, CGda, and put a capo on the second fret, making it DAeb, ie effectively loosing the bottom string as of a mandolin, but gaining an extra top string for those top notes.
PS - yes, there do seem to be a lot of these instruments on offer.
Anyone care to offer a review of those available ?
I'm only saved from acquiring one by 'Er Indoors, who knows my Instrument Acquisition Syndrome too well.
Thanks for your replies. As a mando player of only 2 years I welcome any comments on mandolin family. Particularly octave mandolin/mandola ( always put both terms down now, having heard all the arguments for both and still no wiser as to which is correct).
I too must make a correct decision for want of flak from better half when next purchase comes, as come it will. Having handled a few to try I am sure one of 20 inches would suit if I can get the right one. The large variety of the Celtic-Star range intrigue me though but they don't do a 20in. I have played a little on one of 23+ inches and it is very good value but a little long for me. I wish I could handle one of the 17+in. tuned GDAE or hear of anyone who has one. Incidentally they also do a more 'normal' mandola of 16in tune CGDA.
I was just trying to find out about these instruments myself, as I ran across the Celtic-star on ebay. So I googled it, and as usual, one of the first results was this discussion on the sesh. So I would also appreciate any feedback or other info that anyone may have about these.
Anyhoo mootman, there is, as far as I'm concerned (although there are many here who would argue this to their deaths) no correct name. I recently purchased a "cittern" from Peter Abnett, but I'm gonna call it a 10 string zook, sounds cooler to me. We all know what the instrument is, we can bring up a visual image of what I'm talking about when using either term. I just read a phrase about this very subject in John McGann's great little bouzouki/octave mandolin book. He says (and he's quoting someone else here too): "Perhaps the fighting is so great because the stakes are so small". Enough said.
17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
On ebay a large variety of these Celtic-star instruments, from the mandolin family.are available. These range from 2 types of mandolin, 2 'irish' mandolas, an octave mandolin and a bouzouki.
What puzzles me is that one of the irish mandolas is tuned the same as the 23inch scale length octave mandolin but it is only 17and half inches scale length i.e. GDAE.
Does anyone have one of these instruments or would know what an 'octave' of this size would sound like compare to a more 'normal' size?
Thanks, any information would be appreciated.
Mootman
# Posted on May 8th 2007 by mootman
Re: 17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
A short-scale octave mandola would need much heavier strings to make a reasonable sound at that pitch and short scale, and would probably be a lot less "toppy" and more mellow in consequence.
This would make the instrument less likely to be heard above the thrash of other instruments in a noisy session. I play a 'zouk, even longer scale than an octave mandola for the same notes, as it has a good top end resonance.
You're probably much better off getting used to coping with the mandola range and tuning if you find you need to have that shorter scale to suit your dexterity, or use a mandola in standard tuning, CGda, and put a capo on the second fret, making it DAeb, ie effectively loosing the bottom string as of a mandolin, but gaining an extra top string for those top notes.
# Posted on May 8th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: 17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
PS - yes, there do seem to be a lot of these instruments on offer.
Anyone care to offer a review of those available ?
I'm only saved from acquiring one by 'Er Indoors, who knows my Instrument Acquisition Syndrome too well.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: 17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
Thanks for your replies. As a mando player of only 2 years I welcome any comments on mandolin family. Particularly octave mandolin/mandola ( always put both terms down now, having heard all the arguments for both and still no wiser as to which is correct).
I too must make a correct decision for want of flak from better half when next purchase comes, as come it will. Having handled a few to try I am sure one of 20 inches would suit if I can get the right one. The large variety of the Celtic-Star range intrigue me though but they don't do a 20in. I have played a little on one of 23+ inches and it is very good value but a little long for me. I wish I could handle one of the 17+in. tuned GDAE or hear of anyone who has one. Incidentally they also do a more 'normal' mandola of 16in tune CGDA.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by mootman
Re: 17inch scale length octave mandola / mandolin
I was just trying to find out about these instruments myself, as I ran across the Celtic-star on ebay. So I googled it, and as usual, one of the first results was this discussion on the sesh. So I would also appreciate any feedback or other info that anyone may have about these.
Anyhoo mootman, there is, as far as I'm concerned (although there are many here who would argue this to their deaths) no correct name. I recently purchased a "cittern" from Peter Abnett, but I'm gonna call it a 10 string zook, sounds cooler to me. We all know what the instrument is, we can bring up a visual image of what I'm talking about when using either term. I just read a phrase about this very subject in John McGann's great little bouzouki/octave mandolin book. He says (and he's quoting someone else here too): "Perhaps the fighting is so great because the stakes are so small". Enough said.
# Posted on May 24th 2007 by MR.