MF, I only really play mando, not mandola, so I'm not the mook to ask. I actually cant name a single person who is an exclusive mandola player though, which is an interesting thing. I have always wanted a nice one, but I don't think Collings nice. It would have to be something cheaper than that. I have lots of mando based family instruments though that I would recomend to anyone. I have two bouzoukis, (both a 6 string greek roundback, and an 8 string DOYLE Irish style flatback, several emandos (4 strings, 5 strings and 8 strings) including a Flying "V", and a 10/5 string Citern (think regular mando tuning in fifths, with an extra set of strings on the bottom tuned to "C". I generally only keep 5 strings on it because it is so hard to play. Much encouragement to anyone on this Forum to get any of these 'other' axes. They have really added to my knowledge of playing and general happiness too!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kerry Krishna,

Sparky, just for single strumming along work you might actually look for a decent Octave Mando to try out. I had a nice Weber F style but sold it to get my MF Oval. The wider neck made it a bit tought to do the stretch on for some chords, and the long scale made a lot of "pickin" more like playing a guitar.

But for simple chord strumming it had a huge sound that just rang forever.

BTW, I do want to add a Mandola some day. Maybe by the time Bill makes one available I will have sold a geetar or two.

thanks dudes. I'll have to play that collings mandola when it hits, but the octave thing is interesting too. Mando on!

sparky

Yeah, mandolins are great and easier to pick out melodies than a guitar because the string intervals make more sense. I'm probably six or seven years into playing mandolin and it's harder now than when I first started. That's because I'm learning to play bluegrass mandolin, not just tinkle along like a high pitched guitar. They're great instruments, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to simply dabble.

quote:

Originally posted by Bluegrass Boy:
Yeah, mandolins are great and easier to pick out melodies than a guitar because the string intervals make more sense. I'm probably six or seven years into playing mandolin and it's harder now than when I first started. That's because I'm learning to play bluegrass mandolin, not just tinkle along like a high pitched guitar. They're great instruments, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to simply dabble.

Pretty much my thinking - and if I'm gonna spend time/energy on practice and learning, I probably would rather excel at guitar than mandolin anyway (I've tried to pursue multiple instruments and it seems they all suffer). It's just that these mandolins are do damn beautiful! Who knows - maybe I'll change my mind at some point.

Northern, maybe what you just posted can change. When I picked up mandolin, my guitar playing ended up, in the long run, getting better. I learnd all these terrific mando tunes that I had only heard before, then I HAD to learn how to play the heads on guitar. And I have told many people that I would go absolutely stir crazy if I had to stick to just one instrument. As an aside, I also now want to play twice as much, AND I eithr WANT to play mando, or WANT to play guitar, if you understand me...

KK, I hear what you're saying. When my Goodall sells, I should be in a position to think about a modest mandolin - maybe a used MT, or an Eastman A with a good setup.