They're very good for going camping. Especially if you know a lot of chords on them, you can have sing-a-longs. Those are a lot of fun. Never done it with a mandolin but I did have a uke at one point.
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Anyone else play mandolin?
- Thread starter MasonMinor
- Start date
Camping is indeed a good place for a mandolin. I love to sit on my front porch and play the mandolin as a good thunderstorm rolls through.
Dammit you guys. Now I'm so sorry I sold mine I'm seriously thinking of getting one again. The wife is not happy.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Me at a Zep tribute gig playing mandolin for the very first time, live. I think the latter part of that sentence is written all over my face 
. It's the only pic I gotz though...
Mine's an Ibanez. Shortly after that show something busted inside (wiring or something came loose) and I haven't touched it since. It was fun to play, and I got into it for about a month... but no instrument holds my interest the way the bass does. I have guitars, keyboards, even electronic drums in my studio - nothing ever gets touched except my basses. Other instruments I use only when recording, and it's been a while. You (and this thread) may motivate me though. I have a classical guitar, that mandolin, and a fretless bass that I'd love to write and record something with. Will start thinking about that. Thanks.
. It's the only pic I gotz though...Mine's an Ibanez. Shortly after that show something busted inside (wiring or something came loose) and I haven't touched it since. It was fun to play, and I got into it for about a month... but no instrument holds my interest the way the bass does. I have guitars, keyboards, even electronic drums in my studio - nothing ever gets touched except my basses. Other instruments I use only when recording, and it's been a while. You (and this thread) may motivate me though
. I have a classical guitar, that mandolin, and a fretless bass that I'd love to write and record something with. Will start thinking about that. Thanks.
You're welcome!Me at a Zep tribute gig playing mandolin for the very first time, live. I think the latter part of that sentence is written all over my face
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Mine's an Ibanez. Shortly after that show something busted inside (wiring or something came loose) and I haven't touched it since. It was fun to play, and I got into it for about a month... but no instrument holds my interest the way the bass does. I have guitars, keyboards, even electronic drums in my studio - nothing ever gets touched except my basses. Other instruments I use only when recording, and it's been a while. You (and this thread) may motivate me though
I picked up the mandolin about 20 years ago--and JPJ was the reason. At first I got it to reproduce the parts on Going To California/That's The Way/Evermore, rather than play them on guitar. But after a while I discovered Celtic and Renaissance music---lots of fun. These days I mainly play it around the house or take it on vacation--it travels much better than the bass.
I think Gallows Pole was the first one I learned. Yes I agree, the do travel much better than basses.
I can fake mandolin if I have to. As was noted it's tuned in ascending 5ths (or descending 4ths) which is just the opposite of a guitar's tuning. And the string weights are upside down. Kinda like playing in a mirror. Neat sound although I like a bazouki better myself.
Got some people doing some very cool stuff with some of the less popular instruments
We all know about the mandolin thanks to folks like Nancy Wilson and Rod Stewart's band.
But cittern is definitely cool. Especially an electric cittern:
As is bazouki, which was a centerpiece instrument for the band The Puddlejumpers.
I also keep flirting with the idea of getting one of these - an Eastwood Mandocello that just so happens to look like a Fender Mustang! What's not to like?
Got some people doing some very cool stuff with some of the less popular instruments
We all know about the mandolin thanks to folks like Nancy Wilson and Rod Stewart's band.
But cittern is definitely cool. Especially an electric cittern:
As is bazouki, which was a centerpiece instrument for the band The Puddlejumpers.
I also keep flirting with the idea of getting one of these - an Eastwood Mandocello that just so happens to look like a Fender Mustang! What's not to like?
I've seriously considered getting one of those Warren Ellis electric tenor guitars from Eastwood and using mandolin tuning on it.
+1!! Tenor is exceptionally cool. Especially if you're into anything remotely resembling Celt.Check out this bad boy below! Assuming it's not just a really clever fake, how cool is this?
I've wanted one to play around with. Haven't dropped any cash yet.
Mainly because I live in Nashville and they're always accompanied by 5 acoustic guitars that are capod so high up they also sound like mandos.
Mainly because I live in Nashville and they're always accompanied by 5 acoustic guitars that are capod so high up they also sound like mandos.
Why would anyone fake a tenor when they could fake a 6 string and sell it for two or three times the money?
Maybe if the faker were a true artist, it wouldn't so much be about the money as the challenge itself?
Maybe if the faker were a true artist, it wouldn't so much be about the money as the challenge itself?
The challenge of faking an instrument so rare nobody has seen a genuine one? That's a lot easier than faking something with lots of exemplars.
Regardless, tenors are cool. Check out Two Man Gentleman Band. Upright bass and tenor guitar. Novelty-ish songs, but really great tenor playing.
The damn neck is too narrow! Especially, compared to an electric bass. The cycle of 5ths tuning messes me up too. But other than that, I love the sound of the mandolin! Sexy!
But also far easier to verify. Hiw many if these were made do you think? I'm guessing six or fewer (possibly even only the one) so a call to Gibson would get it coeared up pretty wuickly. I suspect Gibson might even be interested in making an offer to get it back for their own collection.
I'm into Celtic so I have to agree, tenor guitars are cool - as are the modern F-sharp guitars. I'm thinking of getting one of those soon.
What guitar I do is always non-standard. Oddball tunings or Nashville stringing. Or baritone or 12-string. Pretty much anything but standard Torres tuning and stringing. My GF is an excellent guitarist. I leave the standard guitar job to her. She's better at it than I'll ever be.
