Hodson Djangolin owners ?

[Al Watsky]

Hi Folks,
# I just was wondering if some of you folks who own Hodson mando's would comment on how they break in. I hear that its even and loudish, but have yours warmed up a bit? #Anybody using bronze or copper wound strings rather than the silver plated steel David supplies ?? Anybody raise the action? If your playing it what are you playing on it, what do you think its suited to ? Just curious. AW

[Steve Scott]

I've been playing mine for a couple of years. I've tried several types of strings after the originals and settled on TI's (mediums). I seem to get plenty of volume with them. The TI's give it a really sweet sound; completely different from the other brands. I may try Ted's La Bella jazz strings next time around - I have those on another mando and I like the result - sort of like TI's with a little more punch.

The instrument has opened up quite a bit and it has quite a nice, warm sound. I find that I really enjoy playing it.

[Al Watsky]

Steve, Thanks for the reply. I only received the instrument yesterday. I am a doubler, play mandolin as a utility instrument, and have owned a Gibson A from the teens' for years, comparisons are always odious, but there was no comparison between the Hodson and my A. They inhabit totally different sonic territory. I've played it enough in the last couple of days to hear the G string start to come in. So I'm hopefull. Its a very playable instrument. Totally outplays my Gibson. I've yet to use it on a gig, I'll find out what it sounds like in the studio before I hear it on a job. Gonna keep on beating it up and try to bring in some low end. Thanks again.AW

[delsbrother]

I like the TIs as well.. Don't beat all the high end out of it, Al! I particularly like the brightness for Choro (though calling what I can do "choro" is an insult to that long and storied genre). I also have Gibson archtops, and like having a small flattop mando around for a difference in tone. Plus, it's freakin' coooool.

[Al Watsky]

Delbro',
#Nope, I won't beat it into splinters, but, yep it does sound Brazilian, has that high chimeing sort of sound.
#Don't think I'll be sportin' the TI's on it. Too pricey IMO, though I do use Thomastic product on my fiddles from time to time, If I wanted to go that way I think that the Labella's would be a good choice. I've always recomended their flat wound strings to people who wanted a flatwound string but who needed good acoustic qualities as well, their flats are reasonably bright, at least for flats. Any body out there tried puttin' a pickup on this thing ? I might try an electro mag if I can find one that fits.

[Martin Jonas]

If I remember right, David has the option of a pickup for the Djangolin on his web site. Even if you didn't specify it to start with, I'd recommend you ask him: he may well already have designed the mandolin with a straightforward retrofit of his chosen pickup in mind.

Martin

[Al Watsky]

Martin,
# No, I don't think so. No PU from David for the Djangolin. At least not mentioned on the site. I might surface mount a E-mag. I'm pretty tired of Piezo. Though the Big Tone Sel/Mac PU sounds good enough. D.H. has got a B.T. for his tenor, but in my conversations with him he mentioned nothing about a B.T. for the Django/mando thang.Back to work ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif

[Martin Jonas]

I had another look and David's price list (http://website.lineone.net/~david_j_hodson/page11.htm) is a bit unclear. It lists a "Big Tone Pickup" as an optional extra "available on most models" for £50, but he doesn't say whether "most models" includes the Djangolin. I'd still say drop him a line.

Martin

[Al Watsky]

Martin, Already dropped that line. I have a recent e-mail from him, no BT for the Dj-mando. AW

[delsbrother]

You might want to PM Ted when he's back from NAMM. I think when he had a Djangolin he had some sort of pickup installed; not sure if it was magnetic or not.

[RichM]

I actually own Ted's Djangolin now, and the pickup is a piezo.

[Al Watsky]

Rich, Is it a sound board transducer ? or did Ted, mill a slot into the bridge for an undersaddle transducer ? AW