Next - mandola or octave?

[Tennessee Jed]

I'm considering either a mandola or octave mandolin for my next purchase. #I've never played either and want to make sure that I understand the differences and which would be easier for a mandolin player to adapt to. #I can't find any in local music stores so I'll probably be buying a cheaper model on line just to see if I enjoy playing one and if it fits into my style of play.

In addition to some bluegrass I play mostly rock, blues, and traditional old time tunes.

It's my understanding that the mandola is tuned CGDA and the octave mandolin is GDAE but an octave lower than the mandolin. I believe that this means that to produce the G-scale that starts with the open G-string on an mandolin you would just move up one string on the mandola. #On an octave mandolin it would begin on the 5th fretted note on the D-string. #Am I thinking correctly? #If I am then I don't see a lot of problems adjusting to either instrument when playing single notes and double stops but maybe chords are a different story.

[Celtic Saguaro]

You are correct about the tuning. The fingering is similar with both the CGDA mandola and OM. You normally use your little finger on the fifth fret instead of your ring finger. #If you have long fingers like I do, you may be able use mandolin fingering on the mandola which can make switch between the two a little smoother. #I've found that compared to a similar scale length tenor banjo, the OM takes a lot of practice to adjust to, because of the extra fret board width. Chording is a little different from the mandolin because some of the four finger patterns you use easily on the mandolin are more difficult on the mandola and impossible on the OM. #So you'll be using more open chords and more three finger chords.

The big difference is the tone, and what you want is bascially your preference. The body of an OM is usually so much larger that the bass response is much greater than a mandola even playing the OM capoed up at the fifth fret and played as a mandola. Conversely the treble end will be somewhat better on the mandola, although if you realy want more treble, a regular mandolin might be the better choice.

I think either an OM or a mandola is a decent choice. Either plays lead well. The mandola may have a little more distinct voice within a group when playing backup, while the OM tends to blend in with guitars.

[VictorLouis]

I see Octaves being referred to as "jangly", with less string tension than a mandolin. Is the 'dola closer to the string tension I'm used to with the mando?

[otterly2k]

In general, I'd say the answer to that is yes. But there are variations in scale and string gauge that result in variation of tension.

[VictorLouis]

Thanks, O2K http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif