Mandolas tuned GDAE?

[Steph]

After Dion cunningly planted the idea in my head that I really like 16" scale instruments and I found they were just about as easy to play as a mandolin - Im wondering if anyone tunes this scale length to GDAE - Im probably not clever enough (or maybe even too lazy)to relearn my limited repetoire in CGDA.
I think there were hints on Dans thread on cylinderback 10 stringers that this might be possible. Any thoughts? If possible I might dip my toe in the water with a Mid-Mo or something similar.

[Martin Jonas]

Well, I'm tuning my waldzither (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=35342), which has a 17" scale length, to GDAEB. However, you need a massive gauge G string to do that. It's feasible with the waldzither (though not particularly strong), as it has only a single bass string, but with the double bass course of the alto mandola, it'll be very difficult.

Martin

[Dolamon]

Well Steph, I have been called worse than a sly dog on several occasions. As for the GDAe tuning on a short scale, it can be done but ... you'll need the absolute scale length to work out the combination. I think that #Doug Deiter (http://www.kennaquhair.com/) still has a marvelously easy to use String Tension Calculator listed on his web site "Kennaquhair". (look towards the bottom of the left hand menu and download it)

This is pretty self explanatory and, while it doesn't have every string weight possible, it will get you close enough to figure out - if it is possible. As for the Spira Mandola, that one has just about 200 lbs tension on the 405mm scale (@16 inches) tuned to CGDa. As far as needing to relearn all your old tunes ... unless you're playing in C, A or B (or the flat derivations) often, you can just move one string down and play it in the original key. The operative word is 'often'. Occasionally it just sounds better to play it in the bassier range.

If you have a spare, large, eight course instrument, you can experiment with this strange idea #by capoing at the fifth fret and seeing how that feels and sounds.

Dion -

[Steph]

Thanks guys,
Martin, I should have been more explicit regarding the pitch, I was thinking of mandolin pitch rather than OM pitch.
Dion, as you know I have a large 10 string, it intonates pretty well all over the fingerboard and I often play capo'd up to the 7th fret, however It's not quite the same as having an instrument specifically designed for that scale. I was thinking along the lines of the Newtone stings we were discussing - they apparently offer lower tension at the same mass/tension than hex cored strings.
As for being a sly old dog.... I would never say such a thing.
It was great talking to you last Saturday - I'll let you know if this adventure goes anywhere (I haven't explained to my wife that I might buy another instrument yet). http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[mandroid]

Bb F C G, at present, fat strings, short 14" scale [its the 4 string, RMC pickups> SA kit.]
should be in the Emando section but what the Hake..
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[judith]

Steph - you struggle with the on-going dilemma....how short a scale length is possible if you still want to use GDAE tuning? From seeing all of the mandos last Sat, it seems to me that 20" was about the shortest - otherwise, the string gauge will be vast. I once tried to tune an old Gibson mandola to GDAE - it was awful. It will be interesting to see what you come up with and I only hope I am not sorely tempted. BTW Dion - that plant you wondered about in the backyard is spiderwort (with purple flowers). J

[Jacob]

FWIW, Klaus Knorr (http://www.knorr-mandolinen.de/html/mandolen_e.htm) builds three models of octave mandolas with a scale length choice of 450 mm (~17.7") or 460 mm (~18.1") for Thomastik strings (http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/johcgi/tho2/TCgi.cgi?Target=list_SetfamilieSubSubs&SetType=Guitar&ID_Setfamilie=2&ID_SetfamilieSub=2) which are available in soft, medium and strong gauges. The designed scale length for the strings is given as 45 cm (~17.7"). The string diameters aren't listed, but the string tension is shown. (The red links will display each string set.)

[Patrick Killeen]

Thanks guys,
Martin, I should have been more explicit regarding the pitch, I was thinking of mandolin pitch rather than OM pitch.
I had a similar problem trying to find out how high I could get my 5 string electric mandolin (I didn't like the C bass). To work this out I got the lightest string I could find and put it on the E, then tuned it up a semitone at a time until it snapped. Having found out how high I could get the top string I put together a set to match it using a String Tension Calculator fromhttp://www.kennaquhair.com/ustc.htm (I think I ended up tuning it D, A, E, B, F#).

Patrick

[Bob DeVellis]

I've tuned my Vega mandola in mandolin pitch with light gauge mandolin strings, but that has only a 15" scale. It's hard to imagine a set of strings that, at an inch longer, could have gotten up to those pitches. I did this just as a temporary experiment but on that particular instrument, the higher strings did sound very good. I don't recall the figures but I remember checking the tensions that would result, using a string calculator, and not feeling that it posed a problem. I don't remember the details, unfortunately.