Anyone using octave mando's in bluegrass performances?

[Patrick Bouldin]

If so, when do you find them most appropriate?

Thanks,
Patrick

[allenhopkins]

I like playing octave mandolin, and I like bluegrass, but I haven't tried to mix 'em. Some of the reasons are good: the OM operates in the same range as the guitar, which means it gets "covered" by that instrument. Bluegrass features a lot of fast instrumental "breaks," which are more difficult to play with a long-scale instrument. The OM player doesn't want to sound like just a lower-pitched version of the mandolin player, so he/she has to puzzle out a viable separate role for the OM.

Other reasons aren't so good; they have to do with the reluctance of many bluegrass musicians to accept instrumentation outside the tried-and-true formula of banjo/fiddle/guitar/mandolin/bass. If you visit the bluegrass forum you'll find some fairly lengthy exchanges on the subject. There's a strong strain of orthodoxy among bluegrass types, and innovation is often discouraged.

If I were to try to adapt OM to bluegrass, I'd use it on "darker" material, where a lonesome or melancholy "vibe" was indicated, and I wouldn't try to play lead on breakneck instrumentals. An OM picker with more skill than I have might try Raw Hide or Roanoke on that instrument, but I frankly haven't the chops to do that.

[desaljs]

Very timely question! I have an electric, 8-string octave mando, made by Jon Mann. Very cool instrument that I have been enjoying in the privacy of my own home.

I would like to try it in a bluegrass setting, but have all the fears that Allen pointed out. Showing up with a strange, electric (!) instrument might cause a minor storm. Our jam is very relaxed however, and I am sure I could give it go.

At times, we have breakout practice sessions that are not real jams. I spoke to the guy that hosts this, and he is up for seeing how it might fit. So, I plan to take it to one of those sessions on a trial basis.

At this point, I can only play open chords. The scale length is a challenge, plus the octave pairs present some interesting difficulties (on mine, the E pair is unison, and the rest are an octave apart). I would like to see what type of "color" I can add to the other instruments. The only way to know is try....

[Newtdude]

Tim O'Brien uses an octave mandolin a lot. I'd like to see more people incorporating this instrument into their bluegrass -- OMs produce such an amazing sound!