Mandolin Cafe Message Board - CBOM

New Gypsy OM

acruzn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:14:27 GMT

Well Folks, i have officially joined the CBOM world. Today i received my Gypsy OM. I requested an OM w/ simple elegance. Walt put sitka spruce as a top and walnut for back/sides. it has a mahogany neck. the fingerboard, pickguard and tailpiece are of ebony.

the sound is nice and resonant. i like how the string sounds were reverberating the body. once the baby got a little warmer and the strings settled down, i enjoyed trying to follow Mandobart's take on Orphan Girl.

i am going to enjoy learning to play this OM.

THANKS, WALT!! :mandosmiley::mandosmiley::mandosmiley:

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Amazing bouzouki playing! James Fagan

Kyle Baker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:44:51 GMT

This video is amazing and inspiring! I have no idea the names of any of these tunes, but I do know the players name is James Fagan and the guitar bouzouki was made by NK Forster guitars.

Weber Octar:D-hole or F-hole HELP!

Barb Friedland — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:52:31 GMT

I have flirted with the idea of buying a Weber Octar for some time and could use some help figuring out whether the f style sound hole design or the D sound hole design is the choice for me. This gets into the probably overdone conversations about tone, volume and projection.

My thought was that since it's a guitar bodied (arch top) OM that a D soundhole might be cool. And I admire the round, full tone that I perceive in round soundhole mando family instruments. I expect to play some fingerstyle folk and singer-songwriter stuff on the Octar but may also pull it out for some tunes with the alternative BG band I play in.

Send me some thoughts folks. Both designs are currently available and I want to make a decision on this. (Can't actually visit with either instrument due to distance)

Thanks!

practise MC or OM on guitar

Rvl — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:27:19 GMT

Sorry this a rather stupid question
I am looking for a mandocello or octave mandolin
But I havent found one yet

I want to practise on a regular acoustic guitar strung up with 4 strings
Puzzled by which strings should I buy?
I would prefer flatwound

I live in Japan , its not common to find single strings in shops

Thanks

Robert VanLane

new OM by Mark Swanson

jc2 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:40:46 GMT

NOW I'M EXCITED! Mark Swanson is making a new OM for me. 20.5 inch scale. Back, sides, and neck of Michigan Black Cherry, soundboard of Port Orford Cedar, fingerboard, bindings, rosette, bridge, and possibly headstock veneer of zircote. These are the first pictures he sent to me. More to come. Might I add, YEEHAH!

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CBOM with a Virzi?

Goodin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:08:33 GMT

Has anyone ever heard of a CBOM built with a Virzi?

Distant cousin to the 'zouk/OM?

walt33 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:53:31 GMT

The Portuguese guitarra shown here:

http://www.fernandezmusic.com/PortGuitarraForSale.html

Has a body much like an Irish bouzouki, but with a very short scale and a wide neck with six courses. Sounds nice, too:

http://www.fernandezmusic.com/Portug...thodpage2.html (Sound clip at the beginning of the first video.)

Walt

Mandocello and finger picks?

Keith Erickson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:29:37 GMT

Any recommendations on what types of finger picks to use for a mandocello?

I just bought some metal ones and I'm a little disappointed with them :(

Using a Greek Bouzouki as an Octave mandolin

demotlj — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:11:53 GMT

I picked up a Greek Bouzouki a few years ago in Greece and rarely play it now that I'm concentrating on mandolin. Our amateur church bluegrass ensemble could use an octave mandolin and I'm wondering if I could string octave mandolin strings on the bouzouki and tune it as an octave mandolin or whether that would wreck it. I know I could probably play it as a Bouzouki in the ensemble but the octave mandolin fingering would be the same as a mandolin, right?

Laurie

A nice irish bouzouki under 1500 �?

Oliver Fuchs — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:54:03 GMT

Hello,

got my first Bouzouki via Ebay :-) It's a "Tennessee" made in Korea and looks exactly like a Trinity College (are they 100% the same?). Got it for 250 � and I enjoy playing with it (nice neck and feel). But of course it's not a real good one (the bass is very weak for instance).

So I am looking for a better one for playing live (and occasionally in the studio). I prefer a longer scale (about 25" a narrower neck and a floating bridge). A Sobell is by far too expensive for me but I like this sound a lot (from what I've heard yet). So can you recommend something really good (and similar to a Sobell) in that price range? It would be very nice if it's available in Germany or at least in Europe (in case I have to return it).

GOM as a grass instrument

red7flag — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:22:10 GMT

I went to the Full Moon Picking event at Fiddle 'n Pick in Pegram, TN just west of Nashville. I played my Weber Octar for most of my time there and got a number of very positive remarks. It has a very bassy rhythmic sound when chorded. The double stringing and large body with f holes gives it a very strong presence. I will say that it has a voice, especially when chorded that is different than you expect in a grass jam. I got some cool looks when they realized that it was not a guitar. They would look at the headstock and say quisically "Eight strings? What is it?" I played Soldiers Joy the first time through with the mandolin. For fun, I switched to GOM for the next lead. I missed a few notes at first, not stretching enough, being used to the mandolin. Once I got the feel, it sounded really good. Overall, I was really pleased with the feel and sound of the GOM in a grass jam.

Some newbie help choosing between CBOM's

Rvl — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:51:18 GMT

Hello everyone ...an old newbie here
Started with mandolin over 30 years ago but switched to upright and electric bass. Now I play upright bass or electric upright and sometimes acoustic bass guitar.
Picked up a mandolin a month or so ago and started playing again
But I find with chording , the spacing and scale length is killing me
My arthritis has totally cramped up my left hand

What is recommended as a longer scale instrument to backup a japanese female celtic singer/guitar in a duo?
I have read as much as I can and have watched many youtube's and listened to many MandolinCafe mp3's
But I dont know which would be better octave mandolin , mandocello or bouzouki to backup a guitar player?
She plays and sings so gently so I need something that doesnt overpower her playing and singing

I am leaning towards a octave mandolin
But unfortunately I have never seen or played a OM , MC or bouzouki

I'll have to order one and take my chances
Especially since I live in Japan and I wont be able to even return it

Thanks for reading and if anyone has any suggestions I'll be very happy

Robert VanLane

Alden instruments zouk

sliabhstv — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:04:54 GMT

I met Andrew Carey just after the CBOM-o-rama gathering in NJ and lately he's been searching for a bouzouki in the NY/CT/MA area. He's found what we've all found... not many.

Andrew posted an inquiry to Roger Landes' bouzouki group list and a fellow name of David Armstrong replied thus with infos that are new to me, so I pass them on. Another builder selling at accessible prices.

"Posted by: "David Armstrong" davarm@yahoo.com
Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:24 am (PST)

"I can strongly recommend an Alden Bouzouki, expecially since I just purchased one. Clay Alden is near Asheville, NC [the website says Nashville, TN];

www.aldenoriginals.com.

His bouzouki's are in the $1,000 range that you specified, and he will build to whatever scale length you like.

"Here's a video of me playing my new toy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oEWoXY0cTw

David Armstrong"

stv

I've been thinking of "making" an archtop OM

Rick Crenshaw — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:51:56 GMT

Question 1: Anyone have any experience converting an acoustic archtop guitar to an OM? Results? Thoughts?

Question 2: What is a workable nut width for a typical full scale ? OM?

Any comments, thoughts appreciated.

Rick