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Thread: How does my mandolin sound ?

  1. #1
    Registered User Diz9000's Avatar
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    Default How does my mandolin sound ?

    Hi all , it's me again 😎
    Okay, again I have been watching and listening to a variety of mandolin lessons online and on DVD. Something I have come to notice is my mandolin seems to ring/resonate for longer than those of the instructors . I have taken a short video (30s ish) to show what I mean.
    I am playing each set of strings with a Dunlop Prime Tone 1.5mm pick and I'm using light gauge strings. Until yesterday I had medium gauge strings and I was noticing the same effect. Okay, so I'm playing each set of strings and not playing the next until the previous one can not be heard. Then finally I strumm all 4 sets of strings.



    Is there something wrong with my mandolin ? Or something good with it ?
    Many thanks
    Diz9000

  2. #2
    Registered User Atlanta Mando Mike's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    The sustain on that mandolin seems pretty normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    I have to agree, my Weber sustains a little bit longer than that one. Nothing to worry about.

  4. #4
    Registered User Diz9000's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    Thanks , that's good to know, only had the online videos to judge , I guess it's all down to the quality of the recording ��

  5. #5
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    Of course the sustain on open strings will be longer than for fretted notes. It is easy to mute the sustain a number of ways. Most of my mando family instruments have oval holes, full of sustain. My personal taste is more sustain is always better than less - its easy to remove unwanted sustain, impossible to add it (without electronics).

  6. #6
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    & Top's resonance improves when you put out $1000+ on build quality,

    vs a Mass Produced Starter selling for less than half of that Price.

    .. but you gotta start somewhere .. Carry On ....
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  7. #7
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    Sounds fine.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  8. #8
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: How does my mandolin sound ?

    Hi Diz - It sounds fine to me as well. A decent sustain is more of an assest that having little sustain. What you definitely don't want,is a mandolin with hardly any,one that sounds like it's being played 'pizzicato' all the time.
    Have a listen to this clip - ''A Prairie Jewel'' played by John Reischman to hear how a decent sustain works,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
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