Options for new mandocellos?

**Larry S Sherman** · Jan-24-2010, 7:48pm

I was wondering who folks might recommend for building a mandocello? I've checked out the Cafe list of builders, but what are you playing?

Due mostly to Mike Marshall I would prefer to order an F-Style rather than a guitar-shaped one, but I'm open to people's opinions of the best sounding instruments regardless of shape.

Thanks, Larry

**mrmando** · Jan-24-2010, 7:59pm

Best-sounding custom-built mandocello I've heard is a K5 by Fletcher Brock that now belongs to Petri Hakala.

There's a Santa Cruz Southerner that has had a couple of stints on eBay of late at $2600. That's an awful lot of mandocello for the money. I've played one and they are very, very impressive.

But I do not wish to give the impression that I'm dissatisfied with my Andersen. It's a marvelous instrument too.

**Don Grieser** · Jan-24-2010, 8:27pm

If I was going to order one, I'd get a Due mandocello from Joe Cleary (Campanella Strings) or a Lawrence Smart cello (K4 style). Right now I've got one of those Santa Cruz mandocellos and I'm very happy with it--big piano-like tone.

**Woody Turner** · Jan-24-2010, 10:58pm

Herb Taylor has an outstanding reputation here on this board and builds at very reasonable rates, although I have yet to get my hands on one of his cellos. Oh yeah, Dave Cohen also deserves serious consideration (do a search here to see a sample or two).

**John Flynn** · Jan-25-2010, 4:53am

Joe Mendel, who has been building great OMs, is currently building a mandocello for a member of the Cafe'. I was in his shop Saturday and it looks great. It is a flat-top A-mandolin style body, so basically an Irish bouzouki-looking instrument. I'm anxious to hear it when it's finished. He's great to deal with and his pricing is generally attractive.

**dj coffey** · Jan-25-2010, 8:52am

My new Weber Custom Vintage A arrives at my house this Friday. They do F models too.

Their turn around time on this instrument has been good. I ordered it mid-November.

**Walt** · Jan-25-2010, 4:23pm

Originally Posted by John Flynn

Joe Mendel, who has been building great OMs, is currently building a mandocello for a member of the Cafe'. I was in his shop Saturday and it looks great. It is a flat-top A-mandolin style body, so basically an Irish bouzouki-looking instrument. I'm anxious to hear it when it's finished. He's great to deal with and his pricing is generally attractive.

Joe Mendel is currently building this 'cello for me. It will have some modern improvements to the tradition mandocello: longer scale length, thinner neck, carbon fiber bracing, bolt-on neck, floating tailpiece. You can check out his octave mandolins here.

John- I'm jealous that you got to see the mandocello before I did

! If I wasn't 300 miles away, I would have probably already stopped by for a peak. I'm glad to hear that it's looking good.

**delsbrother** · Jan-25-2010, 4:37pm

Has anyone played one of the Maccaferri-styled Dellartes? I was under the impression that they made quite a few of them over the years, but I haven't seen one in the flesh.

**steve V. johnson** · Jan-25-2010, 7:20pm

Walt, congrats on your soon-to-be Joe Mendel 'cello.

What will be the scale length and nut width? And a -thinner- neck? Cool. Otherwise it'll be pretty much Joe's OM shape and look?

Thanks,

stv

**Jim Garber** · Jan-25-2010, 8:04pm

Originally Posted by delsbrother

Has anyone played one of the Maccaferri-styled Dellartes? I was under the impression that they made quite a few of them over the years, but I haven't seen one in the flesh.

I have a friend who plays that as his main mandocello and it is a nice playable and loud but nice sounding instrument.

**Walt** · Jan-25-2010, 10:57pm

Originally Posted by steve V. johnson

Walt, congrats on your soon-to-be Joe Mendel 'cello.

What will be the scale length and nut width? And a -thinner- neck? Cool. Otherwise it'll be pretty much Joe's OM shape and look?

Thanks,

stv

Thanks Steve,
The scale length will be 27" and the nut will be 1/8" thinner than the traditional gibson 'cellos. The neck will be reinforced with carbon fiber to allow for a thinner neck overall. It will be the same shape as the Octaves he's building right now. I saw one of his OM for sale online and liked its sleek and modern look. The back and sides will be maple instead of the cocobolo that I think he's using on his Octaves. I liked the way that his octave mandolins were sort of a cross between the design features of a flat-top and an arch-top, with the floating bridge and elevated fingerboard.
Walt

**Michael Wolf** · Jan-26-2010, 11:54am

Originally Posted by mrmando

Best-sounding custom-built mandocello I've heard is a K5 by Fletcher Brock that now belongs to Petri Hakala.

I´ve just received Petri Hakalas last solo CD "Trad" on which he plays this Brock Mandocello. It´s a wonderful CD with some splendid mando family sounds.

**Barb Friedland** · Jan-26-2010, 4:19pm

I was chatting with Dennis Vance of the Mandolin Store the other day. He may be ordering a D-hole jazz guitar body Mandocello from Weber. If it ends up sounding anything like the immense, rich sound of the D-hole Octar I just got from Dennis, it will be astounding.

**mandroid** · Jan-27-2010, 3:06pm

Have been checking out some of the Cello Banjo clips on you tube, a nice sound.
14" head , sells with classical guitar strings for a CGDA tuning .

http://www.goldtone.com/products/det...ignature-Model

It's a tempting purchase option.

**EdSherry** · Jan-27-2010, 6:55pm

Delsbrother, I have one of the DellArte 'cellos. Lovely box, excellent workmanship, great tone and playability. Much nicer than my Eastman 'cello, though a very different sound.

**delsbrother** · Jan-27-2010, 7:30pm

Originally Posted by EdSherry

Delsbrother, I have one of the DellArte 'cellos. Lovely box, excellent workmanship, great tone and playability. Much nicer than my Eastman 'cello, though a very different sound.

I keep looking at the one for sale online through Lark in the Morning in SF. Do you think it actually exists, or do you think it's an old ad that no one has bothered to remove?

I also find it hard to believe they have both the rosewood and maple models in stock..

**Greg Stec** · Jan-31-2010, 8:30pm

Originally Posted by delsbrother

Has anyone played one of the Maccaferri-styled Dellartes? I was under the impression that they made quite a few of them over the years, but I haven't seen one in the flesh.

Me and a friend of mine play in the Baltimore MO.
We swapped mandocellos some years back for a month.
I play a loaner from the orchestra, a Gibson K5.
His was a Dellarte.
First, the body is BIG. Bigger than the K5 which is based on the Gibson L5 guitar.
I'm just under six foot and had a some trouble with it.
I really had to extend/reach around and elevate the neck a bit more
than I was used to.
On the plus side, I loved the neck.
The Gibson has a non-radiused (say 'flat') fretboard.
The Dellarte neck reminded me of Fender Strat.
VERY smooth to me.
Sound was good, but couldn't compare with the K5.
My opinions, fwtw.
Greg

PS. Audie Ratliff in TN is building me a K4 clone. If the schedule holds, I'll have it in my hands late-spring or early-summer this year.

**Patrick Gunning** · Feb-01-2010, 1:21am

I'd go with Paul Lestock of Arrow mandolins and guitars, who builds killer archtop-guitar-style mandocellos. I got to play one a whole bunch at the 2006 Symposium and it was just a killer.

Fletcher Brock also builds amazing ones. Though for a couple grand more than Paul last time I checked (which was a while back).

**mandotopia** · Feb-02-2010, 12:34pm

I bought a Weber Tamarack#2. Every time I play it I am impressed with the playability and quality of workmanship. The sound is big, full and beautiful. I couldn't be happier. Someday, I want to get a Weber Bighorn mandocello. Weber is a quality outfit. Customer service and quality second to none.