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Thread: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such things?

  1. #1
    Registered User steve V. johnson's Avatar
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    Default 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such things?

    Hi folk,

    I have this recurring, sort of nagging thought about a five-course mandofamily thingy,
    probably tuned CGDAE and strung in unisons, with a scale length of 20-22".

    Once a long while ago there were discussions of five-course mandolins here, and a good deal of talk about intonation and fanned frets. Interesting stuff.

    Are there builders who have done this, players who use these now, since all that talk?

    Please tell me all about them?

    Thanks,
    stv
    steve V. johnson

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    Registurd User pjlama's Avatar
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    PJ
    Stanley V5

  3. #3
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    I've got a 5 string Tenor Guitar tuned FCGDA, with a 22.75(ish) inch scale. Paul Lestock of Arrow Guitars & Major Fifth Instruments made it...

    Sounds great acoustically, and out this world as an electric with the floating Kent Armstrong Humbucker....All and all, it's pretty damn awesome.

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  4. #4

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    Phil Crump builds a short-scale Cittern, Steve. Richard Beard can build you a custom one. I have a Phil Crump C-III (an older one with a longer scale - 25 1/2"). I think you would do better with a long-scale to suit that tuning - the low C with the mandocello vibe... The short-scale citterns I have played - a Sobell amongst them - used lighter strings and tuned the low course up to D...

  5. #5
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    A 20"-22" scale and CGDAE tuning may not work very well together.
    That scale is too short for the low C of a mandocello based tuning.
    It is too long for the high E of a mandola based tuning.
    It may work for an octave mandolin based GDAEB tuning.

  6. #6
    Registered User zookster's Avatar
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    I built a 5 course octave with a 21 1/4" scale length (cedar/wenge) for a customer last year. I was very satisfied with the sound, although I had to use heavier gauge strings to compensate for the short scale. I used a .070 on the bottom C, which sounds massive, but was actually quite playable. Best of all, the customer was satisfied as well.

    Please contact me off line and we can discuss this.

  7. #7

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    I am sure this could be tuned CGDAE http://www.guitarmaker.ca/mscittern.html

  8. #8
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    The Thomas Buchanen cittern has a scale of 500 mm (~20"):
    http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/GX346...ttern-page.htm

    And Gordon from Oakwood (UK/Leeds) should be able to build a Cittern with a 54mm scale:
    http://www.oakwoodinstruments.co.uk/...ns/cittern.htm

    regards

  9. #9

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    My Morici five string tuned CGDAE.
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  10. #10

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    That's ultra-cool, Andrew.

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    Registered User Steve Davis's Avatar
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    http://octavemandolin.com/ Bob Abrams builds nice ones. (NFI)
    Steve Davis

    I should really be practicing instead of sitting in front of the computer.

  12. #12

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    That's ultra-cool, Andrew.
    Thanks Eddie. It really is a great mandolin. I was so fortunate that Tom was willing to build something a bit outside the box. Its about all I play anymore. It has a small removable panel on the back and I can adjust the neck angle with an allen wrench. Tom's a great builder and it was well worth the wait.

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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    That's gorgeous, Andrew. If it sounds half as good as it looks you've got yourself a winner.

    Paul

  14. #14
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    djweiss & Andrew;
    The instrument you have posted pics of here are beautiful! Congratulations.
    Are the tops and backs carved, or is the arch induced?
    Either way, these are Great looking Instruments!
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
    "What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
    "Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
    Think Hippie Thoughts...
    Gear: The Current Cast of Characters

  15. #15

    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    It is an induced arch. I must confess that did not pay as much attention to the topic as I should have. Mine has a 14.5" scale. I missed the 20" scale portion in the title.

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    Default Re: 20"-22" Scale, five courses, mando-body. Who builds such thi

    My Arrow Tenor is a carved archtop (and back). It's the big brother version of the Jazzbo 5 string mandolin...

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