Inexpensive Mandocello?

**MikeEdgerton** · Jun-22-2012, 10:46am

NFI - Please note that this Maestro apparently has no connection to the Gibson brand of the same name:

8-string guitar

**allenhopkins** · Jun-22-2012, 10:54am

A mandocello/octave mandolin for $125? Seems incredibly cheap!

**Jim Garber** · Jun-22-2012, 11:04am

It could be worth a shot or may only be worth what you pay. I have dealt with that ebay dealer -- i bought three of their lightweight bowlback mandolin cases and those were worth the money. I have not bought any of their instruments.

It is funny, tho, they had an 8 string Ovation-looking thing but in the photo it looked like all 8 strings were equally spaced. I think they called it a mandocello. This time they have what looks like a mandocello but they call it a guitar.

**Bernie Daniel** · Jun-23-2012, 7:02am

I think it would be difficult to play -- the nut is guitar width and the courses are relatively widely spaced it appears. Still for that price one can not be too picky I guess. Too bad they did not show a close up of the headstock and nut.

**Jim Garber** · Jun-24-2012, 10:45am

Here is the Ovation mandocello clone.

Pictures of both.

**JabTooth** · Jul-19-2012, 6:42pm

Hi guys, first time posting. Saw this thread from a Google search about a week ago.

I'm a cellist whose been obsessed with mandocellos ever since I found out about them. But I'm also a poor college kid. Saw this one and couldn't pass up the price.

It is a mandocello, not an octave mandolin. The action is a little rough, neck a teensy bit warped, and the sound isn't spectacular, but for $160 total I can't complain. Gives me something to noodle with until I win the lottery and can afford a Gibson.

There's another one for sale from that seller if anyone else is interested in a dirt cheap mandocello.

**MikeEdgerton** · Jul-19-2012, 8:44pm

I think it's too big to be an octave. Check out the tunings for the various mandolin family instruments here in the glossary.

Oops, misunderstood the answer, not reading well tonight. Post a sound clip.

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jul-20-2012, 11:31am

Well, the Ovation MC-868 which is a custom build by Ovation is marketed as a Mandocello - and a very nice one it is too. The booklet that comes with it suggests that it can be tuned as an Octave Mandolin/Bouzouki using lighter strings and adjusting the relief on the neck to make up for the lower tension. I've never tried this.

**Jim Garber** · Jul-20-2012, 11:52am

Originally Posted by JabTooth

It is a mandocello, not an octave mandolin. The action is a little rough, neck a teensy bit warped, and the sound isn't spectacular, but for $160 total I can't complain. Gives me something to noodle with until I win the lottery and can afford a Gibson.

I see a truss rod cover... is it possible that there is an adjustable truss rod under there. Maybe you can fix that warpage with that?

Also, how does it sound thru an amp?

**JabTooth** · Jul-20-2012, 2:48pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

I see a truss rod cover... is it possible that there is an adjustable truss rod under there. Maybe you can fix that warpage with that?

Also, how does it sound thru an amp?

Sorry, forgot to specify. Yep, it has a truss rod. It doesn't have any problems that can't be remedied in some capacity, except for maybe it's overall sound.

I haven't played it through an amp, as it's acoustic and I don't have a mic.

I'm planning on getting some bigger gauged strings for it, maybe an Eastman set. The strings on it now are very cheap and thin.

The strings are also each tuned an octave above my cello strings respectively, and I can't tell if that's normal. I tried tuning them down so that they matched the tone, but it was impossible to do without losing all string tension.

Watching Mike Marshall play his mandocello was when I realized that all my strings are an octave higher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAMe9pZwogY

**Jim Garber** · Jul-20-2012, 4:21pm

I have a feeling that it was meant to be an octave mandolin at least with the strings provided. An octave above a cello would be alto mandola CGDA.

What is the scale length? That might give us some clue. You might be careful with mandocello strings. Who knows what it was originally intended for. You might have someone check out the gauges on there. Mandocello strings are pretty hefty gauged.

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-20-2012, 4:28pm

Originally Posted by JabTooth

Sorry, forgot to specify. Yep, it has a truss rod. It doesn't have any problems that can't be remedied in some capacity, except for maybe it's overall sound.

I haven't played it through an amp, as it's acoustic and I don't have a mic.

I'm planning on getting some bigger gauged strings for it, maybe an Eastman set. The strings on it now are very cheap and thin.

The strings are also each tuned an octave above my cello strings respectively, and I can't tell if that's normal. I tried tuning them down so that they matched the tone, but it was impossible to do without losing all string tension.

Watching Mike Marshall play his mandocello was when I realized that all my strings are an octave higher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAMe9pZwogY

Yes for sure that instrument is tuned like a mandola (viola) then.

I would buy a set of D'Addario J78's (circa $11 to 13) -- they are the cheapest quality strings for an Mcello.

When you put them on be aware that tuned up they will make around 280 - 290 lbs total tension (tuners to tail piece) and the down vector of pressure on the bridge to top will be 45 - 50 lbs. So be careful tuning it up and then watch it closely for signs that the top is buckling. That may be why it had those lighter gauge strings on it in the first place. Good luck -- you sure got a mandocello for a great price!

**Jim Garber** · Jul-20-2012, 4:39pm

One other possibility would be to put the mandocello strings on singly at first and see how it does and plays. if it was intended for much lighter strings, this might be a safe bet. Nothing wrong really with playing a 4 string mandocello esp since you are used to playing a cello. And besides you can amplify it (hopefully) if you really need the volume.

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-20-2012, 6:15pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

One other possibility would be to put the mandocello strings on singly at first and see how it does and plays. if it was intended for much lighter strings, this might be a safe bet. Nothing wrong really with playing a 4 string mandocello esp since you are used to playing a cello. And besides you can amplify it (hopefully) if you really need the volume.

Good idea!

**mrmando** · Jul-20-2012, 6:38pm

J78s won't do. Needs a ball-end set.

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jul-20-2012, 8:26pm

Ovation/Adamas make a ball-end equivalent of the J78 - but they're hard to find....

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-20-2012, 8:27pm

I had a dreadnought guitar that I converted to a mandocello and I used to add metal spools to the ends of J78s for it.

It was actually pretty easy (after a few trials and errors) to transfer the metal spools from old sets of guitar strings to the loops on the J78's. Just need a small vice grips to hold the loop and a small philips screw driver to twist the wire tight by turning the spool. Needs to be enough to hold but not so much as to break the loop!!!

Has the fret marker on the 9th fret instead of the 10th -- never seen that before!