Giving up mandolin!?

[Rick Cadger]

Well, pretty much - at least, as far as playing in my band is concerned.

I've even put my <refererence to personal transaction in Classifieds deleted by Moderator to conform with Posting Guildelines> up for sale in the classifieds

I'm shifting focus more towards fiddle and tenor ukulele, as they seem to be more of what is needed in the band setting. I'm a beginner on both, but I do enjoy both of them about as much as I do mando.

I'm keeping one cheap mando for sessions when I visit Ireland, but overall it looks like I'm going to be moving away from it pretty much altogether. I'd love to keep playing regularly, but being a person of little talent I have to practise constantly at the instruments I do play, even to get to suck level. I just don't have the time to do three instruments.

Looking forward to new things, but not really completely happy at the moment.

Particularly sad to let the Bovier go, but I really need a decent tenor uke, and no way can afford it unless I sacrifice.

Wonder if I should see a loony doctor...

[billkilpatrick]

i'm familiar with cries for help ...

"DON'T JUMP!!! ..."

[Folkmusician.com]

No!!!!!

[woodwizard]

That is so sad........

[allenhopkins]

Glad you're keeping one -- "foot in the door" and all that. Many of us go through times of emphasizing other instruments, depending on where our musical paths lead. Pick up the "cheapo" every now and then, just to preserve the skills, and see what the future brings.

[Rick Cadger]

It's my own stupid fault for taking up more instruments than I have the competence to master. I just get myself into a panic about not having enough hours in the day. Gets to the stage where while I am practising one instrument it is playing on my mind that I really must fit in practise on the others too...

I think that's a counter-productive state to get into. At least now the pressure will be off some in that respect.

Definitely keeping that foot in the door.

[GTG]

You know, if you're keeping your fingers in shape with the fiddle (same fingerings), and your right hand swift with the tenor uke (?), you should be in good shape for whenever you decide to get back into the mando. Actually, I know nothing about the tenor ukelele - is it picked with a plectrum? I dunno. Anyway, it would be worse if you were switching to the drums or bassoon or something. Keep the faith, brutha, you'll be ok.

[JeffD]

My experience has been that getting passionate about the fiddle gave me a jump start (later on) with my mandolin.

Its all good.

[journeybear]

Originally Posted by Rick Cadger

Particularly sad to let the Bovier go, but I really need a decent tenor uke, and no way can afford it unless I sacrifice.

Wonder if I should see a loony doctor...

Ummm ... I just went to your band's website, and I believe it's far too late for the loony doctor to have any ameliorating effect on your general well-being. If you guys are intent on covering "Radar Love" with your instrumentation - well, further commentary about mental health is just wasted effort. Further evidence is your desire to forgo the wonderful delightful magical mandolin for the sake of obtaining a "decent tenor uke," whatever that is. However, I am considering contacting your bandmates concerning staging an intervention.

All right, jocularity aside, I'm sorry you had to arrive at what surely must be a difficult decision. I understand if you feel your contribution to your band will be better served this way. I wish you had the resources to maintain ownership of both instruments, this and your prospective new one. Letting an instrument go is never easy, as one develops a relationship with such an inanimate object as though it were a living being, spending so much time, thought, and yes, love, devoted to it while playing. Also, consider this: there are already two guitars and a banjo in the band; swapping a mandolin for a lower-pitched tenor uke means your playing will be more submerged in the mid-range strumming. Perhaps a better solution would be to improve your pickup arrangement to be better heard.

Good luck and best wishes for your future! The nearly incoherent ramblings at your website display a cheerful insouciance, and if this is also your attitude you should be fine.

[JeffD]

Originally Posted by Rick Cadger

It's my own stupid fault for taking up more instruments than I have the competence to master. .

Can you enjoy it without mastering it?

I never want to be so good that I don't enjoy it, or so good that there's no fun way to get there.

[nate w]

I went thru something similar a few years back, during several years of intense mando study I had obtained both an upright andd electric bass, a fiddle and a b*#j@. I gave up mando completely burnt-out. But as my favorite author Robert Jordan writes "the wheel weaves were it wills" and the mandolin eventually came back to my hands, and now i know where my love truley is, i enjoy the mando now more than ever without concern over trying to be the greatest in the world.

Go were the music takes you, and make sure you enjoy it.

[Tim2723]

Nothing you said explains why you're selling your mandolin. It's paid for, it's doesn't eat, why sell it?

My current 'band' has been together for 15 years. Before that I was in a bunch of them that averaged about six months each, tops. What makes you think you're not going to need a mandolin in your next band? Life don't work that way. Keep the mandolin and work like hell in the band. Then the next one. Then the next one. No matter what happens somewhere down the road, you're going to want your mandolin. What do you do when the call comes and you ain't got one? You gotta be able to pick up the phone son.

[stratman62]

Sacrifice the beater. Bands are like the bus, there is always another one. We can't see tomorrow
but we can enjoy today. Good luck.

[Bill Snyder]

If you need a good tenor uke it makes sense to me to sell the mandolin. Like you say, you still have the beater and you can always purchase another good mandolin later.
I would not sweat it.

[neal]

I have to practise constantly at the instruments I do play, even to get to suck level.

That made me smile...

You can find a decent used Pono tenor with a p/u for around 400 usually. Those are good ukes. I've had a bunch.

[Rick Cadger]

.
@Tim: It's the need to fund the new instrument, mate. The beater wouldn't raise enough for a set of strings...

Originally Posted by neal

That made me smile...

You can find a decent used Pono tenor with a p/u for around 400 usually. Those are good ukes. I've had a bunch.

Yeah, my current shortlist consists of a Pono PTO or a Solid mahogany Kala that is also well thought of as a budget option. I won't be able to afford one with a pickup, but I have a decent pickup I can retrofit. Choice is limited because ukes are still not common in the UK (except the cheap Mahalo and Makala sopranos).

As for the pros/cons of the various instruments for the band, a friend of mine can fill in when we do need a bit of mando, but no one else plays fiddle at all. As for the uke, well, I tired of guitars years ago and I need something that will work as an accompaniment to vocals, and which lends itself to a jazz interlude we play while all three guitarists are out for their cigarette break.

Uke fingerpicks well, is versatile for different styles of music, small, light, portable and nice to play.

What's more, with a bit of an EQ tweak, the technique ukers call "chunk" is nearly indistinguishable from a good mando chop. ** Runs away from baying mob **

Journeybear: You're right - it is too late. Much too late.

[Rick Cadger]

Originally Posted by stratman62

[...] Bands are like the bus, there is always another one. [...]

Ah, someone who hasn't seen the website!

Nah, bands like this one come along very rarely. I started the band and I love it to bits. It's a unique experience for band members and audience alike!

Thanks for your good wishes.

[blacksmith]

Forget the loony doctor, see a sane one.

[crazymandolinist]

Have you considered a lower range mandolin like an octave or a 'zouk? Just a thought...

[Rick Cadger]

Originally Posted by crazymandolinist

Have you considered a lower range mandolin like an octave or a 'zouk? Just a thought...

And a good thought too, but I'm afraid I did already try octave and 'zouk. My small hands aren't really made for that scale length.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[mandroid]

maybe set up something 4 string, and maybe electric, tune and string it DGBE, CGDA GDAE , or what ever makes sense at the moment....

[Tim2723]

Rick, I didn't recognize you. Sorry.

[Bernie Daniel]

Rick Cadger: I have to practise constantly at the instruments I do play, even to get to suck level.

Rick I got to suck level very quickly and easily -- trouble is I can't be past it!

[neal]

Rick, do not discount those Kala ukes, they are pretty decent. I've played a few and they actually intonate up the neck! And they are cheaper than a Pono. Good luck from a uke player. I just bought a mandolin to get back into it.

[Lee Callicutt]

Originally Posted by Rick Cadger

but being a person of little talent I have to practise constantly at the instruments I do play, even to get to suck level.

We could start a club?