GOT MY MID-MO M-4 !

[Pacomax]

This is a very nice playing instrument! I can play a bunch of songs on it already. I found a good "cord instruction site" and learned 6 cords so far. D-A-G-Am-Em and Bm
Not much pickin yet, just a lot of strummin and singin' http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I have had one major problem, so far. My fingers are large and it's all but impossible to play a few cords, like Am & Em
I see that Mid-Mo also sells a wider neck version. If i'm not able to overcome this problem [I can nearly ply the cords with 1 finger on all 4 strings, but it muffles a bit]
do you think the {W} version would make the difference?
Out of curiosity, do other brands sell wider neck versions too? Thanks- I LOVE THIS THING!
One last question: I got this used, but it's nearly like new. It has 2 blonde lines which appear to be imperfections or discolorations on the fretboard. Is this common? See photos.

[Pacomax]

2nd photo of discoloration

[Rob Zamites]

I'm no luthier, but those appear to be wear marks from frequent use in those areas of the fingerboard. If it sounds good, and you're happy -- I say just play it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[arbarnhart]

I have pretty big fingers and originally thought I wanted a wider neck. It turned out to be something that I got used to. Don't make a hasty decision on that.

[ShaneJ]

Hi Chuck! Congrats on the new mando. The coloration in the fretboard just looks like different grain coloring in the wood. As long as it's not soft or something, you probably won't have any problem at all.

As for the minor chords, etc....your big fingers are actually a plus. For Am, when you fret the G and D strings on the 2nd fret each, just use your index finger to cover both strings instead of trying to get two fingers in there. I can do that without laying the finger down like I do on guitar barre chords - just use the last joint of the index finger (not so much just the finger tip). You can then use the middle finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. The E string can either be played open or with the ring finger on the 5th fret. Actually, if you play the A and E strings open along with 2nd fret for the top two strings, it'll pass for either A or Am since you're playing A's and E's only without the 3rd tone that differentiates between the major and minor (flatted 3rd).

Anyway, I hope that helps. Use one finger to cover two strings (two pairs) whenever you can. Sam Bush has his nut slotted so that every string is evenly spaced and there are no "pairs" separated. I presume this is so that it is easier to cover multiple strings with one finger. Maybe he has a different reason for liking it that way, but that's my speculation.

[ab4usa]

Chuck,

I think that the fret board wood probably has some streaks in it but it isn't anything to worry about. As to chords, you will find that there are several different ways to play the same chord. For example the Am and Em chords can be fretted with a bar and one finger on the e string if you don't strum the G string. Em bar the 2nd fret and fret the e string at the 4th. Am, same shape bar 7, E string at 9.

[Pacomax]

I'm listening! You have my attention! Oh, and SJennings I sat here and tried your suggestions and they work very well! TELL ME MORE,MORE,MORE!! This little bugger is fun!!![B]http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Pacomax]

Chuck,

I think that the fret board wood probably has some streaks in it but it isn't anything to worry about. #As to chords, you will find that there are several different ways to play the same chord. #For example the Am and Em chords can be fretted with a bar and one finger on the e string if you don't strum the G string. #Em bar the 2nd fret and fret the e string at the 4th. #Am, same shape bar 7, E string at 9.
Just tried your suggestion and it's all coming together ! It's clickin' right in there! And I was afraid I was too old [57] to learn a new instrument![B] http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
I looked the fretboard over with a magnifying glass and it is almost certainly a colored woodgrain. I though it was 2 seperate discolorations, but under a mag glass I see it runs full length and only parts of it are noticeable.
I paid $375.00 shipped for this M-4 and when I talked to the seller about the discolorations, he was amazing! He VOLUNTEERED to give me $50.00 back and Paypaled it right to me!! Such integrity has become somewhat unusual in todays world! He just said he'd never even noticed it, or he would have mentioned it. His name is Steve Gilford in Arizona. If you ever have opportunity to do a deal with him, he is an honest man! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[357mag]

Chuck, I feel your joy. Getting a new/used mando is great satisfying fun. Congrats! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ShaneJ]

OK, you asked for it. Go to Mandozine (http://www.mandozine.com/music/zipfiles.php) and download ALL of the TablEdit files. Go to TablEdit.com (http://www.tabledit.com/?AfID=19329) and download either the paid version or the free viewer program. Then pick out a familiar song from the tab files in TablEdit and play along with it. Also, print out the Aonzo Family Scales and scales in G, A & D (to start with). The double stop exercises are good as well. Play the Aonzo scales and the G, A, & D scales twice each every day along with whatever tune(s) you want to learn.

[Pacomax]

OK, you asked for it. #Go to Mandozine (http://www.mandozine.com/music/zipfiles.php) and download ALL of the TablEdit files. #Go to TablEdit.com (http://www.tabledit.com/?AfID=19329) and download either the paid version or the free viewer program. #Then pick out a familiar song from the tab files in TablEdit and play along with it. #Also, print out the Aonzo Family Scales and scales in G, A & D (to start with). #The double stop exercises are good as well. #Play the Aonzo scales and the G, A, & D scales twice each every day along with whatever tune(s) you want to learn.
YES I DID! [B] http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif And I just put shortcuts to both sites you gave me on my computer! I'm gonna go eat dinner and then get to it and do it!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[8ch(pl)]

I paid $350US for my M-4, 5 years ago, so you did well. You may be able to put some ebony wood stain over the brown streaks. If you use a Q-tip you can keep it real localised.

Practise will bring about the chords. Also, if you see an E chord (for instance) that uses all 4 strings, it will be an F chord 2 frets further up the neck. I recommend a book by Alfred Publishing Co. called Mandolin Chord Dictionary. It shows the normal 2 and 3 finger chords, but also shows 4 finger chords that can be played right up the neck and explains what those chords are at each fret from 1 to 12. This system covers Major, Minor, Seventh, minor seventh etc., all the important chords.

Good picking with the new mandolin. I love mine.

[groveland]

Chords? Here...How to build just about every chord there is from scratch on the mandolin... (http://www.grovelandsoftwarelabs.com/modeexplorerweb/home/lessons/mandolin/chords.aspx)

[fatt-dad]

pacomax, If the photo is close to right it looks like you may want to change the strings in the near future also. Now you will really have something else to rumenate over, light gauge, heavy gauge, flatwound, monel, GHS, etc., etc. . . .

I have big fingers too and rarely have a problem with neck width (unless it's abnormally narrow - like 1 in). It's a matter of getting used to it. BTW, the advice on the tabedit viewer and the tabedit files is spot on. You can really learn alot about playing the mandolin through these resources.

fatt-dad

[jasona]

The big finger issue might be helped if you angle your left hand slightly towards the tailpiece, like a violin, rather than perpendicular, like a guitar.

The discoloration, from your photo, looks like it *could* be a natural flaw in the ebony. Or are those fretboards rosewood (looks like ebony).

[Pacomax]

The big finger issue might be helped if you angle your left hand slightly towards the tailpiece, like a violin, rather than perpendicular, like a guitar.

The discoloration, from your photo, looks like it *could* be a natural flaw in the ebony. Or are those fretboards rosewood (looks like ebony).
Just tried your suggestion and yes, some angle did make it easier to use 2 fingers on the Am&Em cords. It is ebony. Thanks![B]

[JEStanek]

The mid mos all have ebony boards according to their site. From the builders page they recomend a black leather dye to help more uniformly color that area. Weber seems to make that kinda coloration a "Custom" feature http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif . I think it looks kinda cool. You may also enjoy a book called DELUXE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MANDOLIN CHORDS (http://www.elderly.com/books/items/02-98354.htm) from Elderly amongst other places. this Book shows many different ways to skin the chord cat.

Jamie

[Eric F.]

Paco, you are cracking me up. Your pleasure is inspiring. I feel your joy, too, man. Check out the two-finger chords on this Web site. They will sound great on your M-4 and your big fingers won't be an issue. And I agree with Fatt-dad that your strings look beat. Be sure to check with Mid-Mo about gauges before putting anything but light strings on there. There's a good thread on string changing on the Csfe right now. I like the technique shown on frets.com, but there are others.

Oh, I would't worry about the fretboard. It just gives it character.

[Coy Wylie]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif You guys have done it now. You've created another mando-junkie http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

It's all good, Paco. We've all been there. Happy pickin'

[Pacomax]

Paco, you are cracking me up. Your pleasure is inspiring. I feel your joy, too, man. Check out the two-finger chords on this Web site. They will sound great on your M-4 and your big fingers won't be an issue. And I agree with Fatt-dad that your strings look beat. Be sure to check with Mid-Mo about gauges before putting anything but light strings on there. There's a good thread on string changing on the Csfe right now. I like the technique shown on frets.com, but there are others.

Oh, I would't worry about the fretboard. It just gives it character.
Glad to share my excitement! My name is Chuck though, Paco is my birds name! [B] http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Max my dog!
The picture does make the strings appear bad, but I looked at them with a big magnifying glass and they don't look that way. I got a receipt with the M-4 from the seller, showing that he paid $75.00 for a setup and new strings on 8/15/05 How long do mando strings generally last? They sound great! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[ShaneJ]

If you play every day, your strings may start sounding a little dead after a month or so. If it hasn't been played much since August, you're probably fine for a while.

[muldoon]

[QUOTE] 8/15/05 How long do mando strings generally last? They sound great!

Well, if they sound great, that's what is important. You will probably instinctively know when it is time to change. Your strings will become non-responsive and will be difficult to keep in tune.

The J62's are very good light strings to put on your Mid-mo.

Congrats on your new mando, and BTW, I think the streak in your fretboard adds character to your instrument. Not everyone has one like yours. To me, thats a good thing.

Steve

[fiddler]

Hi Chuck,

Don't worry about age! I got my first mando at age 62. Now it's 2 years later and I'm playing on a level that I never thought I'd ever reach when I played guitar or violin. I love my M-4 and play it as often as I play my (much more expensive) Rigel Gypsy Q. Mid-Mo makes a great little mando!

[Michael H Geimer]

Congrats on the Mid-mo Chuck!

[sean808080]

i bought a mid-mo and love love love it. congrats on the good choice.

[Pacomax]

Thanks everyone! This M-4 sure is nice! I'm learning to play it very quickly [compared to what I was expecting!] I LOVE IT!!!![B]

[steve V. johnson]

Hi Chuck!

It sure is fun to check out your fun! #Thanks!

I had a Mid-Mo octave mandolin here once and it had a sort of a stripe, and I've had a couple other instruments (most notably a Fylde bouzouki) that had stripey ebony. #I kinda like it. #Not to worry.

As for wide fretboards, I'm kind of a crusader for them. I've bugged a bunch of folks about it, from Gibson on down... <GG> #A guitar and then a bouzouki player, I come to these little things from big things, and mandolining is sort of new to me. # I've played a wide Mid-Mo and I liked it a lot. # I've asked Rigel, and they'll go wide, Weber offeres a wide option. #Ken Ratcliff told me that Laura would make me a custom width neck. # Collings wouldn't make a wider one at all. #(I didn't try threatening them with more $$$... <GGG>) # A bunch of the European luthiers regularly make mandos a bit wider than the American/Loar/bluegrass standards. #I think a bunch of indie luthiers will go wide... Bill Bussman might, and I think that Chris Baird and that wonderful guy in Montreal (forgot the name) will, too. #Ya just have to ask those guys...

Enjoy!

stv

[Pacomax]

Thanks! I'm actually getting used to the small nech width already. I can play the Am and Em cords with 1 finger. You said you had a Mid-Mo octave mandolin? What is the difference?[B]

[JEStanek]

The octave will have a scale lenght of 22 instead of their mandolin scale length of 13 7/8. The tuning is still GDAE one octave lower than the mando. I love the tone on an octave. Real rich and belly rumbling. The mandola is CGDA one fifth below the mandolin with a 15 1/2 scale lenght (think violin-mandolin, viola-mandola, octave-??, Mandocello-violincello (an octave below mandola), mandoBass-double bass from highest pitch to lower).

Jamie

[VernBrekke]

The brown color in your fretboard appears to be the natural coloring of the ebony. Ebony can range from solid black to brown. When it has brown stripes, in black, it is often called “tiger-striped” ebony. The striping can be in wide bands or thin lines.

We have customers who specifically request tiger-striping on their fretboards and peghead veneers. We don’t charge extra for the tiger-striping, we just try to choose wood that will match for the fretboard and peghead and have the natural look that the customer wants.

The brown areas in ebony may be slightly softer and less dense than the black areas but should be fine on a fretboard for a long time. The color of yours appears to be fairly dark and should wear as well as any other ebony board.

The natural design on your fretboard makes your instrument completely unique. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Vern Brekke
Sound To Earth, Ltd.

[Pacomax]

Thanks Jamie and Vern [B] http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I appreciate you taking the time to be of help to me!!

[pelone]

Note to Groveland. Went to the site about constructing chords from scratch and was drawn to the section on building inversions. WOW---these diagrams would be helpfull in building a great offense for the Cowboys football team. KIS

[JEStanek]

My apologies to the fine folks at Weber for implying you had to pay extra for the tiger striped ebony boards. I do like the look of the raw wood on those stripey boards.
Jamie

[groveland]

WOW---these diagrams would be helpfull in building a great offense for the Cowboys football team.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif It's really, truly not as bad as it looks. I couldn't think of a better way to represent it. Take ANY chord shape, do that to it, voila: the next inversion.

[arbarnhart]

I have been trying to come up with inversion routines that are easier to remember. For example, if you shift the whole chord one string to the treble side, move up 5 frets except for the one you shifted off the E, which comes back onto the G 3 frets up from where it was. Depending on what you started with and where, that might not work as it potentially increases the spread, something your inversions don't do. But there are variations on the theme when you shift to the bass side, and both can be down rather than up - just a little math to figure it out. I am starting to believe the best thing (for me, for now) is to be aware of how to do a major chord rooted on each of the 4 strings and know what interval is on each string so you can adjust to do the variants. There is a downside - when I do this I play 7 chords with no 5 sometimes and stuff like that. But when playing with others and trying not to fall behind, it works pretty well. Double stops and crosspicking can be advanced techniques, but they can also give low intermediates like myself more time to finish getting the chord fretted. If you haven't got the chord when the beat comes, just play what ya got and try to add more before the next beat. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Rob Zamites]

Huh? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[mandochuck]

When I an old kay banjo rebuilt the builder showed me some streaked ebony which he said nobody wanted. I thought it looked good to put on my new fretless neck he was making for me. The streak that he put on ran from top to bottom...still like it...looks to me thats what you have....good buy on that mando...did he have any others...chuck

[Pacomax]

When I an old kay banjo rebuilt the builder showed me some streaked ebony which he said nobody wanted. #I thought it looked good to put on my new fretless neck he was making for me. #The streak that he put on ran from top to bottom...still like it...looks to me thats what you have....good buy on that mando...did he have any others...chuck
It doesn't bother me a bit! I was just wondering if it would affect it's resale value negatively[B]

[mandochuck]

pacomax I think that would lay with the buyer. For myself it wouldnt bother me a bit. I like the striped ebony. You have a good buy enjoy it...chuck http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Pacomax]

pacomax I think that would lay with the buyer. #For myself it wouldnt bother me a bit. #I like the striped ebony. #You have a good buy enjoy it...chuck #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
[B]Ya, that's why I asked. To see if it was a negative thing or not. It appears that it's just fine! It didn't bother me. As I said, my only concern was resale value, if I ever upgraded.