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View Full Version : Double-Neck Mandolin?



kalamazoo
Jul-12-2006, 9:01pm
I've been thinking about buying a mandolinola from Lark in the Morning (http://larkinthemorning.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_MAN129_A_Mandolinola_E_) It's a double-neck mandolin/octave mandolin made in Germany. I switch between regular and octave mandolin frequently when I play. It would be great to be able to jump from one neck to the other instead of unstrapping and swapping instruments - especially in mid-song. However, I'm struggling a bit with spending almost $3,000 on something that unusual sight unseen. Lark doesn't actually have the instrument - it's a special order instrument. I've held/played a couple of other instruments they say were made by the same builder, and they were pretty nice. Even so...

Does anyone out there have experience with this instrument or anything like it? How does it sound? Play? Feel? Does anyone know of any other options? #

Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

otterly2k
Jul-12-2006, 9:26pm
I don't have any experience with this instrument, or anything like it. I'd suggest seeing if you can find out who the maker is, and see if you can do any independent research on this instrument and the builder/company.

Lark In The Morning is a store that prides itself on carrying just about every instrument you've ever heard of. A lot of what they carry is on the cheap/cheaply made side. (I think they sell a lot to the curious but not serious musicians... so it makes sense, in a way). But they do carry some instruments of quality... and looking at their mandolins, they charge prices similar to other retailers for products that are similar (e.g. their Mid-Mo prices are about right, they carry the $100 octave mando and don't charge more for it).

This is an unusual instrument you're looking at.... I think you'll be hard pressed to find instruments to compare it with... but if you can find the builder/company, you might be able to ask for references or read testimonials.

Jacob
Jul-13-2006, 6:18am
I think that mandolinola (http://www.guriema.de/nrgk2002%20en.htm) is made by Guriema (http://www.guriema.de/englische.html).

kalamazoo
Jul-13-2006, 7:41am
Yes, that's it. This is the Lute (http://www.guriema.de/g432%20en.htm) that I played with at Larkin the AM. It seemed nicely made. I also played the mandolin version of this Octave mando (http://www.guriema.de/nr69b%20en.htm) while I was at Lark in the AM. I nearly bought it, but applied the "if you still want it when you get home you can order it" rule for anti-impulse buying. It was a nice, loud, playable instrument. However, my wife is strongly suggesting a one in - one out request for my instrument collection.

I found Lark in the Morning to have a mix of cheezy-cheap and higher end, more obscure instruments (which fits my own particular addictions pretty well). I own one of their $100 octave mandolins - actually, I bought a second for $40 or so, put a new tailpiece and bridge on it, did some fret filing, and it's a deecent, playable instrument. I really like the short scale length - I don't have to change my fingering patterns other than stretching.

kww
Jul-13-2006, 10:54am
I bought their tricordia recently (see sig). I'm happy with the quality as a beginner instrument, and don't think I could have done much better for the price.

The thing I like about them is their e-mail customer service. I hear really bad things about their counter service, but by e-mail, they connect you with someone that knows the instruments you are asking about and can answer pretty much anything you want to know. If you describe what kind of instrument you need, they will help you through their selection.

kalamazoo
Jul-18-2006, 6:36am
I found the counter service at Lark in the Morning in San Francisco to be OK. The store is pretty busy, so there's not a lot of time for personal attention, but with a little patience they were happy to pull out whatever instrument you wanted. There is something about holding and playing the instruments that can't be replaced by helpful email. On the other hand, every instrument I've bought from Lark has been via email/web.