Stringing a mandolin as a mandola?

[anchorman86]

I'm (hopefully!) stepping up to my 2nd mandolin fairly soon - looking at a few different options right now. I had assumed that I would sell off my Fender FM-52E once I get the new one, but then this idea occurred to me and I decided I had to ask...what would happen if I tried to string the Fender as a mandola? I know it most likely wouldn't have very good tone or intonation - but I wouldn't need it to necessarily. Are the fret lengths different enough to make this impossible - or would the tension cause total structural failure?

Thanks!

[JGWoods]

If you put on mandola strings I can guess at a few results:
1- the strings won't fit well in the notches at the nut, or bridge.
2- You will have to re set the intonation if you do manage to get the bigger strings settled in the grooves.
3- the shorter scale than a mandola means that if you tune to CGDA you will have low tension on the strings and it will probably sound poor, probably buzz and generally play poorly.
4- It probably won't hurt anything if you want to try it.

[Celtic Saguaro]

The distance between the frets is purely determined by the string length, so that won't be a problem. I have played a mandolin tuned down a few steps that worked out okay. #But, tuned all the way down to mandola range I would not expect the sound to be very satisfactory, even without all the string problems JGWoods already mentioned. It's liable to sound very thin and particularly weak in the bass.

[trevor]

You need std mandolin strings for the GDA and a 54 or 56 for the C. Obviously as they are the same GDA should work well. The C should be OK.. You can see my 10 string Capek mandola mandolin on my website. Its std mando scale tuned CGDAE. I love it...

[Perry]

I was just reading in a Kentucky fiddle tune book that many old time fiddlers tuned their fiddle as much as three half steps below A440. Though this is not a substitute for mandola
maybe it would scratch the itch to play a slightly deeper sounding instrument. This would only work in a solo context
unless you can transpose a step and a half on the fly http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[anchorman86]

Hmmm...this is becoming a very interesting possibility that I will most likely try if I do indeed upgrade to a new primary mandolin - if it doesn't work I can just throw a regular set back on there and sell the Fender.

Trevor - D'Addario makes a light mandola set with a 52 for the C, think that'd work?

[trevor]

Anchorman,
52 would be a bit light, remember the D'Addario set is designed for 16" scale, with a 14" scale, or there abouts, you need to go heavier.

[anchorman86]

Ahh, makes sense - I was thinking a lighter string would fit better on the bridge/nut and possibly reduce buzz...but I guess it would then need a lower tension to be tuned to C, so I need a thicker string that would be OK with a higher tension.

I noticed that most 'dola sets have wound As - I should probably use a wound A as well, right?

[Jim M.]

I made the switch with the D'Addario J76 and it worked fine for me, but I defer to Trevor's knowledge as he is the king of 10-string mando scale instruments.

Keep in mind that it's not just a matter of switching strings. You will need to re-slot your nut and saddle or the thicker strings will pop out of the slots when you pick. You should also raise the action a bit to keep the bigger strings off the fretboard. Then, if you want to go back to mando, you will need a new nut and saddle.

[trevor]

Anchorman,
Remember the GD&A are the same as before just moved over, not using a dola set because its a mando with the dola c added and the e taken away, becomes a dola but mando scale lenght.. if you see what I mean. To put it another way forget dola sets think mando - e + C. Slots at both ends will ideally need adjusting.

[mandroid]

I found D'Addario mandola string sets felt #too heavy for the mandola, but fine on the short
14" scale of my 4 string electric , in CGDA # #[and occasionally Bb,F,C,G..]
several folks , johnny gimble of bob wills band for one, use a 4 string in that manner.


Intonation for the C is the longest..naturally.

[jmcgann]

I wonder if there wouldn't be issues with string tension (i.e. auto-destruct) ? ? ?

[mandroid]

John,
It was an A style Fender 52 electric being spoken of , top isnt that delicate,
a laminate I believe. workmanship on neck joint is a separate issue..
my 4 string is set up, currently #with a 14 , #[nickel] w26,w40,w49,..
double course may suggest lighter , 24, 38, perhaps.
read somewhere that johnny gimble's #4 #were #11, w20, w30, w50.
on a gibby EM150, rewound [more than once] P90.

I see bannana's stocklist still has an EM 150 built as a 4 string originally.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[anchorman86]

Well, my new Rover RM-75 is on the way, so I tried stringing the Fender with a D'Addario Flattop Mandola C (.053, it was the thickest I could find) and a G, D and A from a set of Elixir mediums. I only put four strings on to reduce buzz. It's an interesting sound - certainly not a great sound, but it plays and the intonation is actually not all that bad. It's actually got kind of a tinny, old-timey charm to it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I think I'm gonna keep it this way for now - might experiment with putting the other four strings on and/or raising the action a bit.