View Full Version : What kind of mandola is this? (just checking to be 100% sure)
http://www.thomann.de/se/hora_mandola_m1088.htm
I'm guessing it's the normal kind (tuned to CGDA).. but I've heard about something called octave mandola too..
So, this is the normal one, right? (just want to be 100% sure before I buy)
Bill Snyder
May-10-2009, 6:20pm
That has a 15 13/16" scale length so I would expect it to be tuned cgda one fifth below a mandolin. I suspect that is what you mean when you refer to a "normal kind" mandola as that is what most of us US residents would call a mandola.
For a good description of the various mandolin family instruments you can check this page (http://www.mandolincafe.com/archives/howtotell.html) of the Mandolin Cafe Archives.
mrmando
May-10-2009, 6:31pm
In Europe it's called a "tenor mandola." A fellow in our orchestra is playing something very similar to this (his may indeed be a Hora instrument as well). Not a great instrument, but affordable, and no problem tuning it to CGDA.
If you're in Germany, I guess it's OK to order this. In the States, I would not recommend ordering a Hora instrument from Germany. Take the money you would have spent on overseas freight and put it into a better mandola, like a Trinity College, Flatiron pancake, or Mid-Missouri.
catmandu2
May-10-2009, 6:53pm
Dear Blip-
If you haven't yet ordered, I'd like to make a recommendation: The gentleman who makes these instruments http://www.orleansdulcimers.com/ Nils Caspersson, is of Swedish descent. Although he's in New York, USA presently, he likely has contacts and/or familiarity of builders or sources in Sweden where you may obtain a good instrument. Nils' instruments themselves are of excellent quality. I have one of his bouzoukis--it's a trad Irish design and sounds wonderful.
allenhopkins
May-10-2009, 7:29pm
Cat-2, how did you run across one of Nils' zouks? Isn't the one with the dog's picture inlaid into the headstock, is it? I saw that one for sale at Stutzman's Guitar Center (http://www.stutzmansguitarcenter.com/) here a while back. Nice sounding, but a gigundous neck, and the headstock was laid out so that some of the strings rubbed against the adjacent tuner posts.
I've been an admirer of Nils' dulcimers for years, but have only seen that one of his large-scale mandolin family instruments. I do concur that they'd be a step over a Hora -- probably in price as well as quality, however. Blip's been posting down in the CBOM forum, considering whether to get a better mandolin or "go large" with a lower-pitched instrument.
catmandu2
May-10-2009, 7:35pm
It is the one with the dog head inlay...just right for me, and my five dogs lol! Yes, the neck is gigorgeous, like my upright! No such tuner problems, however.. It was for sale here on the cafe from someone back east. It sounds very good--loud and bright. Comparatively, my Hora had that harsh, raspy sound; and the TC was a heavy thunky clunker lacking volume and the crisp, articulated highs and mids. It sounds much closer to my Petersen, but brighter...and perhaps a little louder.
I just A/B the Caspersson with my Petersen. It's much louder, and brighter, and sweeter. A very different sounding instrument altogther. It's about 10-15 years older than the Pete too..