Bandolim from Switzerland

[Michael Wolf]

This is my Bandolim made by Jon Piguet (http://www.piguetguitars.com/) in Switzerland. Unfortunately he´s not building anymore. It´s really a fabulous instrument. It is suited for many styles, Choro aswell as irish tunes and oldtime. It is very responsive and has wonderful sustain and tone. The sound is airy and also loud and full.

[Brandon Flynn]

Very Nice! I really want to play a bandolim someday.

[Bruce Clausen]

Lovely! Congratulations, Michael. I hope you'll let us all hear it soon.

Bruce

[Larry S Sherman]

Very nice. My friend has something quite similar, not sure of the maker, but Swiss also.

[Jake Wildwood]

Beautiful instrument. Lovely lines, no?

[Michael Wolf]

Thanks very much for your comments. I will post some soundfiles in the next few days.
I´m beginning to like flattop mandos. This one is the complete opposite of my A5, but I can play everything on it nonetheless. The things that I´m mostly interested in (Choro and Irish Tunes) seem to work significantly better than on my archtops, also compared to my A4. It´s also nothing quieter than the archtops. I´d say it cuts through in another way.
I made my first choro rehearsal with this one this week (with clarinet) and my impression was that I and also my band mates could hear the mando better than with my A5. They also liked the sound much better. They know nothing about Bluegrass or something, so they don´t expect archtop-sound anyway and the flattop sounds much more authentic for Choro.
But the most important thing is that this kind of mando supports this playing-style quite a bit more. I can play the choros more effortlessly now and that´s a great experience. I guess it´s the sustain and the sweetness of the tone, also the overall ligthness of the instrument. Tremolo works nice.
I can´t use my Blue Chip on this mando.:) It´s to filigree for heavy plecs. But that´s nice, I now use my Claytons again and don´t have to watch after my plec all the time on the session.

[Jake Wildwood]

Hmm a flat-top convert. ;)

I've always been a flat-top fan. You get used to the woody sweet and bright tone real quick!

[JEStanek]

Very nice, indeed, Micheal.

Jamie

[Bruce Clausen]

To my mind the flat top instrument (whether Brazilian or Celtic style) is much more versatile than the carved; it's a rich clear sound that suits choro, musette, classical, and almost all folk music styles. I think of the sound as riding above the other instruments in the ensemble, instead of punching through the middle; and I find the tone more flexible and expressive. But the f-hole carved mandolin has great "penetration", which you sometimes need-- there's a good reason no one played flat top guitar in the old big bands.

Looking forward to your clips, Michael.

Bruce

[labraid]

I'd agree with you Bruce. You can't exactly strum a carved top and get a nice floating-down-the-mississippi-on-a-log-raft, relaxed summer day sound. But you can do that on a flattie, and solo pick as well..

Nice looking octave there Michael.

[Michael Wolf]

To my mind the flat top instrument (whether Brazilian or Celtic style) is much more versatile.....

Yes Bruce, I agree, it´s the same for me in the moment. The archtops are still nice, but it´s to much fun to play the flattop.


there's a good reason no one played flat top guitar in the old big bands.

Except in Europe, where they also played the Maccaferri flattops, like Eddie Freeman.

Hello Brian,

with octave do you mean the reso-tenor? It´s a Canticleer made by Patrick Arbuthnot from Norfolk.


I think that the Piguet is not a entire authentic bandolim, since it´s X-braced whereas bandolims seem to have lateral bracing normally and may sound a bit different. As far as I know Jon wanted to create a versatile mando suited for several styles, but with brazilian impact.
Here are some soundsamples with the Piguet:

[Bruce Clausen]

Lovely sound and nice playing, Michael! Nice to hear Pacoca. Everyone knows it here in Vancouver, as both Celso Machado and John Reischman are here. But As Rosas are Eu Quero are new ones to me, and beautifully played by you. Proezas is a handful, no? Nice guitar playing too. (But everything goes better with pandeiro. ;) )

Bruce

[Michael Wolf]

Thanks for your nice comment Bruce. I really appreciate it, though my answer is late.
I knew that you´d enjoy to hear Pacoca, because of the Vancouver-connection.:grin:
Oh yes, Proezas. I´ve to add that we two are not playing together very often and we only made one take per tune. She didn´t know that I plan to put out these files. This is a tune we´ll have to work on, it´s one of my favorites.
You´re absolute right about the Pandeiro. I´m already on the hunt for a pandeiro player, but they are a rare species over here. We are putting together a new band in the moment. I´ve just found a new clarinet player, so the Pandeiro shouldn´t be to far away.