New Commodium mandola, the first. "Careless Love"

[Keith Cary]

I finished my first Commodium mandola last week and I'm pretty fired up about it. I have some control over the size of the resonating chamber by how high the cone is positioned so this instrument uses the full pan. It's loud but warm and doesn't fall apart on the low C string. Here it is playing Careless Love, played this morning in my living room. It has a 17.25" scale. The spoon tailpiece takes ball-end strings.

Here's the YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p8c2CrNd0Q

[JEStanek]

Sounds mighty fine.
0p8c2CrNd0Q


Jamie

[KanMando]

A fine addition to the Commodium line. This begs the question: Is there a Commodium mandocello in the works?

Bob

[Jill McAuley]

Sounds awesome!

Cheers,
Jill

[Keith Cary]

I'd have the same problem that I'd have with a Commodium guitar--- there doesn't seem to be an oversize bedpan out there. I've looked, phoned up the companies, so far no dice. I did make a Commodium guitar, and the customer liked it a lot, but I wanted more low end.

[Paul Busman]

Keith-- how does one get a Commodium? As a hospital OR nurse, I'd REALLY love one!

[Jim MacDaniel]

I'd have the same problem that I'd have with a Commodium guitar--- there doesn't seem to be an oversize bedpan out there...

Then I guess a Commodium mando-bass is out of the question.

Seriously though, nice work on the dola.

[Randolph]

Keith, Way cool sounding instrument. What about splitting the difference between mando and guitar and creating a 21" (or thereabouts) scale octave commodium? Just being able to tell folks that you play "octave commodium" is almost worth the price of admission.:grin: And, if the bottom end is ok at that scale length I bet it would sound pretty good.

[JEStanek]

Builder's website (http://keithcary.com/Keith%20Cary/Commodium.html).

Jamie

[Keith Cary]

Randolph, I've made one or two octave mando Commodiums, as well as a tenor 4-string and a 5-string. I and the customers have been very satisfied with the results. I'd certainly like to make more octave Commodiums. Octave mandos tend to be a little on the quiet side. Not so the Commodium octave mando-cannon.

[Keith Cary]

Paul, email me at kcary@dcn.org. I've built them for doctors and nurses before, and yes, I do have a small and clean supply of used bedpans. (though I have a large supply of new/old-stock, made in USA, bedpans.)

[F-2 Dave]

Keith, Way cool sounding instrument. What about splitting the difference between mando and guitar and creating a 21" (or thereabouts) scale octave commodium? Just being able to tell folks that you play "octave commodium" is almost worth the price of admission.:grin: And, if the bottom end is ok at that scale length I bet it would sound pretty good.

Cracks me up when people talk about the 'bottom end' on a commodium. Just sayin'.

Sound clip sounds really cool, BTW.

[bratsche]

Cracks me up when people talk about the 'bottom end' on a commodium. Just sayin'.

Sound clip sounds really cool, BTW.

The part that .. ehm, "cracks me up" (do I want to say that? :) ) is where he noted that "this instrument uses the full pan." :redface: :))

It does sound good (butt for the visual, that is... ) LOL - don't get me started.

bratsche

[jasonv]

Keith, great job, as usual! I guess I'm the proud owner of the sole tenor guitar Commodium. It hangs in my office with pride and everyone who comes in ends up picking it up. It usually takes them about 45 seconds to realize what the body is made from!

[Tracey]

Well I think that is very cool. As an old OR Tech, I didn't have to mess with bedpans much. Still.... One of these days I gotta get me either a Commodium or Octive Cammodium. Thanks for the update.

[Tracey]

I think what blows me away on these things, and makes owning one so attractive, is the weird mental side step you have to do to reconcile how good the instrument sounds, with the materials from which it is made. And the spoon tailpiece it just icing on the cake. Mr Cary, I raise my glass in salute to your craftsmanship and inguinity. When finances allow I plan to comission one of your fine instruments.

[Jim MacDaniel]

No ifs, ands, or butts, I want one of these.

[Ken Sager]

My grandfather once made a 6-string electric Gui-toilet out of a toilet seat. It sounded and played like crap, and I wish I knew whatever happened to it. True.