4stringmania
Nov-14-2004, 10:03pm
I have been playing a Ryder solid body 4-string electric octave mandolin for a few months now and thought I would share some of my experiences. First a quick description: it has 2 humbucker pickups, Schaller tuners, an ebony fretboard and a simple solid body with sea foam green gloss finish. (picture below) I typically play through a Boss GT-6 guitar effects processor and a tube amp.
I play in a church worship band, mostly contemporary music with a pretty hard driving rock beat. I have found the octave mandolin to be a marvelously versatile instrument. Tuned GDAE, an octave below a standard mandolin, a simple one finger barre on the two low strings and a lot of distortion produces a marvelous heavy rumbling power chord that will go almost as low as a standard electric guitar. (Note: guitarists often drop the low string to D to be able to do the same thing on guitar.) Adding the two high strings with simple variations on the barre power chord gives a minor, minor 7, and 7th chords. The 5th's tuning is a real stretch on the low end of the fretboard for lead scales, but above about D on the low G string, scale based lead parts really scream if you flip the switch to the lead pickup.
Overall, I'm thrilled with this instrument. It's awesome and a great way to live out those rock and roll fantasies!
I play in a church worship band, mostly contemporary music with a pretty hard driving rock beat. I have found the octave mandolin to be a marvelously versatile instrument. Tuned GDAE, an octave below a standard mandolin, a simple one finger barre on the two low strings and a lot of distortion produces a marvelous heavy rumbling power chord that will go almost as low as a standard electric guitar. (Note: guitarists often drop the low string to D to be able to do the same thing on guitar.) Adding the two high strings with simple variations on the barre power chord gives a minor, minor 7, and 7th chords. The 5th's tuning is a real stretch on the low end of the fretboard for lead scales, but above about D on the low G string, scale based lead parts really scream if you flip the switch to the lead pickup.
Overall, I'm thrilled with this instrument. It's awesome and a great way to live out those rock and roll fantasies!