Can anyone tell me what this is called and who makes it?

[alex_tilley]

Hello All,

I'm brand new to the foum and this would be my first post. I've been playing mandolin for about 2 years now and love the sound of Tim O'Brien on this song and was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of "mandolin" he is playing and who makes them? I would call it a bouzouki-type instrument, but I can't seem to find anyone that makes one like this.

Thanks in advance for your help!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hl1YNvWzi0

[Steve Baker]

That would be his Nugget GOM. You can see it on his website: www.timobrien.com

Steve

[Brent Hutto]

I think it's called an "I Want One Of Those" but maybe that's not the technical term.

It's basically a guitar-shaped octave mandolin and a pretty long scale one, at that. Sounds to me like he might be using a drone tuning other than the usual GDAE mandolin-down-an-octave that is the default for OM's. Look up "GSOM" as an abbreviation. Something more like AEAE or GDGD, likely. Then again my ear is not very discerning for these things...I can barely noticed Drop-D tuning on a guitar...

[Ed Goist]

Hi Alex;
Welcome to the Cafe!
In the video, Tim O is playing an arch-top, Guitar-bodied Octave Mandolin made by Mike Kemnitzer (Nugget).
Here is a recent thread (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?72308-Tim-O-Brien-s-big-archtop) (linking to other threads) about it.
By the way, what a spectacular performance video! Tim O'Brien is one of the great musical talents of our time. Thanks for posting that video!

[Brent Hutto]

The solo show we saw Tim do about ten years ago in a small (140-seat) venue here in town was one of the best three or four musical evenings we've ever experienced. And he started off by saying he had a cold and wasn't sure his voice would hold out for the entire 90 minutes. I'd rather hear him sing on an off night than hear most singers on the best night of their career.

I particularly remember his doing the Dylan tune "Lay Down Your Weary Tune". Man, I get choked up a little just remembering it.

A lot of guys can play guitar (or 'zouk/OM) while they sing, of course. But he can play really fancy guitar parts while still giving his singing 110% intensity and emotion. What a musical soul he has.

[JeffD]

Per the comments to the video "It's an arch-top, guitar-bodied Octave Mandolin made by Mike Kemnitzer of Nugget Mandolins."

[Ivan Kelsall]

Alex - The other name for it is possibly 'a fortune tied up in wood'. Mike Kemnitzer's instruments are of the very highest order & priced accordingly. There are other makers of course,but mostly they are not the Guitar bodied style,but more like a true Bouzouki. Lots of YouTube clips of OM's,
Ivan;)

[mandobassman]

I have really been bitten by the Octave mandolin bug recently. I first became aware of it's beautiful tone in this Sarah Jarosz video. Her OM is made by Fletcher Brock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrkwZlKRHo

I started seeing some photos and articles about building one out of a small body guitar and did one myself recently. It's not the most beautiful workmanship in the world, but it sounds incredible. I had read somewhere that it's hard to make a bad sounding OM and I think it's true. This little guitar sounded lousy as a guitar but sounds angelic as a octave mandolin. Mine is a little longer scale than most OM's (23").
That Nugget of Tim O'Brien's is beautiful, as I would expect a Nugget to be.

[alex_tilley]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks so much for the responses. It's great to finally join this community after following it for so long. I really appreciate the feedback!

Best regards,

Alex

[alex_tilley]

Actually, one follow-up question: Does anyone know someone who makes Loar-style octave mandolins at in a reasonable price range ($2000 or less)?

Thanks!

[allenhopkins]

...Does anyone know someone who makes Loar-style octave mandolins at in a reasonable price range ($2000 or less)?...

Not sure what you mean by "Loar-style." If you mean F-models, scrolls and points, no. Michael Kelly used to make an "Octave Plus" mandolin, F-model, all solid woods, carved top and back; here's (http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/octave.html) a link. I think list on it was around $1.6K, but it's been discontinued; you might find a used one. Those who post in the "CBOM" forum (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?50-CBOM) (Cittern, Bouzouki, Octave Mandolin) didn't have too much good to say about the MK, but it was the only F-model octave I've seen in that price range.