Octave Mandolin #Neologism ?

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

Now, I'm organizing a vote, cause I'd like to create a new name (neologism) for that great instrument I'm gonna have delivered within few weeks now : my Coufleau Octave Mandolin ! When you tell people you're playing mandolin it's OK but if you say Octave mandolin, they generally don't catch it. So the idea is to invent a new name, shorter, that they really won't understand at all but this time, you'll know why !

What about "OCTALIN" or "MANDOCTAVE" ? I'm sure most of y'all will think that damned french man is crazy but ... you might be right #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #

Your help would be appreciated # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[John Flynn]

How about a "quattern" or a "bouzoukette?"

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

Great but now I need to find a translation in french for "quattern" #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Forget about "bouzoukette" since I forgot to mention that most of the people, when you try to compare an octave with a bouzouki, think you're playing a greek bouzouki and dancing like Anthony Quinn. Don't even try to explain about Irish Bouzouki ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Eugene]

Like it or not, the original name for such things was simply "mandola." #The Calace shop has taken to calling them "mandola in G" to differentiate them from the recent upstart mandola in C. #How 'bout mandole en sol.

[John Flynn]

Phil:

I hear you, but I think there is another way to look at this. The more obscure, unfathomable and exotic-sounding the name, perhaps the better. You just say something like "Quattern" and then give them a look like, "I can't believe you didn't know that!" Tell them it's an instrument originally from ancient France that has just been rediscoved and revived! Or go the other way and tell them it was invented it for an avante garde composer, but now its being mass marketed and its all the rage. You gotta have fun with this stuff!

[Eugene]

Amusing. "Quintern" is a real medieval ancestor of mandolin.

[Milan Christi]

You could call it a cittern - I've never seen a definitive explanation of what makes a cittern a cittern or what makes a bouzouki a bouzouki. Mine has eight strings, is tuned like an OM and the builder called it a cister. That's w-a-y too confusing for me since it sounds like "sister" and conjurs up all sorts of puns. I call mine a cittern cuz i usually play Irish-style music with it.

If you really want to get confused, go HERE (http://www.theaterofmusic.com/cittern/)

[Eugene]

I never really liked the use of "cittern" or "bouzouki" to describe flat mandolin relatives; there were perfectly good citterns and bouzoukis around before Mr. Sobell borrowed those names for his biggish mandolins. Rather than confusing, I think "The Renaissance Cittern Page" offers clarity in revealing what the cittern really is. Have a look at their tasty picture galleries.

[jmcgann]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Dolamon]

I don't know Phil - all the names are valid, but most are esoteric and incomprehensible outside of a very small (and not too select) circle of players. For various reasons which escape me at this time, I call all my mando family instruments "Walter". Except for my Waldzither which is of course, Leroy.

I seem to think I fell into this particular aberrant form of behaviour when I was conversing about big mandolins with a singularly obnoxious English immigrant in OZ. - After pummeling him both intellectually and finally physically for about an hour he gave in and called 'Uncle", who was named of course - Walter.

See - there is a logic to it and a tradition. It's just my rapidly deteriorating neurons which create the problem. Call em anything which suites you, it is going to be French so - make up your own melifluous word. I just wish I could quote John McGann ...

[PhilGE]

When people ask me about my OM, I often explain it as my "mandolin on steroids."

Therefore: # Mandroid # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

-Phil

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

A really great thing with this thread is that I am glad to belong to an international club of crazy people and it really makes me feel good #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #The idea of "Walters" & "Leroy" is really closed to get my vote (Dion, you're the guy !). So are "Mandroïd" & "Mandosterone" #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Milan Christi]

I agree about the validity of this thread. I was a bit intimidated to voice my relatively uninformed opinion but now I feel confident - I've also changed my mind entirely. My OM/Cister/Cittern/Mondo Mando was built by a luthier whose name is Remco - and that's what mine will now be called. Pretty soon ALL of you will want to add a Remco to your musical aresenal!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Sure glad I got mine before the new craze kicks in!

[mandolman]

Let fall down, Phillip.

I speak always about my "mandole", but all people call it a "mandoline" They just says

" ooooh, you've got a big mandolin, nice"
"no, it's a mandole or "octave mandolin"
" okay, okay, you can play a tune with your...mandolin ?"

[dane]

I agree with MC Gitarz's original notion that double course instrument with scale of 20" to 24" should be called a cittern. It can be 4- or 5-string, as can a mandola (15" - 20") or a bouzouki (24"+), and can be tuned any way a particular player chooses to tune it.

[danb]

I called mine a "10-string mandola" which had historical precedent in the USA from the aughts and teens. "Mando-viola" was another term used for this instrument.

Vega made several (not sure how many, but more than just a handful) of these.. Gibson made a few custom ones, including the Famous one played by Lloyd Loar (http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/show_mando.pl?65)

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/70321_mandoviola_momi_montage.jpg

[Lefty&French]

You could call it "Coufloctave" or "big mon'ster"...
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

Sehr gut mein freund !!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[jmcgann]

Johnny Cunningham (RIP) called it a Mandolin Before Taxes. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Mandolin-AL]

if asked what my Zouk is i just say a Mandolin on Steroids that usually shuts them up lol

Mandolin-AL http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[steve V. johnson]

When explaining to non-musicians I just call it a 'stretch mandolin'.

But I have learned, when traveling by air, or in airports, NEVER attempt to use the word "bouzouki". It can only come to pain and woe.

stv

[Ken Sager]

A dynalin is bigger and more powerful than a simple mandolin, as is the extralin, the hyperlin and my favorite, the megalin. The ultimate is the Theolin, but you have to be religious to go along with that one.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[danb]

CBOM (from Dave Bucher, luthier).. "Cittern, Bouzouki, Octave Mandolin"

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

A dynalin is bigger and more powerful than a simple mandolin, as is the extralin, the hyperlin and my favorite, the megalin. The ultimate is the Theolin, but you have to be religious to go along with that one.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
TERRIFIC , I LOVE IT http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[burgundy boy]

Dear Phil
How about a typical french concept like "sévèrementburnoctavemando" ?

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

Dear Phil
How about a typical french concept like "sévèrementburnoctavemando" ?
Hard to understand for english speaking people but I got ya and a big howdy to Burgundy, the place for good wines ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif