Boat Paddle Mandolin [Archive] - Mandolin Cafe Forum

View Full Version : Boat Paddle Mandolin

delray48209

Sep-20-2012, 6:53pm

Just purchased a new Boat Paddle mandolin. It's a handmade mandolin made by Boat Paddle Ukuleles located in New Haven, Missouri. It features a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides. It's also strung with Aquila Nygut (nylon) strings. It's a very mellow sounding mandolin and very easy to play. I always wanted to learn how to play the mandolin but was turned off by the small nut width and high steel string setups. This thing is a dream to hear and play. An ideal beginners mandolin.

91708

Rodney Riley

Sep-22-2012, 6:57am

delray, did you special order your mando to be built? Do not see a mando listed on their web site. An M-style Boat Paddle Uke is at the top of my instrument bucket list. :) And if they can make a mando in that style....Oooooh (Sounds of an angelic praise chorus)

Jon Hall

Sep-23-2012, 8:27am

I've never heard of these instruments. Where is the sound hole?

Tracy Ballinger

Sep-23-2012, 8:44am

Where is the sound hole?

Looks like it's up at the neck joint.

Bill Snyder

Sep-23-2012, 11:24am

Jon, did you click on the thumbnail photo? If you do you will notice that the top stops short of the top of the body to make the soundhole.91836

Jake Wildwood

Sep-23-2012, 11:44am

That's what I'd call "economy of materials."

:)

Cool.

John Flynn

Sep-23-2012, 12:22pm

delray48209

Sep-23-2012, 1:14pm

I got to play two Boat Paddle mandolins at Music Folk in St. Louis earlier this year. One was the style shown in the OP and the other was built like the "M-Style" uke on the Boat Paddle website, only with 8 strings. I found them both delightful. Really easy to play, with a delicate, clear, warm tone, unlike any mandolin I've ever played. Great fit and finish too. I was sorely tempted to buy one. It would be great for classical playing, solo playing or in duo with a nylon string guitar.

I purchased the mandolin from Music Folk in St. Louis. It is one of which you played. I always wanted to learn the mandolin but was hesitant over the small fret board width and the rather taunt steel strings. When I spotted the Boat Paddles, all of my previous concerns vanished. The fret board is wider than standard and the nylon strings (Aquila M1 Mandolin Strings) certainly made playing easy and enjoyable. As referenced above, the mandolin does have a delicate, clear, warm tone. Since buying it this week, I can't put the thing down.

I contacted Jerry Hoffmann, owner and maker of Boat Paddle Ukuleles. Jerry said the mandolin I purchased, along with the other still at the store, are prototypes that he built. I assume if someone is interested in buying one, Jerry would build to order. He also said the mandolin is built to handle the nylon strings. It was not built to play with traditional strings. It is perhaps one of the most unique mandolins that I have seen.

Jon Hall

Sep-24-2012, 6:24am

Do you have a video or audio files?

delray48209

Sep-24-2012, 9:56am

Sorry, I don't have a video or audio file.

Do you have a video or audio files?

Marty Jacobson

Sep-24-2012, 10:50am

It's almost impossible to make an unpleasant-sounding nylon-string "mandolin". They are really mellow and clean sounding, though more like a bandurria than a mandolin, really. I have made some for kids so they could get a feeling for a real instrument, and been surprised at how much fun they are to play... not just a musical toy, which is what I designed mine to be.

Rodney Riley

Dec-21-2012, 5:49pm

Guys Guys!!!!!!! UPS dropped the M-style mandolin off at my door yesterday!!!!!!!!![/ My wife called Music Folk and had it delivered to me for my Birthday!!!! Havin a hard time deciding who to kiss first!!!

Rodney Riley

Dec-21-2012, 5:58pm

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boat-Paddle-Ukulele-Co/121559551254083#!/photo.php?fbid=206593752750662&set=a.150629818347056.38837.121559551254083&type=1&theater

The mando on Boat Paddle Ukelele's Facebook page... I'm not tech savvy enuff to just post the picture. Sorry :(

Bill Snyder

Dec-21-2012, 11:33pm

95603
This it Rodney?

Rodney Riley

Dec-22-2012, 9:41am

Yep. Wait till I can take pictures of the back. The flame has a 3-D look, it is sooooo deeeppp!!!

Rodney Riley

Jan-19-2013, 10:42pm

Couple of pics from my phone. Haven't got the ones my Granddaughter took yet.
97168
97172

ambrosepottie

Jan-22-2013, 1:03pm

There are a number of companies making 8 string ukuleles or taropatches as they used to be called. Depending on the scale they might be able to be tuned in 5ths.

John Flynn

Jan-22-2013, 1:09pm

There are a number of companies making 8 string ukuleles or taropatches as they used to be called. Depending on the scale they might be able to be tuned in 5ths.
One issue that might happen with that is intonation. I tried converting a 4 string uke to mando tuning and the intonation was way off, especially on the 4th string. I had to have a luthier make a new bridge to correct it. Other people here have reported no problems with intonation in tuning a uke like a mando, so I guess it depends on the instrument. I would imagine that with 8 strings, the problem could be even worse. I'm sure the Boat Paddle builder takes that in to account in his construction.

ambrosepottie

Jan-22-2013, 1:16pm

One issue that might happen with that is intonation. I tried converting a 4 string uke to mando tuning and the intonation was way off, especially on the 4th string. I had to have a luthier make a new bridge to correct it. Other people here have reported no problems with intonation in tuning a uke like a mando, so I guess it depends on the instrument. I would imagine that with 8 strings, the problem could be even worse. I'm sure the Boat Paddle builder takes that in to account in his construction.

I tune my baritone uke using the regular Aquila strings to 5ths in Bflat. It actually intonates better than it did when tuned DGBE. Most ukes have a straight saddle like a classical guitar and I've certainly heard some that play terribly out of tune. It may be that the longer scale of the baritone is more forgiving.