I just happened across this brief youtube video thanks to their autosuggestion function. It's only a couple of years old and includes some interesting information. For one thing, it mentions plans by...
I just happened across this brief youtube video thanks to their autosuggestion function. It's only a couple of years old and includes some interesting information. For one thing, it mentions plans by...
I feel compelled to comment a bit on the content of this url. It states that "the [six-course mandolino] was no longer used after around 1740. Only recently has the Mandolino been revived."
This...
I've been away from the cafe for a few days so I missed this, but Eugene is correct. I'm pretty sure that they were playing Neapolitan mandolins. The mandolin came here from Italy by way of England,...
Neil notes that "Among the composers [Gualdo] played was Emanuele Barbella." Barbella often designated his works for "violino o mandolino," and his music was written for and certainly fits the...
It took a good long while and more wheeling and dealing (and spousal apologizing) than I've ever done, but I've managed to put together a full Lyon & Healy Quartet.
All are player grade - the...
Yes we have all heard our heroes, Chris Thile, Jacob Reuven, Avi Avital, etc., but lets not forget to include one of my all time favorites Carlo Aonzo. And if he doesn't inspire one to play a bowl,...
Thanks for expressing that idea so well, Joe!
Bowls are extremely fun. I play a Washburn bowlback, circa turn of the last century. Very loud, without sacrificing scintillating tone. It only plays delicate if you back off a bit.
I use it is...
I have plenty of bowlbacks due to my self inflicted research project a decade or so, wanting to separate the wheat from the chaff, the jewels from the junk. I have never noticed overall that...
+1 on what David said. Basically you need to think of these as completely different animals that happen to be tuned like a mandolin ;) If you can source a quality one - and the US made bowls,...
I've never had access issues on any bowlback.
As for wide fingerboards, all the better!
Many Roman style bowlbacks have a narrow fingerboard.
It takes time to get used to the rounded...
Robin Rapuzzi's Glo Worms playing Tesoro Mio in Vaughan's Lounge, New Orleans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bTTkVaJFCQ
https://youtu.be/bjaokeqDUQk
You can view the page at https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/content/993-Sheri-Mignano-Crawford-Chronicles-a-Great-Italian-Mandolinist-in-Game-of-Hearts-The-Life-of-Carlos-Curti?
...
I agree. It seems that most makers these days make oval hole hybrids with the longer neck access. I have played some Collings and I actually prefer the A-5 configuration. I searched for some time and...
And I like 'em no matter whether they're carved, have flat backs, or cylinder backs.
It's hard to go wrong with a good Gibson, carved L & H, Vega, Larson, or even the right Martin.
It's got to be a...
So an informal assessment of what makes a good mandolin tremolo seems to be falling into 2 opinion categories:
Those who prefer the Italian/European style, which has a faster tremolo speed, is...
Italian music is not just the classical side. Just saying...there's a lot of other Italian mandolin music that ranges from urban cafe music to rural folklore.
Who could be a better reincarnation of Homer and Jethro?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IUG0JqA7yc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkxH8br7u38
Fun Jethro Burns lick from C-Jam Blues on Homer and Jethro at the Country Club
Giovanni Gioviale
Thanks to all of you for mentioning the fact that the Italian style of mandolin playing requires a good tremolo.
You can't leave out the Italian players. They all mastered tremelo before they grew their adult teeth.
I can make a pretty educated guess as to which mandolin Jethro is playing on the Playing it straight album - Big Red. I took lessons from him in 1975 and as far as I could tell, he only owned that...
Oh my goodness! What great slice of history and Jethrology, chock full of insights into the brilliant artistry, craft, and business of Homer and Jethro. Also chill producing moments as they recount...