1 Attachment(s)
New to me JL Smith 5 string
Just wanted to share my new axe - meet "Stella"!
Attachment 171322
I've been wanting a 5 string e-mando for some time, mostly to not drive my wife crazy but also because I love the options with the lower register. Combined with my little mini Vox "Clean" headphone amp, I am in heaven.
Thanks Mr. Smith and to Rance in the classifieds.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
I like that look. Congratulations. You'll have a bunch of fun.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
If I'm not mistaken, I believe I used to own that mandolin. I think that's the one I did a review of for Emando.com years ago. It was a sweet mandolin. I've had 4 of John's mandolins, and they were all wonderful. I still have one. Enjoy!
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chief
If I'm not mistaken, I believe I used to own that mandolin. I think that's the one I did a review of for Emando.com years ago. It was a sweet mandolin. I've had 4 of John's mandolins, and they were all wonderful. I still have one. Enjoy!
What a trip! We were just in Duluth for the first time for a wedding last month. Nice place.
What year is the mandolin? Do you know what kind of wood it is?
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
I did the review 10 years ago, if indeed that is the same instrument, so it's at least 10 years old. I believe it was new when I got it. You could probably check J L Smiths website for more information on type of wood, etc. You hit Duluth at the best time of year. Nice weather and lots of stuff going on in summer. The music scene is pretty happening here. Don't know if you caught any live music. I actually played on a tourist boat this summer. That was a fun gig. Anyway, enjoy your new mando.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Yep. Total convert here. It took me while to find the conceptual paths to make the best sense and use of a 5 course instrument, but once I got there it felt good.
JL Smith got a write up in Vintage Guitar some years ago as well. He makes nice instruments.
Enjoy!
Daniel
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
mtndan, Glad you like my work, and hope you enjoy it. I built that one for Steve (Chief) in 2009. The serial number is #09-2009, which means the 9th one built in 2009. Steve did a real nice review of it.
john
www.jlsmithmandolins.com
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Poplar body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. Just thought I'd add that.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mtndan
Just wanted to share my new axe - meet "Stella"!
Attachment 171322
I've been wanting a 5 string e-mando for some time, mostly to not drive my wife crazy but also because I love the options with the lower register. Combined with my little mini Vox "Clean" headphone amp, I am in heaven.
Thanks Mr. Smith and to Rance in the classifieds.
I use mine with a Vox Twin and a Vox Lead - both work great.
Enjoy!!
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Looks like a great mandolin! Enjoy.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
that's cool, congrats! I have been drooling for one of those for a while
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
So congrats also from my side!
You tuned the 5-string CGDAE like a mandoline plus a low C?
I am transforming a 20" electric guitar (for children normally ;-) )
into a 5-string CGDAE instrument tuned like a octave mandolin (one octave lower than your instrument).
All is fine with the upper 4 strings but the lowest string (C) is floppy and does not sound well
but I think with a thicker C-string I could have success! How thick does it have to be?
I calculated 0.069 inch. Can this be true?
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
Quote:
Originally Posted by
greeenhorn
So congrats also from my side!
You tuned the 5-string CGDAE like a mandoline plus a low C?
I am transforming a 20" electric guitar (for children normally ;-) )
into a 5-string CGDAE instrument tuned like a octave mandolin (one octave lower than your instrument).
All is fine with the upper 4 strings but the lowest string (C) is floppy and does not sound well
but I think with a thicker C-string I could have success! How thick does it have to be?
I calculated 0.069 inch. Can this be true?
My 20” five string has iirc a 74w on the C string I bought an eighth string electric guitar set Ernie Ball slinky’s. It was the only way I could find a string that gauge. Tension is ok but I am not 100% struck on tone it can be a bit thuddy.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
19" scale works for Eb Bb F C G D - capo at the second and you're at F C G D A E. Gauges I use are 8/11/17/30/46/56.
Re: New to me JL Smith 5 string
trhanks a lot. IN the meantime I bought a .068 and it works better than my 59 before. I am satisfied.
But I believe you that a .074 would be better! ;-)
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Thak you but I think that you have tuned it an octave higher than me ;-)