Dolatar or Gitdola

**red7flag** · Aug-23-2017, 10:15am

While there are a lot of GOMs (Guitar shaped Octave Mandolins), really the only thing guitar about them is the range and the shape. My Nyberg mandola has a large body (we were shooting for a long scale and changed to short scale (my bad communication)). Rather than start all over with, I suggested attaching a shorter scale neck on the body Lawrence made. The end result is really cool. The body is more the size your would expect with an OM, with the playability of a short necked mandola. When I first looked at the dola, I wondered how it would sound. When I first noticed how light the instrument was. I was surprised. I think this is as a result of the paduak wood used on the back and sides (I am no wizard, but the weight, look (pattern not color) and tone is much like rosewood). From the first strum, this baby kicks, but in a way different from other mandolas I have played. It has the sustain of a guitar, with the tone of a dola. Plays like a dola with just a slight hold with the left hand fingers to make the tones round. When playing chords, the guitar sound comes to surface. It has a deep strong chordal feeling, more like a guitar than a dola, but due to the chord structures, you can tell it is not a guitar. If I sound confused, I am. What I have is a guitar - mandola hybrid. At first I was concerned that the big body would hurt the volume and tone. This has not been the case. Lawrence made me something different, which is what I wanted, but I did not really imagine this hybrid in the beginning. I have not had problem playing with others (lots of looks different and wow sounds great) and has now become my instrument of choice playing around the home.

**bratsche** · Aug-23-2017, 11:46am

Ooooh, sounds nice, and interesting! What scale length? I look forward to pictures and sound samples. ;-)

bratsche

**red7flag** · Aug-23-2017, 12:00pm

bratche,
Short mandola scale, 17 inches. Due to an unexpected work situation, the studio is closed. When we reopen, I will record something for you guys. First are pictures alone. Next post will be pictures with my Girouard mandola so you can compare.

**red7flag** · Aug-23-2017, 12:02pm

These with Girouard.

**bratsche** · Aug-23-2017, 12:13pm

Very nice! The padauk looks lovely. Is that ebony binding? Can't wait to hear its voice! Is it tuned CGDA or GDAE? It's a little odd to hear 17 inches referred to as a short scale for a mandola, at least on this side of the pond.

bratsche

**OneChordTrick** · Aug-23-2017, 12:45pm

Short for an Octave Mandola, but long I'd say for a Tenor.

But then I'm on the right side of the pond

**red7flag** · Aug-23-2017, 12:49pm

bratche,
CGDA. Lawrence is from British Columbia and is from the Stefan Sobell school as you maybe able to tell with the onion shape. He offers two lengths for mandolas 17 short 20 long, with the long having the larger body size like mine. In the beginning, I would have ordered the smaller body, now I am very pleased with the larger body and would not change if I could.
Here is a link to his website:http://www.nyberginstruments.com/man...carvedtop.html

**red7flag** · Aug-25-2017, 8:39am

As the name of the thread indicates, I am somewhat unsure of the identity of my new Nyberg. When I first got it, I tried playing grass with somewhat mixed results. Then, I tried Irish and gypsy tunes that I had written and the Nyberg seemed a bit more comfortable, but not at home. Yesterday, in Barbara Shultz's Song a Week Group, Gelsenbury posted a group, Harkatren Leikarit with an instrument looking and sounding like mine, sounding great, playing Renaissance music. Out of the blue, last night, my wife said the Nyberg looked like an English folk instrument. This morning, I played "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and "Garryowen" and the result was pretty positive. Then, I thought of Greensleeves. I worked out an arrangement in Am and boom the Nyberg was at home. Guess I better get out my John Renbourn and Fairport Convention CDs out.

**Matt Harris** · Sep-04-2017, 5:16pm

Here's the 'gitdola' that I'm working on. The scale is 17", body depth is 1.75". Curious to see how it sounds once it's all said and done. I'm actually a little further along than this picture, in the middle of binding the top now. Unfortunately I'm also in the middle of a move, and between that and all the projects for the new house it's going to be a while before I'm able to finish it.

Would love to hear a sound file of yours, if you're able!