2008 Randy Wood Resonator Mandocello

[gweetarpicker]

The week’s unusual instrument is a 2008 Randy Wood Resonator Mandocello. I've been posting a series of rare “vintage instruments of the week” video links in the vintage forum but figured the thread for this modern instrument would be better here. Cool mandocello with a four string 23” scale bolt on neck, high ratio planet style tuners, and a cut away body.

https://youtu.be/Q7QA5RLrbFg

www.vintagefrettedinstruments.com

[gweetarpicker]

some photos too..


www.vintagefrettedinstruments.com

[Steve Sorensen]

Really cool. Would love to hear some sound.

Steve

[StuartE]

Matthew shared the link, but didn't embed it. So here it is.

[Grommet]

Beautiful instrument, and nicely played. When you said 23" scale and 4 string neck i thought How is that different than a tenor, but the video tells the tale. It has a much lower tone and very haunting timbre to it.
iit'

Scott

[gweetarpicker]

Yeah tenor guitar scale length is typically between 20 3/4" and 23" while mandocello scale length is typically between 22 1/2" and 25 3/4" And of course, the mandocello is tuned an octave lower than the tenor. The scale length of the Randy Wood is on the shorter side for a mandocello which kind of made the string selection a bit more challenging. For the video, I used a Thomastik AC .061 bronze for the C string and regular phosphor bronze .044W, .032W and .020W for the G,D and A. I suppose the instrument could be set up as a longer scale tenor but the intent was to create a mandocello.


www.vintagefrettedinstruments.com