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Thread: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

  1. #1
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Good idea or not?

    My wife isn’t as keen at listening to me play as I am to play. Would this be a good compromise?

    Obviously it would be slightly overheard and it wouldn’t sound the same but is there a major downside?

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    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Definitely. This is a good option as it has the best clean sound, but there are others with overdrive.



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    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I rarely plug my electric mandolin in and use it during quiet time. It's acoustic sound is loud enough for me to hear.

    The downside is you'd be practicing on something that is not your main instrument.

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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I have one of the things Roger linked to (branded Marshall) plus a more sophisticated unit from Electro Harmonix and they both sound rather bland compared to playing through an amp. I suppose that if I turned them up to hearing damage levels they might sound better but you might be safer using them with an old knackered set of headphones

    That said, there are various stomp boxes which offer headphone outputs and they're probably much better.

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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I did same for same reason but got the 4 string version. It played like small electric guitar. Would recommend the 8 string version

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    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I do this all the time, e.g. in hotel rooms or on the back porch, using my electric TG instead of the OM I normally play.
    The fun comes in with the headphone amp that can mimick tube amp compression.
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    The absolute best solution is have a separate outbuilding for music. I have what used to be an old garage that had a laundry room attached. The garage part was converted to an office. I used it as an office when I was working, built a workbench, and later a studio area. It is now just a man cave, and has I'm sure saved the wife's sanity.

    I find barely hearing something can be more irritating than normal volume to me.
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    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I play my electric one slot thru my Roland micro cube which has many different sounds and it has a headphone out , but I haven't tried it but it probably sounds good
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    This seems about right.. A solid body with magnetic pickups, and typically amps cut the speaker off
    when you use the headphone jack..

    A friend rebuilt his garage with a building inside the building , has a foot of dead air space between them

    2 doors per doorway 2 windows also separated by a foot...

    and then he could play his concert grand piano any hour of the day or night..


    the mandolin is a treble clef instrument, hanging drapes lining the walls will pretty well kill the highs. effectively

    Or go 'Hee-Haw' and line the place with egg cartons..


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    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Something like iRig which plugs into your phone and emulates amps effects etc is worthwhile. IRig is for iOS and there are options for android and home computers.
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I play my Mandobird IV through my Roland Cube 30 and occasionally my Mini Mustang practice amp with headphones. It’s great if you’re in another room, but they can create a surprising amount of acoustic noise if you’re sitting next to your wife and she’s trying to watch tv or listen to something else. Because of that, I’ve gotten scolded a few times for the acoustic noise. Great for hotel room practice or practice in another room, though. Also, with a small practice amp like the Mini Mustang, you can probably go to another room and forego the headphones but just keep the volume low.
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  22. #12

    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I find an 8-string electric mandolin is fine for practice without amplification, at least the Mandostrat is.
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    A friend rebuilt his garage with a building inside the building , has a foot of dead air space between them

    2 doors per doorway 2 windows also separated by a foot...
    Thing is, to do this right you'll have to have dead airspace above the floor and below the ceiling as well. Then you can play your upright bass - or you can't...

    And don't forget extra air supply, through silencer tubes.
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Thanks for all the tips. In no particular order:

    - I do have an outbuilding, a former stables. But that has no power or heating so whilst great on a summer day is a less practical on a long term basis. On the plus side the horses in the adjacent field don't seem to mind my playing!

    - I'll be playing in another room so the acoustic noise shouldn't be an issue.

    - Don't really have the space for an acoustically isolated room unfortunately.

    Anyway I've decided to take the plunge and narrowed it down to these:

    Harley Benton MA-500 VS Bluegrass Series https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbma500_sb.htm

    Revelation RTM https://www.reddogmusic.co.uk/catalo...yABEgK3AfD_BwE

    Clearwater https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/23247119299...0838148&crdt=0

    Any thoughts? I'm not expecting great things at this price point, I'll probably be the only person who hears it and it's for practice whilst maintaining marital harmony! On looks alone my favourite is the Revelation (because RED) but is it worth 50% more than the Harley Benton?

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    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    I love red but it's probably not worth 50% more, they all look like they may be made by the same company, I have an Eastwood telephone I really like
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Quote Originally Posted by darrylicshon View Post
    I love red but it's probably not worth 50% more, they all look like they may be made by the same company, I have an Eastwood telephone I really like
    That was my thought. Initial choice was between the Revelation and the Clearwater. Then at the last minute I found the Harley Benton. Apart from a different shaped headstock they appear identical so I ordered the Harley.

    That sounds quite good. "Was on my Harley the other day"

  30. #17
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    The red one is sweet. The only real issue I would have is that one is basswood and the other okune, both lightweight but quite soft, if that matters to you. It turned me against basswood guitars. I guess it comes down to how much more you think a red mandolin is worth.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    My thoughts FWIW.

    The electric mandolin is almost an entirely different instrument. I find that practicing on the mandostrat is certainly practice, and good practice, but I find that at a certain point, I need to practice on the mandolin that i am going to play the most.
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Moss View Post
    The red one is sweet. The only real issue I would have is that one is basswood and the other okune, both lightweight but quite soft, if that matters to you. It turned me against basswood guitars. I guess it comes down to how much more you think a red mandolin is worth.
    The red certainly looks better but not £50 better! Not concerned about softwood, it will probably never leave the house.

  35. #20
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    Default Re: Electric Mandolin + headphones for quiet practice

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    My thoughts FWIW.

    The electric mandolin is almost an entirely different instrument. I find that practicing on the mandostrat is certainly practice, and good practice, but I find that at a certain point, I need to practice on the mandolin that i am going to play the most.
    Yes it will be a backup, for when it all gets too much for the family! Unless I’ve found a real bargain I doubt that it will displace my Hathway.

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