Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Electric Viking Mandolin

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Oslo, Norway
    Posts
    1

    Post Electric Viking Mandolin

    Hi,
    I got tipped that this community would perhaps have some interest in this instrument.

    This is a custom made mandolin made by Harald Hougaard of Norway. It is a normal scale mandolin tuned as an octave mandolin. I have researched how to do this for a couple of years and found that a combination of nylon and steel strings will make me able to tune it down an octave without loosing too much tension in the strings.

    It has a viking-thematics to it with correct ornaments and a viking inspired dragons head as headstock. The top and sides are carved in the Jelling-style (approx.880-985).

    It has a small sound-compartment with a mic installed and also a piezo in the bridge. I can choose to mix them or just use one of them. The YouTube-clip below is the sound plugged straight into an AER Compact 60 acoustic amplifier.



    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	19399532_878637198950942_1373364565197941970_n.jpg 
Views:	271 
Size:	79.3 KB 
ID:	171004

  2. The Following 14 Users Say Thank You to Espen Wensaas For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked


  3. #2
    Registered User spufman's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Central CT
    Posts
    419

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    That’s really beautiful, even through my phone’s speakers. Looking forward to headphones.

  4. #3
    Registered User Boge Quinn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Cumberland City, Tennessee, USA
    Posts
    86

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Wonderful instrument, beautifully played!

  5. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Somewhere I have seen this mandolin before. Beautiful instrument and sounds great too.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  6. #5

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Can you share the details on the strings? I just bought one of the Northfield carved octaves. Would be fun to try to set up a regular one as an octave some time. Is that at 14” scale?

  7. #6
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Norfolk Fenland. UK
    Posts
    511

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    A really interesting mandolin- thanks for posting.
    Cheers Gary

  8. #7
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lakebay, Wa
    Posts
    4,162

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Nice!
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  9. #8
    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Frederick,MD
    Posts
    2,304

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Boge Quinn View Post
    Wonderful instrument, beautifully played!
    Boge beat me to it. That is one gorgeous instrument. With no sound hole, how does it sound unplugged?
    The sound reminds me of a lute.
    For wooden musical fun that doesn't involve strumming, check out:
    www.busmanwhistles.com
    Handcrafted pennywhistles in exotic hardwoods.

  10. #9
    music with whales Jim Nollman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Friday Harbor WA
    Posts
    1,633

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    I once set up a mandola as an octave. Thomastik sells string sets made for this particular conversion. Works great. Cost about $70 a set.
    Explore some of my published music here.

    —Jim

    Sierra F5 #30 (2005)
    Altman 2-point (2007)
    Portuguese fado cittern (1965)

  11. #10

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Super cool concept, gorgeous execution. I sent a mandolin to Norway...
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	MG_8736.jpg 
Views:	147 
Size:	446.3 KB 
ID:	171025

  12. #11
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Espen Wensaas View Post
    This is a custom made mandolin made by Harald Hougaard of Norway.
    Harald Hougaard made a mandolin version of the hardingfele (hardanger fiddle) complete with decorative accents and sympathetic strings and "winged" f-holes. Very nice. I would have loved to play one.

    Espen: can you post additional photos of your mandolin. please?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	hardangermandolin.jpg 
Views:	166 
Size:	36.3 KB 
ID:	171044   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	hardingkuskinn.jpg 
Views:	133 
Size:	104.9 KB 
ID:	171045   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	understrengerstol.jpg 
Views:	132 
Size:	40.5 KB 
ID:	171046  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	dragehode.jpg 
Views:	146 
Size:	40.7 KB 
ID:	171043  
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  13. #12

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Wowee for both the instrument and musician!

  14. #13
    Rag/Breedlove/MidMo/Regal icedoghans's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Boise, Idaho
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Espen,

    Love this.

    ...Rog Lyngaas, aka Ragnar Lyngaas, aka icedoghans
    RaG Mandolin
    Breedlove Premier KO mandolin
    Mid-Missouri M-14 Mandola
    Regal Mandola, circa 1940 ?
    Orpheum #1 Tenor Banjo

  15. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: Electric Viking Mandolin

    Re Jim, he appears to have a lot of interesting versions:

    the mandola damore:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U90aCO1qCSM

    and
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnZR7AoZEQ8

    and
    the guitara damore:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APVqHQNwJgQ

    and
    the banjo damore:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pzpEz9QXZo

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •