Gibson explorer mando's?

[mrmando]

Don't forget the Pentabouzouki and the Pentasitar!

Alex isn't one to cry over spilled milk. He tells me Pentasystem is obsolete now ... who knows, perhaps he'll come up with something even better. I tried a couple of Pentalins and a Pentaula, and they were the most responsive and had the best setup of any electric mandolins I've ever had my hands on.

[delsbrother]

Just saw on Emando.com you say the Pentaula at 14-1/8" scale - do you remember what any of the others were?

One of the latest posts on a BC Rich forum I belong to lists one of the BCR Pentas in the UK as well.

[mrmando]

Alex never gave out information about the scale lengths. It was supposed to be a trade secret or something. (I know, it's no secret for anyone with a tape measure and an instrument in hand.)

[delsbrother]

So (as one of those people) did you notice a big difference between the Pentalin and the Pentaula?

[mrmando]

Just in terms of scale length, sure I noticed a difference. But I play everything from fiddle to mandocello, so I'm constantly making adjustments. I thought both the Pentalin and Pentaula were easier to handle than other instruments of comparable scale length.

[delsbrother]

Ehrm. What I'm trying to say is, isn't the Pentaula (at 14-1/8) very close to "regular" mandolin scale length? I was expecting a more direct -aula to -ola deal. Was the Pentalin like a short-scale L&H or something?

[mrmando]

Not that I recall. I think it was standard.