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Thread: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

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    Default student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    One of my students wants their own mandocello to practice at home, but doesn't want to spend a lot of money. We've looked at the cellos listed on Ebay together, but they are those horrible Vietnamese instruments with laminated-on shellwork that everybody knows about. We've also considered the Hora octave mandolin/bouzouki...I own one, but she doesn't like the feel of it: "It's too cheap". My advice to her was to start saving $100 a month for a couple years so she could afford something in the $2k price range. Any other advice? She reads this forum and will see your answers.

    Thank you.

  2. #2
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    If its just for home practice her best bet might be get a nice old tenor guitar, tune it C-G-D-A. Won't have double courses but it will work. Morgan Monroe talked about a guitar body AE 'cello that would retail under $1 k. Don't know what happened to that.

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    If the infamous container of GoldTone mandocellos ever gets through CITES and is unleashed upon the world, that'll be the day.

    Until then, two words: Wishnevsky, Soares'y.
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    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    How about APC?

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    Registered User JH Murray's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Suzuki MC836 Mandocello at Thomann. I'm sure a North american dealer would be able to order it for you.

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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Be careful about the tuning -some of those at Thomann, including the Suzuki above are GDAE rather than CGDA.

    https://www.thomann.de/gb/mandoloncelli.html
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    You asked this same question last June. Safe to say, it has not been resolved. Sounds like your student’s expectations are way too high. Don’t want to spend a lot of money, but don’t want anything cheap? I guess your student doesn’t see any conflict there. If all instruments were low priced with excellent quality, why would anyone buy expensive instruments?

    When this question was asked before, I posted a response in which I wondered out loud if, with the nut and bridge adjusted and appropriate gauge strings installed, could something like a Trinity College bouzouki be converted to mandocello?
    Last edited by multidon; Dec-15-2017 at 6:48pm.
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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by derbex View Post
    Be careful about the tuning -some of those at Thomann, including the Suzuki above are GDAE rather than CGDA.

    https://www.thomann.de/gb/mandoloncelli.html
    I have no idea why Thomann say GDAE for the Suzuki - I have one (the largely identical predecessor model MC-815) and it's intended for CGDA. I have Thomastik mandocello strings on mine, which work fine. The C course isn't particularly strong because of the fairly short scale, but it functions just fine. Good option at that price.

    Martin

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    If your student doesn't mind weird design and perhaps a bit rougher finish work -- but decent construction and sound -- Wishnevsky mandocellos are about $600, according to his website.
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by themandocello View Post
    One of my students wants their own mandocello to practice at home, but doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
    I'm thinking of selling my Harmony Archtone mandocello conversion.
    You can check info on it in the link in my signature. If you're interested, PM me and I'm sure we can come to an agreement.

    PS- mods - not sure if this is out of bounds here. If so, please delete and I'll PM. Thx

  13. #11

    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    For just a little more, $1200 or so, you can get a used Eastmandocello if you keep your eyes out. Other than that, a conversion is probably your best option.

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Here be a Framus conversion at an attractive price. https://wichita.craigslist.org/msg/d...349590034.html
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
    Morgan Monroe talked about a guitar body AE 'cello that would retail under $1 k. Don't know what happened to that.
    According to Rob @ Morgan Monroe as of 11/30/17
    It doesn't look good for the mandocello. It will be a long time if it happens at all.

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    Registered User fumblefour's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    [QUOTE=Martin Jonas I have Thomastik mandocello strings on mine, which work fine. The C course isn't particularly strong because of the fairly short scale, but it functions just fine. Good option at that price.

    Martin[/QUOTE]

    Martin, where oh where do you source Thomastik mandocello strings? I live in UK (Scotland) and haven’t found anywhere online that even lists them (I assume it is the 1804 set I need, but not even TI’s own catalogue shows them). I have a Paul Hathway Mandocello and would love to try TI strings on it. Also, I do wonder whether the TI set would be suitable as my MC has a very long scale length of 660cm. Any pointers gratefully received. Nick
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Can i second the APC cello. But consider the APC mondole. I have the 10 string model tuned cgdae. Amazing instrument for €400 odd. Kieran Moloney Music Shop is your man

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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by fumblefour View Post
    Martin, where oh where do you source Thomastik mandocello strings? I live in UK (Scotland) and haven’t found anywhere online that even lists them (I assume it is the 1804 set I need, but not even TI’s own catalogue shows them). I have a Paul Hathway Mandocello and would love to try TI strings on it. Also, I do wonder whether the TI set would be suitable as my MC has a very long scale length of 660cm. Any pointers gratefully received. Nick
    Available from just strings dot com. Kinda pricey at US$78.86 not to mention shipping. Maybe email or telephone TI & see if they can help (if nothing else, shipping should be cheaper over on that side of the Ocean).

    http://www.juststrings.com/thomastik...andocello.html

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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by fumblefour View Post
    Martin, where oh where do you source Thomastik mandocello strings? I live in UK (Scotland) and haven’t found anywhere online that even lists them (I assume it is the 1804 set I need, but not even TI’s own catalogue shows them). I have a Paul Hathway Mandocello and would love to try TI strings on it. Also, I do wonder whether the TI set would be suitable as my MC has a very long scale length of 660cm. Any pointers gratefully received. Nick
    Sorry, can't help you much -- the TI strings came with the mandocello when I bought it and as they keep for ages (and it's not my primary instrument) I haven't seen much need to change them yet. If you want to order them, try trekel.de:

    https://www.trekel.de/-Thomastik-180...lo-746859.html

    However, they are very expensive (EUR60.90), and Trekel gives a 42 day delivery estimate. I am sure that when I looked previously, they were more widely available, so it's possible that they have been discontinued.

    Martin

  22. #18

    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Give Kieran a shout here. He may have those strings too
    http://www.moloneymusic.com/Products...BouzoukiFamily

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  24. #19

    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    E772=$900+shipping out of her price range unfortunately

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    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    https://m.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Tone-Sin...&ul_noapp=true
    Says there are 3 available here. $899.00 and free shipping.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rodney Riley View Post
    https://m.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Tone-Sin...&ul_noapp=true
    Says there are 3 available here. $899.00 and free shipping.
    I don't know this eBay seller but for even less than they are charging, Elderly is expecting Goldtone Mandocelli soon and they would check for proper setup. I would buy from them or other known retailers. Just my 2 cents. NFI.
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    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I don't know this eBay seller but for even less than they are charging, Elderly is expecting Goldtone Mandocelli soon and they would check for proper setup. I would buy from them or other known retailers. Just my 2 cents. NFI.
    Yes, wrote that it this thread
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...53#post1619953
    Elderly has them listed @$64.75 less

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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I don't know this eBay seller but for even less than they are charging, Elderly is expecting Goldtone Mandocelli soon and they would check for proper setup. I would buy from them or other known retailers. Just my 2 cents. NFI.
    Save 10% on items from Elderly with promo code "SONG" if you join their mailing list. Final price = $742

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    Registered User Kieran's Avatar
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by themandocello View Post
    E772=$900+shipping out of her price range unfortunately

    Not sure which post this refers to but the one at garryireland's link is €446 export + purpose made case 81 + 39 shipping = €556
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  30. #25
    Shayan Givehchian
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    Default Re: student wants a mandocello...under $1000...suggestions?

    I'll give a third vote for APC. Just got a octave from Moloney and it's a pretty solid budget instrument
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