Converting mandocello to octave mandolin -- good or bad idea??

**scgc.om** · Jan-31-2014, 1:33pm

I love converting tenor (CGDA) instruments to octave mandolin (GDAE) instruments. I have a '27 Martin 5-17T restrung for GDAE; an OME and a Deering Irish Tenor banjos; and an Whyte Ladye resonator banjolin.

Now I'm thinking about buying a mandocello (Eastman MDC 805) and restringing it so that it can be tuned up a 5th (from CGDA) to GDAE).

Anyone here tried this?

**mrmando** · Jan-31-2014, 1:48pm

Well, another Cafe member asked about this a couple of months ago. I sold him some light-gauge OM strings; he strung his cello up as an OM and reported that he was not happy with the tone.

When you string a tenor down to GDAE you are adding mass by using heavier strings. When you string a cello up to GDAE you are subtracting mass. The OM strings might not be substantial enough to drive the top.

**keebler** · Jan-31-2014, 1:57pm

I have my standard guitar strung up as a tenor (GDAE) and it works fine... not sure of the scale length of the tenor or length of mandocello strings but I think the mandocello is a shorter scale.

**jmp** · Jan-31-2014, 2:00pm

Here is a video of a Gibson mandocello what was converted to octave mandolin

**foldedpath** · Jan-31-2014, 2:41pm

Not a great idea, I think. The Eastman scale length is 25", which means you're essentially recreating a Bouzouki, the "long scale" version of an OM. Bouzoukis are great for playing chords, but the scale length makes playing melodies in first position a real challenge. I have a hard enough time playing melodies on my 22" scale OM. And if you're just doing it to play chord backup, why not get a Bouzouki or Cittern designed for that scale and tuning?

Case in point: I believe that video above is a mandocello body with a shorter 21 14/" scale neck (original by Gibson, I think?). That's a very unusual instrument, discussed here:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...Mandolin/page3

**mandroid** · Jan-31-2014, 4:37pm

so this is moving the G back over into the 4th position and replacing the E?

Just saying my Picking buddy accompanies himself singing on the zouk ..

guess thats what you are shooting for lighter strung but the Big Body ..

seems a zouk is lighter topped , so the one made for the heavier string will be different..

**ajr** · Jan-31-2014, 11:11pm

Isn't this the 1904 factory made Octave Mando that is in the Archives with a 21 1/4 scale. Way shorter than a Mandocello scale.
Sounds great though. What is that tune? Anyone know?

**scgc.om** · Feb-01-2014, 7:58am

Pretty sure it's one of the many versions of Liza Jane.

Thanks to all for input. I think I'm leaning away from the idea of converting a mandocello to octave mandolin. I guess what I need is a Brock arch top OM . . . .

**allenhopkins** · Feb-03-2014, 12:49am

Originally Posted by ajr

..What is that tune? Anyone know?

Little Liza Jane, one of the multitude of "Liza Jane" tunes. Chorus:

Oh poor Liza, poor ol' Liza Jane,
Oh poor Liza, she died on the train

Here's John Reischman and Scott Nygaard taking a crack at it:

By the way, instrument shown in Post #4 is most assuredly not a mandocello, but the nearly one-of-a-kind (as far as we know) '20's Gibson-made octave mandolin. Neck's 'way too short to be a K-1.

**ajr** · Feb-03-2014, 2:54am

Thanks Allen and I think someone else posted it was Liza Jane as well.

Thanks for posting the Reischman/Nygaard version which is great but I do love that Octave.

Agreed Allen as I said previously, it's in the Archives and yes way too short for a 'Cello.