5 Course Mandocello

**Walt Kuhlman** · Apr-01-2014, 7:42pm

I just shipped this mandocello today, 5 courses, CGDAE. Sitka top, ribbon mahogany back and sides, ebony fingerboard and adjustable bridge.

**Bernie Daniel** · Apr-01-2014, 9:09pm

That is an amazing instrument! Congratulations on a beautiful build!

Can you comment on the specs? Looks like a pretty long scale? Also what strings and string gauges did you use? The last photo shows some very smooth looking strings -- i.e., they are not wound strings?

It the instrument to be used for classical music? It would sure be great to hear how that one sounds!!

**margora** · Apr-01-2014, 9:48pm

I am the new owner. It is a "liuto moderno", as Walt remarks, a 5-course mandocello tuned CGDAE. I am expecting arrival tomorrow, very exciting!

The scale length is 24 inches, or 61 cm, the same scale length as the standard Calace version of this instrument. It is strung with Thomastic, which is why the strings look very smooth. It is indeed intended for classical music. My intention is to use it to learn/play the Calace preludes for liuto (as opposed to the Calace preludes for mandolin. Calace wrote 8 or so preludes for liuto, plus a great deal of other music for the instrument). Solo music for liuto is written in a combination of 8va treble and bass clef; ensemble music is written in bass clef. I expect it will make a fine instrument for the Bach cello suites.

Walt is a great builder and a great pleasure to work with. I've been impressed with his instruments for quite a while and especially like the mandola (octave) that he made for Chris Acquavella and Steffi Rauch, which I heard at CMSA Regina last fall.

**Bernie Daniel** · Apr-01-2014, 10:07pm

Originally Posted by margora

I am the new owner. It is a "liuto moderno", as Walt remarks, a 5-course mandocello tuned CGDAE. I am expecting arrival tomorrow, very exciting!

The scale length is 24 inches, or 61 cm, the same scale length as the standard Calace version of this instrument. It is strung with Thomastic, which is why the strings look very smooth. It is indeed intended for classical music. My intention is to use it to learn/play the Calace preludes for liuto (as opposed to the Calace preludes for mandolin. Calace wrote 8 or so preludes for liuto, plus a great deal of other music for the instrument). Solo music for liuto is written in a combination of 8va treble and bass clef; ensemble music is written in bass clef. I expect it will make a fine instrument for the Bach cello suites.

Walt is a great builder and a great pleasure to work with. I've been impressed with his instruments for quite a while and especially like the mandola (octave) that he made for Chris Acquavella and Steffi Rauch, which I heard at CMSA Regina last fall.

Well congratulations are certainly in order for you!! If looks could kill your new liuto moderno would be arrested!

I need to look up the origin of that name liuto as I am converting a new arch top guitar to a 5-course mandocello like that and I am also going for the CGDAE tuning. I planned to use phospho-bronze wound strings so they are lighter gauge than you have there.

I would be most interested in hearing your new liuto so I hope you are able to post a sound file soon. Very exciting stuff!

I think your choice of 24" scale is a good one.

Many have suggested that a mandocello should have a 27" scale like a violin cello. But considering that a mandocello is a plucked instrument with a relatively flat fret board -- full chords are possible so the longer scale is at odds with that idea.

If one were not to be interested in full and closed chords and only want to play cello music with melody or counter-melody lines and double stops perhaps the longer cello scale might make sense? Not sure about that.

I recall watching this video as couple of years ago -- and I guess this is what you will be playing?