I have one of Mike Black's piccolos with that 'about 11 inch' scale length. I have no problem whatever in playability (YMMV) and it sounds fantastic. My mandolin friends really like it, too.
I have one of Mike Black's piccolos with that 'about 11 inch' scale length. I have no problem whatever in playability (YMMV) and it sounds fantastic. My mandolin friends really like it, too.
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
I believe his excellent design of the body is the major contributor to that fantastic sound.
You don't happen to have one of his standard mandos too, do you? I am curious about the depth of the piccolo body compared to the standard. They appear to be the same from the photos he posted 7 years ago but it wasn't a direct side view.
Sorry, Mobike, but I only have one of Mike's piccolos. I would love to have one of his A4 mandolins to match it though, and may, one day. He is great to work with. It would be fun to have him do a matching 'full-sized' build!
Why not send Mike a PM? He is good about replying.
Best wishes,
Bob
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
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Playing a funky oval-hole scroll-body mandolin, several mandolins retuned to CGDA, three CGDA-tuned Flatiron mandolas, two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25.5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone.
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25 years ago I custom ordered a diminutive (piccolo) mandolin from my esteemed friend, Mr. Gilchrist. I used this instrument on several recording sessions and it is featured on a duet with my bassist Jim Kerwin, entitled "Why Did the Mouse Marry the Elephant?" on the Dawgnation CD.
If you wish to hear it, it's on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igdpwBxavHE
I tune it a minor 3rd above a mandolin: Bb - F - C - G (low to high). I soon discovered that it's harder to crimp your fingers than stretch them, so it hasn't seen much use, but nevertheless a very cool instrument.
Here are two pictures of my Mike Black piccolo to accompany Dawgs. Note the two cat inlays on mine (headstock and neck heel). So we now have a 'Dawg' piccolo and a 'cat' piccolo!
You might need to click on the photos and open them to view them. Maybe it is the device I am on, but if I don't open them, they are distorted. Good luck!
Last edited by Bob Clark; Jun-01-2019 at 9:13pm. Reason: Found better photos.
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
Gorgeous instruments both. Wonderful sound from the Dawgolo too; thanks for the link.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
Nah, can't say I agree with the piccolo being a novelty; just a different voice. I think about it this way. You could have a really nice sedan that can get you anywhere you might want to go in comfort and in style. But wouldn't it also be nice to have a little two seat roadster for when you in the mood for something a little different? It's not as comfortable as the sedan. You can't carry as many passengers or as much stuff. But sometimes it's exactly what you feel like driving. It's not rational; it's emotional.
So, can I play high notes on my regular mandolin? Sure. Is its fretboard a bit more roomy and comfortable? No doubt about it. But do I also sometimes want the joy of playing that little piccolo, hearing its high sweet voice, and zipping around on that tiny fretboard? You bet. Rational? Heck no. Emotional? You bet!
For me, it is not a novelty, just another choice, a different voice, another playing experience. I sure enjoy it. And life is way to short to deny myself that pleasure.
That's my thoughts on the subject. YMMV, and that's cool too. What a boring world we would have if we all liked the same things.
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
Many years ago I obtained a piccolo bowlback mandolin from Alfred Woll in Germany. It's so small as to be difficult to play, even more difficult to operate the tuning machines. It is remarkable for the precision and level of skill used in its construction; even the case is made to a high standard. More surprising is that it is unlabeled; you would think that the maker would want to personalise it.
It is pictured next to a normally sized mandolin, my A.Monzino & Garlandini (Milano, undated).
I've often wondered what the smallest fully functional, non-novelty stringed instrument is (based on scale length I suppose); seems like a piccolo mandolin might be a strong candidate. There are some South American instruments with pretty short scale lengths too though.
This guitar: Nano-Guitar
I have a feeling that an "atomic force microscope" would cost considerably more than a Blue Chip pick. Makes a BC seem like a real bargain.The guitar has six strings, each string about 50 nanometers wide, the width of about 100 atoms. If plucked -- by an atomic force microscope, for example -- the strings would resonate, but at inaudible frequencies. The entire structure is about 10 micrometers long, about the size of a single cell.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
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