Piccolo mandolins

[Bob Clark]

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.

[Mobike]

I have one of Mike Black's piccolos ... and it sounds fantastic.

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.

[Bob Clark]

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

[Explorer]

I would consider keeping the scale length to at least 13".

Without getting into the math, a plain string longer than 11.4" will break fairly quickly when tuned to A5 or higher. It's just physics.

[pops1]

Without getting into the math, a plain string longer than 11.4" will break fairly quickly when tuned to A5 or higher. It's just physics.

Yup, we've already been there, I forgot it is tuned up higher.

[Dawg]

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.

[Bob Clark]

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!

[Mobike]

Gorgeous instruments both. Wonderful sound from the Dawgolo too; thanks for the link.

[Jim Garber]

I have a vintage Leland piccolo circa 1913. It is funny, tho. I find it a little harder to get used to that very short scale vs. getting used to the longer mandola scale. It throws me off to switch back to the mandolin. Frankly I am not 100% sure about the use of such an instrument other than a novelty. You can play practically all those notes up there on a regular mandolin.

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.

Hah! That is what I meant by comment earlier. Much easier to transition from mandola to mandolin than from piccolo to mandolin.

[Bob Clark]

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.

[Bob A]

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).

[Seter]

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.

[Jim Garber]

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

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.

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.