"mini bouzouki"

[dhavlena]

I took an old, inexpensive mandola, fitted it with thicker strings* (octaves for lower two courses), tuned it EADG (hi-to-lo) & have a most pleasant sounding/playing instrument that for all practical purposes is essentially a "mini bouzouki". Anything goes in this fun game.

* E- 14/14
A- 24w/24w
D- 37w/17
G- 53w/28w

http://DennisHavlena.com

[garryireland]

Erm, would that not just be considered an octave mandolin?

[multidon]

What is the scale length?

[k0k0peli]

My knowledge here is purely academic but I think OM's are strung all in unison, not lower courses in octaves. An Irish Bouzouki would be tuned gG-dD-aa-dd so if you slack the top course that's what you have effectively. A bouzouki pro might have another opinion.

[JeffD]

I know some folks who use split octaves on their mandolins. Just the G and D. They use two sets of strings, use an A string tuned to the higher G, and an e string tuned to the higher D. The unwound strings they keep regular.

Its a cool sound.

[k0k0peli]

I know some folks who use split octaves on their mandolins. Just the G and D. They use two sets of strings, use an A string tuned to the higher G, and an e string tuned to the higher D. The unwound strings they keep regular.

Its a cool sound.

I have the pervy notion to string a mando ALL in octaves, gG-dD-Aa-Ee. Chord-chopping should be interesting, yah?

[Lord of the Badgers]

Hm. I'd like to hear a youtube demo of a mandolin strung in octaves off someone else first

[JeffD]

I have the pervy notion to string a mando ALL in octaves,

Interesting.

But the deal was these folks play mostly rags on mandolins, bowlback mandolins, strung with split octaves G and D. The way they play sounds real cool, with clean melodies in the high notes and all the wrangle jangle you could want in the low notes.

[allenhopkins]

I have a Regal Octofone with octaved lower courses, GDAE octave mandolin tuning. Great for chording, perhaps a bit muddy for melody work on the 3rd and 4th courses.

Octave stringing a standard mandolin is a neat idea, sorta. The 1st course E string at .014 is not all that much heavier than standard mando tuning, to be tuned an octave low. You don't get any buzzing or a "sloppy" feel on the first two courses?

[k0k0peli]

Octave stringing a standard mandolin is a neat idea, sorta. The 1st course E string at .014 is not all that much heavier than standard mando tuning, to be tuned an octave low. You don't get any buzzing or a "sloppy" feel on the first two courses?

Might need to cut a new nut if I just move strings around. It would definitely be muddy as a melody instrument but should give strong chording.

[liestman]

Hm. I'd like to hear a youtube demo of a mandolin strung in octaves off someone else first

Octave stringing the bottom two courses of a standard mandolin is a very old concept. Joe Craven does it a lot and at 18 minutes into this video you can hear the effect really well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLLgla3c9DU

[Bertram Henze]

Octave stringing is all well and good, if you happen to like it.

But that has got nothing to do with the concept of "bouzouki sound" - recognizable bouzouki sound primarily comes from a combination of long scale and light string gauge and can be further enhanced with open tunings like GDAD. Putting thicker cables on a short instrument carries you further away from bouzouki sound, not nearer to it.

Listen to this example and try to mimick that with an instrument shorter than 20", and good luck

[delsbrother]

I think the octave tuning (in a blues context) was called "Brownsville Tuning".

[Lord of the Badgers]

put octave pairs on my celtic mandolin last week. And tuned to GDAD. well you only live once ha ha.
... and it's a lot of fun!

[dhavlena]

Hi from northern Michigan, Thanks for the bunch of neat comments & observations!
Never paid much attention to definitions & classifications but this mini-bouzouki nicely serves in lieu of my standard zouki. String length is 14 3/8" - a bit short by mandola standards but works fine for mini-bouzouki purposes. There's no question in my mind that a big part of zouki's sound does indeed come from having octave strings on the lowest two courses. I've been ####### with "mini" versions of a number of instruments -- for example, turned a beat-up 1/2 sized cello into a mini-bass -- Fender electric flatwounds -- same pitch/octave as a big upright. Not quite as loud but a ton of fun in a living room-sized situation. Dennis http://DennisHavlena.com.

[dhavlena]

ps: the forum wouldn't let me say f a r t i n g !! Come on