pocket mandolin

[Ranald]

Anyone know anything about this one? The price converted to USD would be about $150.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-string-instr...ationFlag=true

There's a link to a video of someone demonstrating one, which sounds fairly twangy, but I don't know if that's typical.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e-c_HkqpZo8

I was thinking of it in terms of a travel mandolin, something I could take along on a fiddling night, or leave in the trunk without feeling nervous all evening. It's close enough for me to try before buying. Still, I'm curious as to what Mandolin Cafe folks know.

[rowka]

As a bassist, the idea of a small "travel" mandolin seems rather, umm, let's just say unnecessary.

A full size mandolin is already a travel instrument.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

A full size mandolin is already a travel instrument.

Well, let’s say that depends upon your travel plans. Take care of the grams and the ounces will take care of themselves.
Like the RVers that drill holes in their tooth brush and silverware. Too much, maybe.

[allenhopkins]

I have one of those, labeled "Holdrio Piccolo." German made, as I guess most of them were; it has the Marcelli-marked tailpiece, often found on German instruments.

Personally, I find it a novelty rather than a useful instrument. I acquired mine as a gift from my great-aunt, who got it who knows where. It has a very small, thin sound, and the short-scale neck is quite thick for its length.

It is smaller than a "regular" mandolin, but standard mandolins are already small instruments. It's decently constructed for an inexpensive mandolin, but the marquetry "pickguard" easily shows signs of wear. (Mine has an inlay of someone in African or Bedouin garb, or maybe a Zouave; go figure.) Three-piece domed back of un-figured maple, rosewood fingerboard, probably maple neck and headstock, one strip of marquetry to bind the body, workable brass strip tuners.

There would be some marginal space/weight savings, using it as a "travel" instrument. You'd never find a case for it -- mine rattles around in a 1/16 violin case -- but someone could whip up a little gig bag, I guess. If you can get it for under $100, might be of interest. Otherwise, I'd just buy an inexpensive instrument of "normal" size.

[Jim Garber]

If you really need a smaller mandolin I would get a Seagull S8. This thread was about a bicyclist who wanted a smaller one.They are more expensive but are decent sounding for the price. If you just want a beach mandolin then go for a lower end Kentucky or The Loar.

Personally I think those German or eastern European pocket mandolins are pretty poor sounding at least all the ones that I have played as Allen notes above.

[Ranald]

Thanks, Allen & Jim.
You've told me what I need to know. I did follow a thread about mandolins for camping, travelling, etc. I don't really need one; I just ran across that ad, so I was curious. However, with your advice I'll pass on the "pocket mandolin." I have a Godin A8 and an old banjolin that I'm satisfied with, and have tried out the Seagulls, which are also made by Godin in Quebec. If I decide I need a smaller one, I'll consider the Seagull. However, I am happy with my mandolin and banjolin, and thought I was resistant to MAS, but there I was looking at a third mando. Perhaps I need a "sponsor," as in AA, to call at times like this.
Ranald

[Seter]

Perhaps a proper full size bowlback would be a better temptation

[JH Murray]

The Seagull is miles ahead of that pocket mando in terms of tone and playability.

[Alfons]

As Allen said, these are more about novelty than great sound or playability.
Given what Ranald said he was looking for, taking a pass on this one was probably the right thing to do.

I have one similar to the Holdrio's but unmarked, which is surprisingly playable given that the neck looks like 12 miles of bad road. It has a funky sound rather than a great sound, which can actually be kind of fun.

What is very frustrating for me is that it has the "Patented Richter tuners". While these are very cool from a mechanical perspective, they are non-geared one-to-one ratio and super annoying to tune with. The strings thread over a pulley on a lever which forces a friction brake against a drum on the tuner, locking it in place when you stop turning it. While the concept is interesting, I'd much prefer geared tuners for usability. There's one like it on ebay that has a great photo of these tuners, and has been up there for years because this person thinks they'll get big $ for this "rare mandolin" even though it has no bridge or tailpiece.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-PIC...53.m1438.l2649

The eighth and ninth photos show these tuners in all their patented glory.