Re: Mandola lovers
Well, commenting on Bob V's post, strings that are the same pitch, but different scale lengths, have to differ either in diameter (gauge), string tension, or both. E.g., the G 4th string on a set of D'Addario J74 mandolin strings is .040"; the G 3rd string on a set of J76 mandola strings is .035". To be tuned to an equal pitch, with a longer scale, the string gauge is reduced .005". If we associate "darker" tone with increased string diameter (defensible hypothesis?), the thinner string shouldn't sound "darker." If we associate it with a longer scale (equally defensible hypothesis?), it may indeed emphasize lower overtones ("darker" sound).
There are many other variables, such as body size and design, that affect the perceived tone from an instrument. An octave mandolin capoed at the 5th fret will typically have larger body size than a mandola, plus a larger neck, wider fretboard, and possibly heavier body construction and bracing. The sound won't be totally dissimilar to that of a mandola, but it won't be identical, in most cases (IMHO).
What you will get, will be the experience of playing mandolin-type music in CGDA tuning, with all the transposition issues that involves. Took me quite a while to get used to playing mandolin material on the mandola, though I do it quite a bit now. I even had a five-course CGDAE instrument built for me, so I could play in both ranges. I will say, though I really like the instrument, it doesn't sound quite like either a mandolin or a mandola.
I've just had a bit of a mandola epiphany, having purchased a Larson-built (yes it is, Mick!) Stahl mandola, probably 1920's vintage or slightly earlier. It has, in my experience, exceptional tone and volume, and it's got me toting a mandola to all the jams and sing-arounds to which I used to take a mandolin. At least for a while, it's my new-BFF fave mandolin-family instrument.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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