(Godin A8) Making my mandolin look more ethnic

[Sevelos]

I perform with the Godin A8 mandolin (satin finish).
Mostly I play Greek Rebetiko, Balkan, Irish and Medieval music.

The problem is that while acoustic mandolins often look romantic, ancient and ethnic, the Godin A8 looks just the opposite - like a small electric guitar.

This is not good for the performances as it looks very anachronistic with these musical styles.

Here's how this mandolin looks:


While I have other mandolins that look more ethnic, the Godin is way better suited for performances on stage - there is no feedback, it has a strong pickup with nice amplified sound, etc.

I want to continue performing with this instrument.

Can you please give me any suggestions of how to make this mandolin more ethnic looking?
(e.g. - change the tailpiece, add some stickers, I don't know - any ideas are welcome)

Thanks,
Arie

[mandolinstew]

A Star of David or a Celtic Cross tailpiece.Never gonna look like a bouzouki.

[mrmando]

Given the simple geometry of the Greek flag, you should be able to:

1) Paint the entire top of the instrument white.

2) Lay down some strips of masking tape on the instrument's surface to represent the white stripes of the flag.

3) Paint the untaped areas blue.

[mrmando]

Or give it a few cigarette burns and pour a frappe over it? Maybe laminate a very thin layer of olive wood over the top?

[Explorer]

Two options come to mind. One is using inlay decals, either stock or getting a custom decal, to act as a faux rosette. I've used them pretty successfully on a couple of instruments, and they've really lasted forever until I've decided to remove them, and then they come off easily. I don't have time at the moment to read through the search results for "cuatom inlay decals," but such companies are out there.

The other option is a real rosette mounted directly on the soundboard, possibly with black velvet behind it to give e illusion of depth. Here's some examples.

https://www.harpkit.com/mm5/merchant...er&Per_Page=-1

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!

[StuartE]

Guitar skins,a sheet of vinyl printed with an image that you attach to your guitar or mandolin. (AN interenet search for guitar skins will show up more companies and more designs.)

You'll have to look past some designs better suited for heavy metal, etc. but you might find something that will do the trick.

Some companies will do custom designs.

[derbex]

Paint a couple of scrolls on it, and pour some tea over it as a stain.

[Loubrava]

I also use a Godin A8 but in a semi loud band and kinda thought the same thing the A8 doesn't look the part than realized I don't either so what the hell & I usually hide behind the singer anyway. But seriously the A8 is so nice to play live it works well everywhere and sounds good I tried using a F style with the interal K&K pick ups/preamp set up & it looked the part but the A8 is so easy and doesn't give up anything in sound for what I'm playing I went back to it. Good Luck with your project and if you end up modifying it post some pics !
Lou

[lenf12]

Got any artistically creative friends?? Commission one of them to paint the face of your A8 or design a stencil of suitable ethnicity. You will always remember that friend when you play. Fond memories...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[mandroid]

Lower the lighting on it and it won't matter.. less candles in the room ...

[Bob Clark]

Got any artistically creative friends?? Commission one of them to paint the face of your A8 or design a stencil of suitable ethnicity. You will always remember that friend when you play. Fond memories...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Maybe with a grape vine and leaf motif. Do the whole top. I think that would look somewhat ethnic and pretty cool.

[mandolinstew]

Tooled leather cover like Elvis had( custom hand made by a fan )I think I’ll do that on mine now that I thunk it.

[jaybp30]

If you end up doing something please post the results. Very interested in how it comes out.

[mandroid]

OH. And, RMC in Berkeley Cal supplies all the electronics they ship to Godin https://rmcpickup.com/
with a Canada/US cross border deal.

then you can have a builder make a less 'little guitar' looking instrument
with the same pickup bridge pieces and preamp/EQ controls..

Many years ago I had a local builder make an A styled 4 string Dual source * pickup solid body electric

*4 in bridge pickups, piezoelectric source, and a magnetic electric guitar pickup ...

off body preamp https://rmcpickup.com/polydriveii.html uses an 8 pin connecting cable

pin 1~6 are string pickups , 7 is the magnetic pickup , a 1/4" jack added to the case, passing 7 thru.

the in bridge pickups use the mixer pre-amp within the black box, which also has the 9v battery in it..

Additional out put is the 13 pin to Roland Guitar Synthesizers ,

Perhaps offering you a more ethnic sound color/tone?






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