Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

  1. #1
    Registered User Classicalcomp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    117

    Default Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    Hey everyone. I was just wondering how many people out here actually play the piccolo mandolin? I have a weber gallatin tuned CGDA a fourth above the regular mandolin. They call that one the soprano (which I know is confusing).

    I was just curious who else plays them and in what context you might play them in? Ensemble, solo? Etc
    (I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts
    of both, they were not discontented with each other. -- Segovia

    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandolin
    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandola
    Weber Gallatin Mandocello
    Weber Gallatin Soprano (Piccolo) Mandolin
    Breedlove Prototype Mandolin

  2. #2
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    I have the same one, tuned the same way. I play it a lot.

    I like it especially because with the soprano I am usually the only one, and can soar above the melody with what ever decoration I want and be heard. (Think of the piccolo part in a Sousa March.)

    Also support of the melody from above, a kind of new thing for me, is quite an adventure.

    And being small, the soprano is killer fun on its own, to take on a trip and play in the hotel etc.

    I have a vintage pouchet mandolin I am getting repaired, and I hope to explore the high range of mandolinning for a long time.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Marietta, GA
    Posts
    111

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    I have not heard talk about the piccolo mandolin and didn't know they existed. I guess you could capo a standard mandolin at the fourth fret to simulate the sound. Interesting.

  4. #4
    Registered User Classicalcomp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    I have the same one, tuned the same way. I play it a lot.

    I like it especially because with the soprano I am usually the only one, and can soar above the melody with what ever decoration I want and be heard. (Think of the piccolo part in a Sousa March.)

    Also support of the melody from above, a kind of new thing for me, is quite an adventure.

    And being small, the soprano is killer fun on its own, to take on a trip and play in the hotel etc.

    I have a vintage pouchet mandolin I am getting repaired, and I hope to explore the high range of mandolinning for a long time.
    Yeah I bought mine to predominately make it easier to do flute music, but I was hoping to hear some use it in the orchestral way to double high lines.
    (I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts
    of both, they were not discontented with each other. -- Segovia

    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandolin
    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandola
    Weber Gallatin Mandocello
    Weber Gallatin Soprano (Piccolo) Mandolin
    Breedlove Prototype Mandolin

  5. #5
    Registered User Classicalcomp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by neilca View Post
    I have not heard talk about the piccolo mandolin and didn't know they existed. I guess you could capo a standard mandolin at the fourth fret to simulate the sound. Interesting.
    Yes and No. The nicest part of the piccolo mandolin is you have a very easy play up to the high C 3 octaves above middle C. Also you can play open to fifth position on all of the strings pretty easily. If you put a capo on the mandolin, it’ll be tougher to play those same lines.

    I hope you get a chance to try one someday. I think they’ve improved my high playing and they’re pretty fun to play on.

  6. #6
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Beautiful Salem County, NJ
    Posts
    2,004

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    I had Mike Black build one of his A4-type piccolos with a Virzi for me. Wonderful instrument, I can't say enough good about it. I use it in a variety of settings, mainly for melody line playing. It's voice, even though high, is rich and full. I love it.

    It really is not that similar to playing a mandolin with a capo, any more that playing a mandola or OM with a capo would equal a mandolin. The smaller plate size, body volume and neck really changes the sound and how the player experiences the instrument.

    Anyway, as I said, I find mine to be a great joy to play and to listen to. Of all my instruments, it is the one I am least likely to ever part with.

    Here, I've added a few photos. The one with the Phoenix Neoclassical is for size comparison.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	completed shots 7.JPG 
Views:	96 
Size:	1.14 MB 
ID:	181160Click image for larger version. 

Name:	completed shots 8.JPG 
Views:	112 
Size:	1.14 MB 
ID:	181161Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Virzi in place.jpg 
Views:	101 
Size:	487.4 KB 
ID:	181162
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	black phoenix comparison.JPEG 
Views:	132 
Size:	1.70 MB 
ID:	181158  
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  7. #7
    Registered User Classicalcomp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Clark View Post
    I had Mike Black build one of his A4-type piccolos with a Virzi for me. Wonderful instrument, I can't say enough good about it. I use it in a variety of settings, mainly for melody line playing. It's voice, even though high, is rich and full. I love it.

    It really is not that similar to playing a mandolin with a capo, any more that playing a mandola or OM with a capo would equal a mandolin. The smaller plate size, body volume and neck really changes the sound and how the player experiences the instrument.

    Anyway, as I said, I find mine to be a great joy to play and to listen to. Of all my instruments, it is the one I am least likely to ever part with.

    Here, I've added a few photos. The one with the Phoenix Neoclassical is for size comparison.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	completed shots 7.JPG 
Views:	96 
Size:	1.14 MB 
ID:	181160Click image for larger version. 

Name:	completed shots 8.JPG 
Views:	112 
Size:	1.14 MB 
ID:	181161Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Virzi in place.jpg 
Views:	101 
Size:	487.4 KB 
ID:	181162
    Those are two beautiful instruments
    (I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts
    of both, they were not discontented with each other. -- Segovia

    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandolin
    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandola
    Weber Gallatin Mandocello
    Weber Gallatin Soprano (Piccolo) Mandolin
    Breedlove Prototype Mandolin

  8. The following members say thank you to Classicalcomp for this post:


  9. #8
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  10. The following members say thank you to JeffD for this post:


  11. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    I don't have any modern versions just vintage ones. Here are my two pictured with a standard Vega bowlback. The Vega on the left next to a Leland piccolo (Lyon & Healy around 1913) and a no-name picccolo bowlback.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2piccolos_vega.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	295.7 KB 
ID:	181173
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  12. #10
    Registered User Classicalcomp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Piccolo (Soprano) Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I don't have any modern versions just vintage ones. Here are my two pictured with a standard Vega bowlback. The Vega on the left next to a Leland piccolo (Lyon & Healy around 1913) and a no-name picccolo bowlback.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2piccolos_vega.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	295.7 KB 
ID:	181173
    Beautiful also!
    (I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts
    of both, they were not discontented with each other. -- Segovia

    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandolin
    Lawrence Smart Stern 2-point Mandola
    Weber Gallatin Mandocello
    Weber Gallatin Soprano (Piccolo) Mandolin
    Breedlove Prototype Mandolin

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •