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Thread: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

  1. #1

    Default Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Posting just to show off my esoteric creation. Receiving a cool reception from the banjo world. I suspect I may find a similar response from the Mandolin world. I thought it was an interesting Idea?

    https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...vsBI7NbGzOfYb_

  2. #2
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Please check your link. Getting a cannot find error (404).

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

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  4. #3

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Gold Tone sells something like that they call the banjola
    Click image for larger version. 

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    https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldt...p?cat=banjolas

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  6. #4

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by JEStanek View Post
    Please check your link. Getting a cannot find error (404).

    Jamie
    Thanks for your interest. Try this one

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo

  7. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    What is the scale length and what are you tuning it to? I think your big mandolin already has a name.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  9. #6

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    the scale length and what are you tuning it to?

    25.125 inches, I was thinking it would be G an octave lower than the banjo. It is not very "live" in G. I raised the pitch to A and it is better. For G think heavier strings, longer scale, or a lighter build?

  10. #7
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Might be of interest...

    About how I tune my mandolins

    (Open C tuning)
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
    2016 MK LFSTB
    1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
    [About how I tune my mandolins]
    [Our recent arrival]

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  12. #8

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    [QUOTE=dhergert;1773961]
    About how I tune my mandolins

    I like your Biography page, I Would be Keen to hear and or see you play.
    regards, Maurice

  13. #9

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    What is the scale length and what are you tuning it to? I think your big mandolin already has a name.
    It is more or less a Banjola which may be a Gold Tone trademark?

  14. #10
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by MrMoe View Post
    I like your Biography page, I Would be Keen to hear and or see you play.
    regards, Maurice
    Here's a vid I posted here in the "Post a video of yourself thread" in March...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...=1#post1762351
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
    2016 MK LFSTB
    1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
    [About how I tune my mandolins]
    [Our recent arrival]

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  16. #11
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by MrMoe View Post
    It is more or less a Banjola which may be a Gold Tone trademark?
    The banjola name has been used for nearly 100 years by people but honestly, your scale if that is correct is just a wee bit longer than a mandocello. I think if you adopt a scale for an octave mandolin or a mandocello you probably have something you can sell. Take a look at Weber's page, not for the styles but for the scale lengths. Reinventing the wheel is fine but honestly, your time at Mid-Mo should give you a handle on the genre and you apparently have the skill set to build. Now you just have to build what people might buy.

    I seriously doubt that Goldtone is setting the world on fire with their banjolas.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  18. #12
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  20. #13

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by dhergert View Post
    Here's a vid I posted here in the "Post a video of yourself thread" in March...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...=1#post1762351
    Very nice sound! I am jealous of Your playing and your beard -Maurice

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  22. #14
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    More on August Pollmann selling these style instruments in the late 1800's.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  24. #15
    Mandolin tragic Graham McDonald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Here are a couple of pics of a baritone version I built back in 2016. Lowest string was a G (from memory) and it had a lovely growly tonality. Spruce, Australian blackwood body with a mahogany neck.

    Cheers

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  26. #16

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Thank you all for the helpful Information and links. Shirley Collins plays a dulcimer shaped version she refers to as "The Instrument" I am not trying to re invent the wheel, nor do I have anything for sale. I am an amateur builder and hobbyist trying to be creative and have fun. I am pleased with the way the open drone string seems to be working out. The string gauges are, plain.017 drone, .046w, .040w, .032w, .026w and tuned in A. A E A C#E These are details more related to the banjo, so guess I should not be cluttering up your mandolin site with them.
    Thanks again and best regards, Maurice

  27. #17
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    One of the reasons I'm so happy about the way my mandolin tuning is working out is that I have an old plectrum banjo in the wings waiting for me to decide my flatpicking is up to snuff enough to start working on it. I'll tune this banjo to open G, like a 5-string without the 5th string... I also have an old tenor that I'll go with open Bb tuning with, playing it like a short-scale plectrum. Both of these are nice mid 1920s instruments that deserve playing.

    The reason I bring this up is that if you're working on flatpicking for mandolin, it applies well to 4-string banjos, perhaps a consideration related to building an instrument that has the short drone 5th string. Minus that 5th string, you're basically building a long-scale open tuning 4-string mandolin...

    You've probably considered this so I don't want to discourage building a banjola. But one of the reasons they aren't so common is that they don't have the acoustic volume of a banjo, a mandolin, a guitar, a fiddle or a Dobro, so they can't penetrate well in jams. Mic'ed on stage they're fine and they do have nice tone, but not a very bluegrassy tone, almost more like a mountain dulcimer.
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
    2016 MK LFSTB
    1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
    [About how I tune my mandolins]
    [Our recent arrival]

  28. #18
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Body shape aside '5 string tenor guitar' could apply..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

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  30. #19

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    [QUOTE=MikeEdgerton;1773999] your scale if that is correct is just a wee bit longer than a mandocello.

    Thanks again all, Showing off is never a good look, but it is always a good way to get schooled. I am here to learn. I see historically that these do fall into in the Mandolin family. Mine is obviously not unique (one of kind) It is definitely esoteric (for the few).
    I have made quite a few of this sort of instrument. All of the long ones I have made have a 25.125 scale length with the bass side a bit longer.
    All of my parts are homemade. I have not adhered to the Gibson or Webber standard which may be silly. I am loaning it to some players. If it is up to snuff, I will post a video in
    the CBOM group.

    Thanks again, Maurice

  31. #20

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Mr. Froese added a very nice sounding audio in this thread on BHO. The sound at least is somewhat is unique.

    https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/364274/#4623293
    Last edited by MrMoe; Jun-05-2020 at 11:43am. Reason: spelling

  32. #21

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    Body shape aside '5 string tenor guitar' could apply..
    I like that. Mr froese directed me to this I guess it is a Plectrum guitar
    (National Tri-Cone)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6NwcaTppco

  33. #22

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    I am going to call it a 5 string tenor lute. The A tuning may turn out to be useless, That can be changed.

    http://www.gibson-prewar.com/gibson-...er-model-lute/

  34. #23

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    I am still not finding a place for this to fit in. I did find my way back to the cafe, which is cool.

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...y-vintage-ones

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...son-Tenor-Lute

  35. #24

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Hopefully this will link an audio from Mr Froese
    https://soundcloud.com/user-394254588/youaremysunshine

  36. #25

    Default Re: Big Mandolin With Banjo Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by Graham McDonald View Post
    Here are a couple of pics of a baritone version I built back in 2016. Lowest string was a G (from memory) and it had a lovely growly tonality. Spruce, Australian blackwood body with a mahogany neck.

    Cheers

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I did not Know who Mr. McDonald was when I posted this. I made it to the page in his book with this image today. Jacob posted it as well. Thanks again Jacob and Mr. McDonald!
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by MrMoe; Apr-30-2021 at 7:57pm.

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