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Thread: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

  1. #1
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    Default why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Hey just wondering why there are almost no high quality carbon fiber mandolins? Is there something about the sound quality that makes them undesirable? I'm asking because I bought an Eastman 305 a year ago and it is serving me well, but I know an upgrade is in my future. I figure if I'm going to spend a bunch of money it would be nice if the instrument was physically robust.

    Thanks,
    QTC

  2. #2
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    There are some. But, as you may know, tradition seems to be very important for Mandolin building and buying.

    https://www.zmandolins.com/
    These are sold out now but who knows, maybe there will be more made in the future???

    Peter Mix was making them, Mix mandolins. Not sure if he still is.

    I also remember a recent thread here about Synergy Mandolins...
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Fiber-Mandolin

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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Well there was this company...

    https://www.zmandolins.com/

    Their website is still up so they may be producing another run.

    Marty Jacobson, who is a member here, has made a few, as well as Peter Mix.

    From the sound samples I have heard they sound quite good.

    Mandolins are a small enough market as it is, carbon fiber mandolins would be even smaller.

    Oops, Zach beat me to it.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Very occasionally one pops up here for sale in the Cafe Classifieds. Perhaps if you placed a WANTED ad here one may come your way. I think I remember reading in an old thread that quality and construction integrity can vary greatly from one mandolin to another even when from the same builder. If you can verify that I would highly recommend you proceed cautiously with a 48 hr. trial period.
    If you find one, give us a review. I, for one, have always been curious.
    A fellow I sometimes play with often uses a carbon fiber guitar that he purchased new for approximately $1800.00. Considerably less money than the carbon fiber mandolins I have seen offered for sale. It sounds fine to me and he appears content with it.
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  5. #5

    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I am fortunate to have one of the 30 Adamas MM80-NWT carbon fiber Mandolins that were produced by Ovation just before their New Hartford factory closed. It is a wonderful instrument.
    Last edited by Dave Bradford; Dec-24-2020 at 6:21pm.

  6. #6
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I have one of Peter Mix's , an A5.. it's on it's 1st refret, now.. His F style sold at $6K.
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    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Marty Jacobson made one as an experiment I think and as something to travel with him across the country in a hot car. I played it once when we were hanging out and it sounded awesome. Not sure if he's Planning to make more though.
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  8. #8
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I have a Z mandolin - sorta F style. I'm not going to paddle a canoe with it, but it sounds great and holds its own as a musical instrument.

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    See also this thread, and the mention there of EKOA instruments
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Fiber-Mandolin

  10. #10
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I have played one owned by a friend.
    I also tried some carbon fibre instruments at the late Stan Jay's Mandolin Brothers store.

    They have lovely bright and clear tone. Good depth too.

    Apparently the tone shouldn't develop or change any over the years as wood might. Nor with the weather or humidity.
    So I guess some days it will be better than an equivalent good wood instrument and some other days the wood will be better.
    Bren

  11. #11
    🎶 Play Pretty 🎶 Greg Connor's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    It’s -3 degrees below here in Minnesota this morning! Perfect morning for playing outside with a Carbon Fiber Mandolin. I’d love to have one.

    I bought a Rainsong Jumbo guitar (carbon fiber) a few years ago and that has taken all the stress out of taking my guitar (usually a Martin) in a cold car to play somewhere.

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think I'll keep my eye out for something, new or used, to become available. Happy new year!

  14. #13

    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I read this thread a year ago (Happy Holidays, y'all), put a request in on Klos's google spreadsheet, etc. Today when I searched, a Canadian company popped up with:

    https://www.synergyinstruments.com/p...style-mandolin

    Super excited seeing the one from synergy: this is a search I do regularly and haven't generally found any widely available carbon fiber mandos

    They're on this forum:
    - https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/m...rgyInstruments
    - https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Fiber-Mandolin

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    Registered User trevor's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I had a few Mix carbon fiber mandolins. The sound quality was excellent.
    Trevor
    Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    They have a storied history here. I'm surprised that the mandolins Peter Mix was building didn't continue to top the carbon fiber market but things change. There have been a few builders.
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by Timj_r View Post
    I read this thread a year ago (Happy Holidays, y'all), put a request in on Klos's google spreadsheet, etc. Today when I searched, a Canadian company popped up with:

    https://www.synergyinstruments.com/p...style-mandolin

    Super excited seeing the one from synergy: this is a search I do regularly and haven't generally found any widely available carbon fiber mandos

    They're on this forum:
    - https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/m...rgyInstruments
    - https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Fiber-Mandolin
    Prudent to exercise some caution in dealing with them. The Cafe has recently fielded two complaints about them per usual, because, well, they were discussed on this forum and therefore at least one of those folks think we're personably culpable for the behavior and response time of every builder on the planet. Of course we are.

    The specific issue is downpayments or payments in full have been made and the company is no longer responding to inquiries. I personally sent an email inquiry to Synergy about acknowledging and taking action on this, and email is the only avenue I'm aware of to get ahold of them. No response. I'd say if they want to sell their instruments through retailers, that'd be the way to acquire one. I know there are often reasons why builders don't respond, but there comes a time when you have the customer's money that a simple reply is in line. Right now they are not that organization.

    Further, to be clear, they were never listed in the builder database.

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by trevor View Post
    I had a few Mix carbon fiber mandolins. The sound quality was excellent.
    Hi Trevor - what sort of price do you think a used Mix CF mandolin would fetch in UK, if one came up? (PM me if you prefer). Thanks, Max

  21. #18
    Registered User trevor's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Hi Max,

    Sorry, I have no idea.
    Trevor
    Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.

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  23. #19
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Obviously, the advantage of CF instruments is ability to withstand extreme temperature changes that affect wooden instruments adversely. The construction method is different from wooden instruments, especially for carved ones but I don't think it is any less labor intensive. However, i also believe that handling the CF material is more caustic or even carcinogenic than most woods. Most of the higher quality mandolins are built by small or even one-person shops and most likely these folks would choose to work in wood vs. CF.

    Too bad that Synergy is undergoing some trouble. Their pricing for an A model as listed for $1900CAD is very reasonable, which might of might not explain their problems.
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    the un imbedded fiber dust is a lung tissue irritant purportedly akin to asbestos.
    but that's a builder's issue rather for the owner of the finished product..

    Peter Mix is said to use the expertise of Clear Carbon in Rhode Island
    the company also hired by the Luis & Clark Stringed orchestral instrument company in MA

    CC does a lot of work in the Yachting sector.. as their site promotes./.



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  25. #21
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    FWIW I Paid $3K for My A5 , with undisclosed issues..
    I sorted out the Tuner issue,
    the other issue was taken care of with a refret , after a few years.
    sent it down to Paul Hostetter.

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Would've been nice to have a continued supply of those Z mandolins.

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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    All that aside, doesn't the cold affect the strings even more (regardless of the body material)- causing them to shrink and overtighten and be hard to press anyway? In movies you sometimes see fiddlers in the cold, not sure that's very realistic.
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  28. #24
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by tmsweeney View Post
    All that aside, doesn't the cold affect the strings even more (regardless of the body material)- causing them to shrink and overtighten and be hard to press anyway? In movies you sometimes see fiddlers in the cold, not sure that's very realistic.
    In my experience, temperature isn't much of an issue with steel core strings, whether plain drawn or braided. Current synthetic core fiddle strings aren't much affected, but the old gut core strings used to badly affected by temperature, and even more by humidity changes. Natural bow hair (horse's tail I think) is also affected by humidity changes, in extreme cases it can make a bow too slack to use.

  29. #25
    🎶 Play Pretty 🎶 Greg Connor's Avatar
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    Default Re: why no carbon fiber mandolins?

    I dropped a suggestion with a local Rainsong dealer to ask the Rainsong representative about building a line of carbon fiber mandolins. I have two carbon fiber guitars that I drag around town all winter long. It would be wonderful to have a matching mandolin. No worry from the cold, temperature change, tuning issues etc.

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