1913 Gibson K4 Mandocello

**gregpoulos** · Oct-11-2012, 12:44pm

Hi,

I bought the 1913 Gibson K4 Mandocello that is discussed in this thread:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...913+mandocello

I had the crack repaired in Kalamazoo by a guy who used to work at Gibson back in the day and he did a great job.

Here's a quick video I recorded trying to get through part of a Bach piece. I'm mainly a guitar player so this thing is hard to play for me, but I'm having fun!

Thought y'all would like to hear how it sounds.

http://youtu.be/CR4BXCtajcU

It's fun to pick some higher notes with some lower open string drones on this - really has a nice low end.

Greg

**Jim Garber** · Oct-11-2012, 1:01pm

Greg: That sounds great! I could not tell: are you fingerpicking or using a thumbpick?

**gregpoulos** · Oct-11-2012, 1:32pm

Thanks, Jim.

I'm doing both :-) I usually use a thumb pick for 70% of the notes and grab the higher ones with my ring finger.

**Jim Garber** · Oct-11-2012, 2:06pm

Whatever you do it works. How is the neck on that MC? Usually teens have pretty substantial baseball bat ones.

**sgarrity** · Oct-11-2012, 2:30pm

Sounds great to me!

**gregpoulos** · Oct-11-2012, 3:53pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Whatever you do it works. How is the neck on that MC? Usually teens have pretty substantial baseball bat ones.

It's gigantic and it sometimes feels like I'm simultaneously going for a home run while I'm pickin', which is a cool feeling. :-)

I personally prefer a thin neck.

**Jim Garber** · Oct-11-2012, 4:32pm

I own a late 1930s K1 and that one has what appears to be an adapted (By Gibson) guitar neck with truss rod. Very comfortable but I have had some problems with the action getting higher due to the heavy strings. I had some work done and lightened the strings. It does sound good and is easier to play but i am more of a mandolinist that mandocellist.