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View Full Version : Electric Mandocello and Mandolin



Tweaky
05-04-2016, 07:15 AM
I see there is a new company called Eastwood that is selling a cheap electric Mandolin that I think would make a cheap and easy to build kit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiKXc2GwHg0

But what I would really love to see is a electric Mandocello, as this is a far more useful instrument if done properly, as it can basically fill in for a bass in a lot of musical circumstances, as well as a baritone guitar.

They are paired strings tuned in 5th's C G D A, with a 25" fretboard scale, you need a narrow neck width for this instrument of 1 1/2" at the nut, even though it has 8 strings, as if you space them too far apart it makes it very hard to fret.
Here is a video of what a real Mandocello sounds like when played by somebody well [Awesome], it has great range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAMe9pZwogY

Here is a cheap Jumbo Acoustic guitar converted to Mandocello.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW5vDVSl51A

A electric guitar conversion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7CNBGYo6fA

While searching for videos I stumbled across Eastwoods custom pledge program, it seems others have been thinking along the same lines and Eastwood is going to start making a few, cheaply.
https://eastwoodcustoms.com/projects/eastwood-tenor-mandocello/

tonyw
05-04-2016, 07:26 AM
Its good you bought this up, i need to finish my 60's Electric Crestwood mandolin from Japan, heres a little of what it sounds like.

https://youtu.be/MoWY4Vw_kfE?t=199

I wouldnt mind a Mandocello, but i am Jonesing for a Weissenborn, i am wanting alot of thing i cant have ;)

tonyw
05-04-2016, 07:28 AM
Love the idea of converting a guitar..

Fretworn
05-04-2016, 11:04 AM
Personally I'd choose a Mandola - in between the Mandolin & the Mandocello.

I've posted this before, but I like the idea of doing this conversion with the mini ST kit.
http://www.emando.com/builders_active/misc/Cordle_EOM_instructions.htm

Tweaky
05-04-2016, 12:50 PM
With a Mandola you are in between the two, and to be honest, I think you would be better off making it into a 10 string, rather than 8 string, to extend the range even more, as the in between scale length wouldn't compromise the instrument either sound wise or in play ability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmYWSRMEF7k

Likewise if converting a electric guitar with standard width fingerboard, you might as well make a 10 string [If it's a bolt on neck] - not sure I'd trust a glued in neck to take the string tension for any great length of time before having to remove and reset the neck.

Even if it's just more convenient regarding string spacing, rather than thinning a necks width down to accommodate 8 strings properly.
Not so bad to do on a electric, but the string tension is right up there.
On a Mandocello 8 string it works out at 185lb of string tension on the bridge.

Tekrytor
10-07-2016, 05:07 AM
I agree on the 10 string mandola concept. I've got a small herd of the instruments mentioned here, including the Eastwood mandola and an Ovation clone octave-mandolin 8-string. I've ordered a 10-string mandola that I'm hoping will combine the mandola/mandolin for me and get more range. What I would like also is an acoustic guitar-mandola(10) double-neck. Guess I'll start another thread for that. I wanted to chime in support for the mandolin and mandola kits though. The 10-string mandola would be awesome.