scotland_aidan - Posted - 04/10/2014:  10:40:40

Hi everyone. Aidan from the UK here. I've been picking for some time now, and would love a good quality mandola that I could use for gigs. I don't, however, want to spend any more than £400 (671 USD) including shipping to UK. Any advice? I sniffed out this one: scayles.co.uk/ProductDetails?ID=NDEx Is it any good for performing/recording? BTW, I'd prefer one of those that is tuned GDAE rather than CGDA. What are they called? Octave? Tenor? You're the experts, so tell me!

Edited by - scotland_aidan on 04/10/2014 10:48:33

TSSN - Posted - 04/10/2014:  20:18:54

Hello.  I'm not familiar with that make or model.  However, I have a Mid-Missouri mandola (an M-14) that I paid about that much for that I use for performing and recording.  I have mine tuned CGDA, but I am told that it could be tuned up to GDAE.  In fact, the fellow from whom I bought it had it tuned like a mandolin (GDAE).  I hope this helps.

Edited by - TSSN on 04/10/2014 20:19:50

Rob Beck - Posted - 04/11/2014:  02:25:34

Hello Aiden,

I also do not know the particular instrument, but it looks like a rebranded one of these , which have a reasonable reputation, but as regards what they are called, it varies depending upon where in the world you are.  As I understand it, a Mandola will be tuned CGDA, and relates to the mandolin the same way a viola relates to a violin.  

If it is tuned GDAE, you are probably talking about what the Americans call an Octave Mandolin, and what we call an Octave Mandola (or apparently also a Tenor Mandola). basically a larger instrument tuned an octave below the mandolin. (To my mind, we shouldn't call it an octave mandola, because it is tuned differently to a viola) but there is lots of debate about this!

Hope this helps!

scotland_aidan - Posted - 04/11/2014:  02:35:19

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

 

Hello.  I'm not familiar with that make or model.  However, I have a Mid-Missouri mandola (an M-14) that I paid about that much for that I use for performing and recording.  I have mine tuned CGDA, but I am told that it could be tuned up to GDAE.  In fact, the fellow from whom I bought it had it tuned like a mandolin (GDAE).  I hope this helps.

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Thanks for this. Where could I get one from?

scotland_aidan - Posted - 04/11/2014:  02:41:43

quote:

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Originally posted by Robbie Ray Mojo

 

Hello Aiden,

I also do not know the particular instrument, but it looks like a rebranded one of these , which have a reasonable reputation, but as regards what they are called, it varies depending upon where in the world you are.  As I understand it, a Mandola will be tuned CGDA, and relates to the mandolin the same way a viola relates to a violin.  

If it is tuned GDAE, you are probably talking about what the Americans call an Octave Mandolin, and what we call an Octave Mandola (or apparently also a Tenor Mandola). basically a larger instrument tuned an octave below the mandolin. (To my mind, we shouldn't call it an octave mandola, because it is tuned differently to a viola) but there is lots of debate about this!

Hope this helps!

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I think you're right about the rebrand- the only difference is the shape of the sound-hole. Thanks for the info about the different types, too.

TSSN - Posted - 04/11/2014:  04:42:13

quote:

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Originally posted by scotland_aidan

 

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN 

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Thanks for this. Where could I get one from?

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You're welcome.  Mid-Missouri's and Big Muddys are out there, but buying online is always an uncertain proposition.  You could try contacting Mike Dulak directly at his new shop:  bigmuddymandolin.com/   .

Edited by - TSSN on 04/11/2014 04:45:02