View Profile: DavidKOS - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Today, 7:21am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Pick Thickness in Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks

Sometimes I use one as thin as 2.5mm! Gypsy jazz style is the only style I use a pick thicker than 1mm.

30 replies | 705 view(s)

Yesterday, 12:55pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin Banjo? in General Mandolin Discussions

Jeff, I agree with everything you said but one thing - tuning stability. If you are using a plastic head, a banjo (mandobanjo too) can be very...

39 replies | 802 view(s)

Yesterday, 12:54pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Definition of a good mandolin player’s spouse in General Mandolin Discussions

I can't complain - besides my wife is a musician too!

28 replies | 923 view(s)

Jan-18-2021, 11:43pm

Explorer replied to a thread Holding an octave mandolin like a classical guitar in CBOM

All my instruments get positioned like that with a strap, whether I'm sitting or standing. The neck, more vertical than most people use, leaves both...

9 replies | 529 view(s)

Jan-18-2021, 6:01pm

Explorer replied to a thread OM fingering in CBOM

When I started playing full fifths at a 25.5" scale length, I spent a *lot* of time mastering the exercises from "Getting into Jazz Mandolin" as...

3 replies | 163 view(s)

Jan-18-2021, 9:47am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Rest Strokes - a means to an end, or part of regular technique? in Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks

Rest stroke techniques are also part of Gypsy jazz picking and in what's also called "economy picking" where successive downstrokes are used when...

9 replies | 377 view(s)

Jan-17-2021, 11:30am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

Great classic tunes....but only for certain styles of music. None of those tunes would work for the audiences I've played for, nor would be...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-17-2021, 9:35am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Pick Thickness in Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks

My choice these days:

30 replies | 705 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 7:12pm

Explorer replied to a thread Replacing Tuners in Builders and Repair

When I recently replaced the tuners on an old Flatiron mandola, given that the strings had been changed just the day before, I marked the bridge...

6 replies | 262 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 6:37pm

Explorer replied to a thread To look at the mando or not? in Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks

I look if I have to, usually when moving 7 frets or more up and down the fretboard. "Skating" by Vince Guaraldi, "Somewhere over the Rainbow,"...

27 replies | 812 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 2:41pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

It was a big hit in my Italian-American family, and I played that tune at over 10 years worth of Italian Cabaret gigs with a group of singers that...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 1:24pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

it works really well. One highlight of my early mandolin career was playing "Lara's Theme" on a bowlback mandolin as the soloist with the New...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 1:21pm

mandopops replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

David, yes shared opinions again, bro. In addition to the Neapolitan tunes adding those Italian pop tunes would usually go over good. Another is...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 12:07pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

Thanks for seconding that opinion! And I've played my share of stuff like "Mala Femina", "Al Di La", and even "That's Amore"! Nice hearing from...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 10:45am

mandopops replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

The Godfather, either the Love theme or the Waltz. People would recognize both. I am dating myself here. This does go back to 70’s early 80’s in New...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 9:41am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

No slackers in that group! Is it just me or do I hear some echoes of Dixieland banjo in that tune?

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-16-2021, 9:37am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Clean fretting where there's more finger than board? in Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks

That may be true, both in terms of one's ear getting used to those very high pitches, and for the instrument itself to "open up" its sound in the...

11 replies | 726 view(s)

Jan-15-2021, 2:25pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

Funny you mention "Maggie May". That song first came out at about the same time my Italian grandmother gave me my first mandolin. Although...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-15-2021, 11:26am

mandopops replied to a thread Looking for some new tunes in Jazz/Blues Variants, Bossa, Choro, Klezmer

Will Patton is great. He's in the Swing to Bop & Gypsy bag. He has several albums. String Theory & 6th St Runaround are both very good. Joe B

9 replies | 389 view(s)

Jan-15-2021, 11:01am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Polyetherimide plectra in Orchestral, Classical, Italian, Medieval, Renaissance

Yes, those picks are a bit thin for my taste too. Not just thin, but not stiff enough too.

21 replies | 952 view(s)

Jan-15-2021, 10:56am

DavidKOS replied to a thread Mandolin flagship song? in General Mandolin Discussions

So as one that is NOT primarily a BG player, songs that I am expected to play are: the most common wedding tarantella and all the other Italian...

83 replies | 2575 view(s)

Jan-15-2021, 10:52am

mandopops replied to a thread Looking for some new tunes in Jazz/Blues Variants, Bossa, Choro, Klezmer

Jazz Mandolin Project with Jamie Masefield made several albums. Check them out if you’re looking for something different from the more common swing...

9 replies | 389 view(s)

Jan-14-2021, 10:00pm

Explorer replied to a thread more accurate clip on tuner than Snark? in Equipment

I have a few different tuners for different needs. First, all instruments have a Planet Waves NS Headstock Tuner in the pocket, placed on the...

58 replies | 6430 view(s)

Jan-13-2021, 6:02pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Polyetherimide plectra in Orchestral, Classical, Italian, Medieval, Renaissance

Very slight - the Dunlop picks are just a tiny bit better finished, but I can use either brand happily. I use this pick on most guitars (not for...

21 replies | 952 view(s)

Jan-13-2021, 2:27pm

DavidKOS replied to a thread Polyetherimide plectra in Orchestral, Classical, Italian, Medieval, Renaissance

I've used both Clayton Ultem and Dunlop Ultex as a go-to pick for some time now. I prefer the standard size "sharp" shaped picks: These work...

21 replies | 952 view(s)

Jan-12-2021, 8:53pm

Explorer replied to a thread The Joy of an OM in CBOM

Congratulations! For me, 20" is the longest comfortable scale length for a mando-tuned instrument. I'm glad you're playing the heck out it!

25 replies | 1081 view(s)

Jan-12-2021, 8:29pm

Explorer replied to a thread Mandolin Tuned as a Mandola in CBOM

I did this last week on my JBovier Army Navy pancake. I lucked out that the nut slots already fit the string set I had previously determined to fit...

5 replies | 341 view(s)

Jan-10-2021, 10:46pm

Explorer replied to a thread Curious about mandola nomenclature in General Mandolin Discussions

I can't turn off this device's tendency to autocorrect *after* hitting the submit button, which is frustrating. I also had the word "overbuilt"...

16 replies | 870 view(s)

Jan-10-2021, 6:49pm

Explorer replied to a thread Looking for a bridge in Builders and Repair

With a zero fret, the nut is only there for string spacing. The strings should be resting firmly on the zero fret.

22 replies | 848 view(s)