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Thanks pops - yes, I think the style K doesn't have a heavy tone-ring and probably has a sweeter tone as a banjolin. I think Dennis Pash might be playing a Slingerland Maybell - it looks identical...

This is a great thread. I thought 'Waltz from Rashivka' sounded familiar - I think it is also known as as 'Broken Strings' waltz (here with lyrics): https://musescore.com/mhoangdang/scores/5478983 ...

Thank you Sheri, I really like waltzes. I'm sorry for my ignorance but is there a link to a 'contents' for your Drop Box of tunes - it looks like there are different folders for different artists but...

Thank you David - I am currently listening to The Silent Fountain download - it is lovely!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question David, Mick and Joe - I have saved to a list of suggested tunes to investigate further.

Also, scale lengths vary - you can find vintage banjos with 19 frets and a 22 inch scale length which is a nice compromise. I have a Weymann and Abbott with this scale length.

Lucas Sobieranski sometimes uses nylon/nylgut strings on the vintage mandolins he restores. Here is a video that you might find helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uivniw6pP1g

I wonder if anyone knows of any tutors who offer online lessons in English for Greek/Cretan music, or European folk more broadly. Thanks.

I have an old Washburn tango banjo - it has a mandolin scale but has 4 strings, an 11inch overspun metal pot (no tone-ring), goat skinhead. It is bright sounding but not too piercing. You could try...

How interesting. Thanks for your fun and informative experiment. Yes, no 2 did sound brighter to my ears (slightly 'thinner') than no 1 and it's interesting that it needs 'playing in' to sound its...

They all sound really good so I found it really difficult to put them into an order of tone preference. . I have listened a few times and I think my favourite is no 1 (followed by 5 and 6):

1 -...

Here goes - my first mandolin video! I usually play banjo which is a bit different in terms of left hand position. The first tune is from the David Surette book which has some lovely tunes....

Thanks Ky - I have just realised it is not glued down and I can move it. That means I can try a higher bridge. Phew.

I really love the hypnotic sound of Cretan music. It kind has an improvisational, Middle-Eastern quality - I wish I knew more about the tradition.
Here is Michalis Kontaxakis: ...