Tim O’Brien’s - Father, forgive me

I’ve become completely fascinated with Tim O’Brien’s song «Father, forgive me» - anyone who knows what instrument he’s using on this tune? Sounds a bit like low-tuned 12-string guitar, allthough there’s videos of him online playing it on what seems to be a mandocello. Anyone?

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Originally Posted by Archaeonaut

I’ve become completely fascinated with Tim O’Brien’s song «Father, forgive me» - anyone who knows what instrument he’s using on this tune? Sounds a bit like low-tuned 12-string guitar, allthough there’s videos of him online playing it on what seems to be a mandocello. Anyone?

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If memory serves, he's playing his very excellent Giacomel short-scale Irish bouzouki on the record. Tim also likes playing an "octar," which is an octave mandolin built on an archtop jazz guitar. Either will do.

Thank you so much! Figures he’s using something completely different.....amazing musician, amazing sounds!

(on the upside, we will need to procure an irish bouzouki ASAP!)

Thanks again!

best,
Torkel Johansen

"Tim also likes playing an "octar," which is an octave mandolin built on an archtop jazz guitar. Either will do."

Looks like he is using the "octar" in this video.
https://youtu.be/tfmukQd_hf4

Joseph Baker

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Originally Posted by Joseph Baker

"Tim also likes playing an "octar," which is an octave mandolin built on an archtop jazz guitar. Either will do."

Looks like he is using the "octar" in this video.
https://youtu.be/tfmukQd_hf4

Joseph Baker

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That's Tim's Nugget guitar-bodied octave mandolin. It has a 23.5" scale.

More information:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...-s-big-archtop

and

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...#39;s-bouzouki

Enjoy!

Thanks for the further clarification.

It's rather sobering to realize just now that Tim's Chameleon album came out 12 years ago.