Originally Posted by
thx712517
I'm thinking of taking up the mandolin. I started learning 6-string guitar, got away from it after learning chords and a finger picking pattern, and went to violin for a while. Got frustrated with the lack of frets and the unusual playing position and started looking for GDAE-tuned musical instruments. Found the mandolins I played at the time to be plinky and tight to play, and wound up with an Ibanez AVT1 tenor guitar.
As time goes on, the stretch of a 23" scale is getting to be too much for me, and I've been evaluating a few different options. Option one is to find a shorter scale length tenor guitar, but the Kala (at 21.5" scale length) is the only one I've found to exist so far, and haven't been able to find it in a store to see if the reduction in scale length is enough.
Option 2 is to hack together something. Take a baritone ukulele, about 20" scale length, and put nylon classical string guitars on it and tune to GDAE. Not something it's designed for, but a possibility.
Option 3 is to reexamine mandolins. I'm in Georgia, north of Atlanta, but the only music store nearby is Guitar Center. They've got two models on hand, an $89 Savannah and a $249.99 The Loar LM-110. They're not fast-moving instruments so the strings are old and crusty on both, although the Loar's was slightly worse.
From playing those two, the Savannah had a lower tension feel but tone was crap (subjective, and remember this is Guitar Center so lots of people thinking loud is good), string spacing was tight for my clumsy fingers. The Loar was more stiff, spacing was still a little tight.
From what I've read, the Breedlove Crossover OO mandolin sounds like it should be a decent fit. Wider string spacing for a clumsy guitar player like me, and an appealing shape. I've had my fill of fussy shapes and F-holes. Problem is finding one to try out because my wife would shoot me if I paid $500 + shipping on something I'm not sure will work for me.
Anyone in Georgia that can recommend a shop to visit? I've done the usual round of Guitar Centers, Ken Stanton Music, and Sam Ash. Something $500 or below, for a guy who likes to play Irish and classical violin music.
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