Looking for Mandriola

[Phileas]

Hi everyone,

first I hope its ok to open an Mandriola Topic. I have read that the Mandriola is a special sort of Mandolin.

I want to buy a good Mandriola, but I only know ebay to look for it.

So my question is: Does someone here know websites where I can find such special instruments?

Thanks.

BG
Me

[Jim Garber]

I don't know if they are any more common in Germany vs. North America. Also are you looking for a vintage one or new one. In the US we pretty much only find old ones. In any case, any shop that carries mandolins might have a mandriola. They are tuned like a mandolin GDAE but have 3 strings per course instead of two, so 12 strings vs. 8 strings. Do you have a particular reason to want one?

[allenhopkins]

As used on this site, "mandriola" is used to denote a 12-string mandolin, with four courses of three strings each.

I'd search on "12-string mandolin" and see what pops up. You'll find a bunch of Cafe threads that may give you other places to look.

[Phileas]

I don't know if they are any more common in Germany vs. North America. Also are you looking for a vintage one or new one. In the US we pretty much only find old ones. In any case, any shop that carries mandolins might have a mandriola. They are tuned like a mandolin GDAE but have 3 strings per course instead of two, so 12 strings vs. 8 strings. Do you have a particular reason to want one?

I want to learn the Mandriola because I want the tradition preserved. Also I'm curious how it is to play and how it sounds. I have read, that the Madriola would be like a Mandolin with guitar accompaniment. The mandolin would sound "thin" compared to the mandriola. So I want to try the mandriola and play some vintage songs :D

[Jim Garber]

I don’t know what traditions there are but these are Probably fine for chords but are more difficult to play for beginners. Might be more sensible to get yourself a decent mandolin first and learn to play that then get a mandriola. Good luck, in any case.

[DavidKOS]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricordia

I used to work at a music wholesaler that sold "tricordia" type instruments - mandolin tuned but with 3 strings per courses.



I also recall 3 string per course bowlback mandolins sometimes being referred to as "Sicilian" mandolins.



http://www.stephensedgwick.co.uk/mandolins.htm

"The Sicilian mandolin was similar to the Neapolitan type but has a wider neck because it had 11-strings. The top three courses had triple strings with the lowest string on each course tuned an octave lower. The lowest course being 'G' was usually just doubled, but the modern instruments have complete triple stringing."

"and the Sicilian twelve-string (three strings per course) model."

http://music-aroundtheworld.weebly.c...-families.html

"and the Sicilian twelve-string (three strings per course) model." (same text as above?)

http://www.baltimorerecorders.org/mandriolas.html

"In Mexico the instrument is known as the tricordia"

[NickR]

There are mandriola demos on YouTube. Here is one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAb8aCt2y90

You could contact Lucas and ask if he has a mandriola for sale. I forwarded an eBay auction for one in September but he was not interested in it at the time but it sold for about £55- 70 euros or so.

Here is another demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7MGDrUXVs0

There is a mandriola on eBay right now in the UK but it needs work and the seller is probably asking too much as it needs work- but he may lower his price.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254806566545?ul_noapp=true

Mandriolas on eBay in Germany: https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from...riola&_sacat=0


Here is the website for Lucas: https://www.lucassobieranski.com/

[Jim Garber]

I also recall 3 string per course bowlback mandolins sometimes being referred to as "Sicilian" mandolins.

That antique Oscar Schmidt 12 string mandolin pictured above it the absolutely most common mandriola found in the US. In fact the OS bowlbacks are primarily 12 strings but only rarely have i seen 8 strings. I have also seen ones sold by Bruno. Years ago there was a 12 -string Gibson A I saw in a large used music store in New York City. That may have been one of a kind and a custom order. Well maybe there were a few made in any case. Speaking of cases they probably needed a longer case for the headstock for that one.