There's a video I was watching this afternoon with the Vega Mandobass in it. The body on the Vega appeared to be three times the size of this one.
There's a video I was watching this afternoon with the Vega Mandobass in it. The body on the Vega appeared to be three times the size of this one.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I hope Tom’s shop gets back to me on at least the scale. I am starting to think this is a hybrid instrument or prototype like something lower than a cello but pitched higher than a bass. Then again would a Gibson or Vega MB be a contrabass and this be a mere bass?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Actually, if we assume the player's shirt pocket flap is about 4.5" to 4.75" wide, the scale length of the instrument would be close to 42", perhaps even a little longer. (On my computer screen the distance from nut to 12th fret on the bass is about 4.824 times the width of the shirt pocket flap.)
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
It's now safely ensconced in front of my Gibson J and my Kalamazoo, not at the asking price, fortunately for my marriage.
After talking at length with Tom Crandall, the working assumption is that it was a prototype or a trade show build. Tailpiece is stamped with L&H/Chicago. The body is obviously narrower at the top, but approximately the same width as the Gibsons at the tailpiece. It is slightly deeper also. It has 2 more frets than the Gibsons as well.
It does not have a endpin, but does have a decidedly not original side pin.
Sounds exponentially better than either of the Gibsons. Once the top crack is reinforced, it will be my performance mb.
Share a sound clip as soon as you have it home!
I'm glad to hear that this lovely instrument found a home. Do you play with a mandolin orchestra, and if so, which one?
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I'm glad to hear that this lovely instrument found a home. Do you play with a mandolin orchestra, and if so, which one?
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Thanks, I am really happy with it.
I play with the Ecco Mandolin Ensemble which is a quintet I formed a few years back (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIS...hXMzmQ_yedNnYA), and I also play with the more orchestra-sized L'Esperance Mandolin Ensemble out of Providence, RI.
Yes indeed, but for the full (Gibson) bass experience you need this
Am trying to post the Vimeo video here. Oh, well, forget it.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
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