Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

  1. #1

    Default Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Hi
    I play guitar in a jazz combo, and played a gig on mandolin instead of guitar. It was very enjoyable and I am considering doing it more. The mandolin got out of the way of the bass. The balance was very good.
    However the mandolin sound less 'idiomatic' playing guitar lines, so I thought a mandola perhaps would fit better? Any thoughts on this?

    My playing style is Pizzarelli like. Three note chords on all fours.

  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Five string electric mandolins are available. Click image for larger version. 

Name:	48236A19-B22D-4991-A241-FE16DA1F9E9E.jpg 
Views:	64 
Size:	950.9 KB 
ID:	196210
    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
    Arrow Jazzbo
    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
    Gibson F5L
    Gibson A-4
    Ratliff CountryBoy A

  3. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Bill McCall For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Question Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    I have what is a luthier's conversion of a A50 as a CGDA 4 string with a 4 pole pickup It's nice . though, I could part with it ..

    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  5. #4
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lakebay, Wa
    Posts
    4,162

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Get a ten string.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  6. #5
    Registered User Mark Seale's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    1,055

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Johnny Gimble played a 4 string mandolin tuned as a mandola. Aaron Weinstein posted a couple of videos this way as well.


  7. #6
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Octave mandolin with capo. Or cittern tuned down a tone?
    Semi acoustic might help too, using magnetic pickups and extra low action.

  8. #7
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Paul Buskirk is your man.
    Bren

  9. The following members say thank you to Bren for this post:


  10. #8
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    I have a copy of Paul Buskirk's CD "Nacogdoches Walts" in which he plays his mandola with Willie Nelson on guitar.
    Lovely stuff.

    There are some videos of Paul on YouTube, featuring him playing various instruments well, but none I know of playing acoustic 8-string mandola like on the CD.

    Here's a video of Mark price playing Paul's mandola -
    Bren

  11. #9

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    Mandola is in the tenor tuning range - tenor banjo and mandola are tuned the same - so that sound has a long history in jazz.

    I agree with the 5-string suggestion. Mandola and mandolin tuning in one
    VerneAndru.com | oKee.ComX

    - ---==< V >==--- -

  12. #10

    Default Re: Mando vs. Mandola for swing jazz

    I am going with a mandola, I think.
    Any thoughts on the Eastmans for jazz?

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •