I'm not sure how to feel about this. Can someone tell me how I feel?
I'm not sure how to feel about this. Can someone tell me how I feel?
What I play
2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
Eastwood 'Ricky'
Morgan Monroe RT-1E
Epiphone Genesis guitars
Various Basses
I really enjoyed this. But it does raise the question: what is a mandolin? This instrument is shaped like a mandolin, but it has only four strings and no frets. There are ukes shaped like guitars, but would anyone call them "guitars"?
Personally, I fail to see any musical value in the video. Whether the thing is even tuned like a mandolin is impossible to ascertain.
We still call 4 string electrics mandolins, right? And he is playing it like a mandolin with a pick. I say it *is* what he says it is: a fretless mandolin. Obviously uses lots of slides. I suppose if he started bowing it I might say he is playing a bowed fretless mandolin played like a violin. Hybrids often make some of us uncomfortable. Including me at times.
Jim
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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
I bet it would sound great without all the slides, vibrato, and intonation(accuracy) issues.
I can pluck the fiddle, with a pick, at full speed, held at my chest. It’s in tune.
I’d love to take that thing for a spin.
As to how I feel, not soothed.
2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
Several nice old Fiddles
2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
Deering Classic Open Back
Too many microphones
BridgerCreekBoys.com
2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
Several nice old Fiddles
2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
Deering Classic Open Back
Too many microphones
BridgerCreekBoys.com
Hmm...
I definitely could have played it more like a mndln - more single line, tremolo, etc - but even with a soft risha I wasn't going to do that on my high string...hdgfl strings are $*&% expensive. (The reason I made the vid was to demonstrate how much more mndln-like a hdgfl is compared with a std fiddle - the resonance being what distinguishes it, although it doesn't come through in the vid )
Well, I'd like to hear some Hindustani music on that fretless mandolin.
I like it. Soothing indeed.
I am utterly ignorant of the proper terminology and forms of various folk music forms ranging from the middle to far east, but to my novice ears this recording seems to head in that direction.
“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher ‘standard of living’ is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” -- Aldo Leopold
Just like a fretless banjo, slides are why you want it to be fretless. You can't do a real slide with frets.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.
I have to confess that it did not soothe me.
You feel irritated, confused, discombobulated?
I think it takes great skill to play a fretless instrument the correct way to sound in tune and pleasant to the ears. Fretless is great for the Turkish and Middle East music of course and sounds really cool.
Not my cup o' tea.
What I play
2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
Eastwood 'Ricky'
Morgan Monroe RT-1E
Epiphone Genesis guitars
Various Basses
I think vibrato works to an extent on fretted instruments, Mitch. There's the 'guitar vibrato' of pulling the string/s sideways across the board, like tiny string bending movements. But I think fiddle vibrato can also add something subtle to e.g. a dying note on mandolin.
I think it's great that the forums are a space for folks to share their opinions, but I think it's kind to assume that if someone built/commissioned/plays a fretless mandolin, they might see this thread on the MandolinCafe. I know if it was my video, my heart would hurt reading some of these comments. Good for them for being vulnerable and posting this whether or not folks like it.
What I play
2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
Eastwood 'Ricky'
Morgan Monroe RT-1E
Epiphone Genesis guitars
Various Basses
My now almost favorite instrument, concert uke tuned viola, does vibrato and sort of glissando, bends, with those soft strings. (Aquila makes the conversion strings). I would like to try a GDAE fretless mandolin anyway. Sitting last chair 2nd violins in grade school, I could have really used a violin with frets.
OK I give in, I just have to try playing the nyckelharpa with a pick...
If you want to play maqam Middle Eastern music like an oud player, I can certainly see why you might want a fretless mandolin.
I did vaguely check into this after I had been on a course at Labyrinth Music Workshop in Crete.
Not a daft idea at all.
David A. Gordon
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