Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: Fretless mandolin?

  1. #1
    Resident Hack
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    295

    Default Fretless mandolin?



    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

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Mitch Stein For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Pataphysician Joe Bartl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Adamstown, MD
    Posts
    452

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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"?

  4. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    High Peak - UK
    Posts
    4,167

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Personally, I fail to see any musical value in the video. Whether the thing is even tuned like a mandolin is impossible to ascertain.

  5. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  6. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Jim Garber For This Useful Post:


  7. #5
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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

  8. The following members say thank you to MontanaMatt for this post:


  9. #6
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Bartl View Post
    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"?
    Mano(Italian)-hand
    -violin
    If it’s tuned gdae, and played with the hands(not a bow), it’s a mandolin…no?
    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

  10. #7

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    If it’s tuned gdae, and played with the hands(not a bow), it’s a mandolin…no?
    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 )

  11. #8
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    North CA
    Posts
    5,013

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Well, I'd like to hear some Hindustani music on that fretless mandolin.

  12. The following members say thank you to DavidKOS for this post:


  13. #9
    Mandolin Player trodgers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Southeast Iowa, U.S.A.
    Posts
    181

    Default Re: 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

  14. The following members say thank you to trodgers for this post:


  15. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,500

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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!

  16. The following members say thank you to pops1 for this post:


  17. #11
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    815

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    Well, I'd like to hear some Hindustani music on that fretless mandolin.
    Me too! Sounded like a mini-sarod to me!

    Here's Oud player and teacher Navid Goldrick playing a fretless mandolin he converted (skip to 5:17):
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  18. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  19. #12

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    I have to confess that it did not soothe me.

  20. #13
    Registered User Cheryl Watson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    St. Augustine, Florida, USA
    Posts
    1,507

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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.

  21. The following members say thank you to Cheryl Watson for this post:


  22. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Guildford + Falmouth England
    Posts
    916

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    I bet it would sound great without all the slides, vibrato, and intonation(accuracy) issues.
    I guess you could fix those intonation issues by putting frets on it, Matt - then you'd have a fretted fretless mandolin

  23. The following members say thank you to maxr for this post:


  24. #15
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Auburn, Washington
    Posts
    1,551

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Not my cup o' tea.

  25. #16
    Resident Hack
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    295

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    Just like a fretless banjo, slides are why you want it to be fretless. You can't do a real slide with frets.
    Also vibrato. My wife is learning this on fiddle and when I was playing fretless bass, I always enjoyed rollin that ol finger. I think if this is the direction I wanted to go, I would lean towards fretless Uke, more than Mando
    What I play
    2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
    Eastwood 'Ricky'
    Morgan Monroe RT-1E
    Epiphone Genesis guitars
    Various Basses

  26. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Guildford + Falmouth England
    Posts
    916

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mitch Stein View Post
    Also vibrato. My wife is learning this on fiddle and when I was playing fretless bass, I always enjoyed rollin that ol finger. I think if this is the direction I wanted to go, I would lean towards fretless Uke, more than Mando
    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.

  27. #18

    Default Re: Fretless 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.

  28. The following members say thank you to HarrisonMandolin for this post:


  29. #19
    Resident Hack
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    295

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Name:  Wrong.jpg
Views: 489
Size:  39.8 KB
    What I play
    2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
    Eastwood 'Ricky'
    Morgan Monroe RT-1E
    Epiphone Genesis guitars
    Various Basses

  30. The following members say thank you to Mitch Stein for this post:


  31. #20

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by maxr View Post
    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.
    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.

  32. #21
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Guildford + Falmouth England
    Posts
    916

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    OK I give in, I just have to try playing the nyckelharpa with a pick...

  33. #22
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Invergordon,Scotland
    Posts
    2,858

    Default Re: Fretless mandolin?

    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

  34. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Dagger Gordon For This Useful Post:


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
  •