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Thread: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

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    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I am thinking of modifying a mandolin to make a traveller.

    ideas:
    1. Just saw off both sides in a straight line, straighten the surplus sides or just use some thin plywood strips and glue them back.
    2. Bend the sides in and cut off the overhanging top and bottom. needs a way of straightening the bottom though.
    3. Making a foldable mandolin with a hinge where the neck meets the body. Secured with a wingnut or a clamping latch.
    4. Removable neck. Connected with just to steelrods going into two steel tubes and held on by string tension
    5. Removable neck, held with two through bolts with wing nuts. Or a tap and one bolt.

    Has anyone done such a (crazy) thing ?
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    The Folks at Martin Guitar have done such a (crazy?) thing, maybe 15 years ago.
    https://reverb.com/item/564124-marti...acker-mandolin

    The Backpacker mandolin didn't sell well because of less-than-wonderful sound, and mandolins are fairly portable anyway. But they are around. I'd suspect that sawing off body parts will give a sound not much different from the Martin's.
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by EdHanrahan View Post
    The Folks at Martin Guitar have done such a (crazy?) thing.
    https://reverb.com/item/564124-marti...acker-mandolin

    They didn't sell well because of less-than-wonderful sound, and mandolins are already fairly portable. But they are around. I'd suspect sawing off much of a body will give a sound not much different from the Martin's.
    Yes I know them but I never understood the rationale behind the triangular body.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Poul: you have some travel mandolins already: “two unknown pocket mandolins”
    Jim

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Poul: you have some travel mandolins already: “two unknown pocket mandolins”
    Yes I have three although two are bowlbacks. But I can't stop thinking out new projects even when prior projects aren't finished

    There is also a chance that some of my ideas might produce a better sounding mandolin.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Well, just glue a neck and fingerboard to a stick plus tailpiece and bridge, add a pickup and your phone, and you’ve got it.

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Stoneman travel mandolins seem to be a lot like what you're talking about; of course, you forego the pleasure of sawing up an existing instrument!

    This 2011 thread discusses customizing one, and evaluates its sound etc.
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I have definitely modified a mandolin due to traveling, unintentionally.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Sawed part of the peghead off "The Awful" to fit in a dry bag for a river trip, worked great!
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I think you have to be clear what the criteria for a "travel mandolin" is. If you just mean smaller, there are many available options. If you just mean not so valuable that you won't get agitated if the mandolin is damaged in traveling, there are other options.

    If I put so much effort in making an object, as you describe, I would be very agitated if it was damaged in travel!
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    The mandolin is already a travel instrument.
    www.condino.com

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by oldwave maker View Post
    Sawed part of the peghead off "The Awful" to fit in a dry bag for a river trip, worked great!
    Yes, I have often thought that would work.


    Personally, I might look at a Seagull. It's very narrow and good for travelling. I can get it into an smallish backpack along with a change of clothes, couple of books etc, which enables me to fly with one one article of luggage, which I find is very useful.

    https://worldfolk.org/seagull-s8-mandolin-review/

    This is a video of me playing shortly after I got it 4 years ago. It's loud, and really pretty good. Note how small it is.

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    David A. Gordon

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by j. condino View Post
    The mandolin is already a travel instrument.
    Bingo. A mandolin in a soft case or gig bag takes up so little room, trying to make it smaller isn't necessary. Plus it will sound so much better than a sawed-off sawed-up one. I'm sure you've thought about that already, but are still intrigued by the prospect. Wish you well, though advise against.

    BTW, I used to put my F-12 in my soft full-size rucksack and take it everywhere - hiking, camping, tree-climbing. Never hurt it a bit, and was always glad to have a decent-sounding instrument whenever and wherever I stopped to play.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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  18. #14

    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Could always get a piccolo mando

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I have one of these, called a Travolin. I've taken it backpacking, it fits in my 40l backpack just fine. Its plenty loud enough for campfire singalongs and general noodling. Not much lighter than a mandolin, but very sturdy.

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    IMO a non-resonated banjo-uke tuned in fifths makes a great travel mandolin. Sturdy and usually lightweight. Loud too! And you’ve got instant volume control: just “put a sock in it” (between the dowel stick and head) to tone it down a bit.

  21. #17

    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by mjbee View Post
    IMO a non-resonated banjo-uke tuned in fifths makes a great travel mandolin. Sturdy and usually lightweight. Loud too! And you’ve got instant volume control: just “put a sock in it” (between the dowel stick and head) to tone it down a bit.
    Hey MJB, I'm intrigued by this. What size banjo-uke do you think works best? More details please!

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by Silverbeige;[URL="tel:1854801"
    1854801[/URL]]Hey MJB, I'm intrigued by this. What size banjo-uke do you think works best? More details please!
    I have several, but my favorite overall, and best for travel, is a 1920s Bacon. 13.5” scale length, 8” pot. Aquila makes a set of uke strings designed for 5ths tuning (set 30U). There are many other vintage brands that would work as well. Bacons are noted for a nice tone, but stromberg-voisinette, slingerland, Vega, may be good affordable options. I swap out the friction tuners on these old ones with gotoh geared replacements which makes tuning easier on these short-scale instruments.

  23. #19

    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I believe this is the droid you're looking for.
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...t-Mandolin-V-2

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Really nice design, there. I think the price point is a bit high for what the OP is after, though.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I played a banjo uke a very long time ago, it was a fun instrument. I changed the tuners to geared tuners, cheap ones will do. I used steel strings, with about an 8" pot. It sounded good and had lots of volume, but not overbearing. Gave it to my grandson last year.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  27. #22

    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    I’ve used my Flatiron pancake (Army Navy) as a travel mando. I’ve had a Martin, a travolin and tried the trick with a uke - the Flatiron is by far the best option. A big muddy in a soft case would be good too. I really wish someone would make an army navy style carbon fiber - that would be the ultimate.

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by poul hansen View Post
    I am thinking of modifying a mandolin to make a traveller.

    ideas:
    1. Just saw off both sides in a straight line, straighten the surplus sides or just use some thin plywood strips and glue them back.
    2. Bend the sides in and cut off the overhanging top and bottom. needs a way of straightening the bottom though.
    3. Making a foldable mandolin with a hinge where the neck meets the body. Secured with a wingnut or a clamping latch.
    4. Removable neck. Connected with just to steelrods going into two steel tubes and held on by string tension
    5. Removable neck, held with two through bolts with wing nuts. Or a tap and one bolt.

    Has anyone done such a (crazy) thing ?
    Someone a few years ago cut off the sides of an inexpensive A style mandolin and made a travel mandolin. I'll see if I can find the thread. The foldable part has been done but I cant remember where I saw that part.

    Here's the thread where they cut down the body.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    Quote Originally Posted by oldwave maker View Post
    Sawed part of the peghead off "The Awful" to fit in a dry bag for a river trip, worked great!
    That's actually great. It kind of reminds me of my neighbor that had an old pickup truck known affectionately as "Old Dangerous".
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: Has anyone modified a mandolin for travelling?

    This may be bending the subject a bit, and I don't want to hijack the post, but... Years back I was traveling a lot for business (Pickin' and FRETS) and wanted to take a mandolin on the road with me so I could practice while sitting in my hotel room. Rather than carrying a separate case, I built a rather durable mando that would fit in my hanging garment bag when the bag was folded in half (before the time of the now popular roll-boards). The body is basically a piece of 3/4˝ maple with a portion of the body - about 3˝ in diameter - routed out to act as a mini air chamber (what was remaining as "soundboard" wood is, I think, about 1/8˝ thick). The back of the air chamber was enclosed with a plastic plate (so I'd have an "air chamber") and I made a singular f-hole in the front. It had an absolutely necessary pre-embargo Brazilian rosewood peghead veneer and a carefully profiled neck (so it would feel right). And, of course, it had the absolutely necessary F-style peghead. It probably accompanied me on about 20-30 trips and never got broken. It now hangs on my wall but is still together and playable. And, in case you are curious, it sounded much more like a piece of wood than a Loar-signed F5!
    R
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