John doyle's new mandola

[mandomentch]

I delivered a new instrument to John Doyle last night at his concert with Liz Carroll in Portland, Maine. It is, for want of a better term, a long scale mandola.

Back & sides: East Indian Rosewood
Top: Reclaimed California Redwood
Neck: Mahogany
Faceplate, fingerboard & bridge: Ebony
Tuners: Gotoh 16:1
Tailpiece: James custom Trillium design
Scale: 19"
Tuning, as delivered: DGDA
Pickup: Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural I

Bob Abrams
Trillium Octave Mandolins
www.octavemandolin.com

[Glassweb]

I wouldn't consider this instrument a mandola... more of a cittern or an octave mandolin. I play a 17" scale mandola, and I feel that anything over that scale length is really getting into some other type of beast.

[mandomentch]

The names of the CBOM family can be confusing. I don't, however, think that the scale length is necessarily the way to define these instruments. For example, it is generally accepted that a cittern has 5-courses and an octave mandolin is tuned an octave lower than a mandolin, regardless of their respective scale lengths. John's new instrument uses a modified mandola tuning, therefore I think it is best characterized as a long scale mandola.

That's just the opinion of the builder and the new owner.....

[Steve L]

John's new instrument uses a modified mandola tuning, therefore I think it is best characterized as a long scale mandola.

That's just the opinion of the builder and the new owner.....

[QUOTE]

Ahhh, what do those guys know?

[12 fret]

Couple of questions...

I am a big fan of Doyle and was curious if you knew how he planned to use the instrument, primarily for back-up or lead? I don't think I've heard him play any of the mandolin family instruments so I look forward to that.

Did the Fishman pickup mount in the bridge or under the top?

Thanks and that is a gorgeous instrument no matter what letters follow the "MAND......"

[Mandobar]

bob!

that is great looking!

mary

[steve V. johnson]

Bob, thanks for the post, picture and description! A lovely instrument!

I'll make every effort to hear it soon.

Thanks again, and congratulations on yet another wonderful instrument.

stv

[mandomentch]

>I am a big fan of Doyle and was curious if you knew how >he planned to use the instrument, primarily for back-up >or lead?

When he played it in the concert last night, he moved "in & out" from back-up to lead to back-up....all within the same set of tunes. Not surprisingly, he plays the mandolin family quite well.

>I don't think I've heard him play any of the mandolin >family instruments so I look forward to that.

I made a 5-course cittern (he calls it a bouzouki!)for him in 2001. He has used it on quite a number of recordings, including:

"Wayward Son", John Doyle, Compass Records 4408
"Lake Effect", Liz Carroll, Green Linnet 1220
"In Play", Liz Carroll & John Doyle, Compass Records 4418
"Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul", Koch 8494
"Callan Bridge", Niall & Cillian Vallely, Compass Records 43482
"Memory Theatre", James Leva, Copper Creek 0199
"Kieran O'Hare", available from Kieran O'Hare

>Did the Fishman pickup mount in the bridge or under the >top?

The pickup is mounted under the saddle in the bridge, just as you would for a guitar. The Acoustic Matrix Natural I is sensitive over it's entire length, making it suitable for a variety of string spacings.

>Thanks and that is a gorgeous instrument no matter what >letters follow the "MAND......"

Thank you very much.....I appreciate it!

[mandolooter]

Its a beauty!

[jmcgann]

What a beauty!

Looks like a long scale 'dola to me too. (Mandola tuning with low C raised to D- why call it anything else?!!)

Both John Doyle and Trillium are da bomb!

[EdSherry]

Ahh, what does HE know? #After all, he plays left-handed! #Something "sinister," if you ask me ...

Seriously, a lovely instrument played by a monster player. #Great work.

[keithd]

Hi Bob - I heard John Doyle perform with Athena Tergis last night in Berkeley, and got a good look (and listen) to your mandola. At first, because of the longer scale, I did expect an octave, but the sound is very different, of course. A really beautiful instrument! It was interesting to hear Athena's 5-string fiddle (and she makes ample use of that C string) with the mandola, kind of approaching each other. Where was the redwood from?