Anyone converted an old violin into mandolin?

**MikeEdgerton** · Mar-11-2012, 8:17am

Nice to see Jake in the video

**Bernie Daniel** · Mar-11-2012, 8:53am

Originally Posted by Dfyngravity

I think the "thinness" in sound comes more from the pick being used in that video I would think. It's sounds really nice though. I would say it would probably have more volume than a mandolin strung up with 4 strings unless the mandolin was carved to be a 4 string mandolin. It think it would fit in nicely in a classical setting or even jazz...and definitely if you are doing solo material.

And some lutes, though not the entire set of strings, do have single courses. I believe it is typically the last two? So I think that a mandolin can still be called a mandolin if it only has 4 strings......a 12 string guitar is still called a guitar right?

I always call it a 12-string guitar!

Clearly naming conventions vary -- no set rules. I am always inclined to go with the most logical thing (to my eye). Four strings and the body says fiddle, the frets and pick say mandolin -- the tuning is a toss-up of course -- so take your pick (pun or not) I guess.

**Bernie Daniel** · Mar-11-2012, 8:55am

Originally Posted by Philphool

Nope. I bought that 'fiddolin' from Jake on a whim. Thin sound with any pick. And sadly, the instrument didn't hold up well. Top sinking has indeed made the instrument all but unplayable without the sound post. I have the post but haven't gotten around to putting it in to see what happens.

Sorry to hear that. How about going back to gut strings on it?

**Jake Wildwood** · Mar-12-2012, 4:06pm

Originally Posted by Bernie Daniel

Sorry to hear that. How about going back to gut strings on it?

Whoa, mule, whoa.

That's too bad that the top collapsed. It was a whim that I did on an old trade fiddle that came across the shop. I'd be happy to reimburse the purchaser whatever I sold it for (I think the $$ that I paid for it myself).

PM me and let me know, and I'll pop some PayPal over.

One never knows!

**Bernie Daniel** · Mar-13-2012, 3:00pm

Originally Posted by Jake Wildwood

Whoa, mule, whoa.

That's too bad that the top collapsed. It was a whim that I did on an old trade fiddle that came across the shop. I'd be happy to reimburse the purchaser whatever I sold it for (I think the $$ that I paid for it myself).

PM me and let me know, and I'll pop some PayPal over. One never knows!

Probably want to direct that comment to Philipool rather than me Jake!

**robertburdick** · Mar-13-2012, 5:38pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Close but I think it may be a smaller member of the viol family maybe tenor, small tenor or alto.

Just saying, the Viols are viola da gamba. Viola da Gamba pretty much means fiddle of the legs as opposed to lira da braccio: lyre of the arms. But yeah it looks like an alto viol.