ID This Mando-thingy

Subject: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:59 AM

I have a small mando-thingy that I'd like to learn about. The lady I bought it from didn't have any information.

There is a picture here. The object to the left is the body of a 12 string guitar. That should give you a feel for the size.

Anyone seen one of these? What can you tell me about it?

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Troll
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:16 AM

Could be a piccolo mandolin. My luthier has one in his collection and I think that's what he called it.

troll

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:18 AM

Hi Tony!

Nice photo...

Can I assume it's a round back, and does the top "bend" at about the bridge? The scale length looks shorter than most mandolins, is it?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:12 PM

Hi Mooh,

No bend. Flat top and back. The whole thing is no more than 2 inches thick at any point. I'd have to measure scale length but I it is very close to normal mando size. Only the body is smaller.

Rick Fielding has played it. Maybe he can jump in and answer the 'technical' questions.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:36 PM

I'm home now. Here's a more detailed description.

It is 22.5 inches long, 13.25 inches from nut to bridge, 5 inches wide at the widest point. The body is flat top and bottom and is 1.125 inches thick. There are no markings of any kind although someone wrote GDAE inside to remind them how to tune it.

I have been in touch with Elderly but told them I don't want to sell it. They may not respond.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Rollo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:56 PM

I have a copy from a book about building home-made instruments written by some flemish guy... When I see my brother next time I can tell you the title of the book and the author. Well... your instrument looks quite like one thing de describes as "Long Neck Lute, related to the arabian 'Rebec'". The dimensions of your instrument fit. the author describes a three cord tuning, but he writes that there are a lot of cord and tuning combinbations existing.

The most important sign of a long neck lute is the neck which should continue the body, not sit on it like a guitar's or mandolin's neck. The front view is okay, does the neck continue the body, when you look at it from the side, too? If yes, you can sneeze on all theese mando players... *GGG*

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:30 PM

Rollo, the fretboard sits on the body however the neck, while of different wood, extends the body in some sense.

I got a reply from Manodolin Brothers who, while not interested in the instrument, say it is likely a 1920's instrument. If it was in mint condition, which it isn't, and had the original case, which it doesn't, it would be worth about $300.00 (US I presume). They just call it a "skinny" type of no-name mandolin and refer to it as a novelty item.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:52 AM

So we could make up a name for the baby, yes? My vote:
Grecian Long-necked MandoUke. We could call him Glnmu for short, looks kinda like a good name for an alien Gael, doesn't it? LOL

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: bigchuck
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 09:07 AM

Acoustic Outfitters had one of these a while back and called it a travel mandolin I believe. I think I may also have seen one listed recently at Bernunzio's, also as a travel mandolin.
Sandy

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 09:13 AM

Looks very much like a cittern.

Spaw

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 09:29 AM

I suggest you contact both Frank Joy at Frets.com (click the "about me button on the page the link takes you to) ... and then Stefan Sobell (a UK luthier) - both are worldclass experts, in their respective fields, and I have found that both are quite able to communicate some via email.

Especially Sobell may have an interest in the instrument. He makes citterns, mandolins, bouzoukis, etc...

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 10:27 AM

some pictures for comparison

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 10:50 AM

a close fit picture (second from right)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:16 AM

Sorcha: It's name is Tiny.

bigchuck: Travel or piccolo mandolin seem likely.

Jed: Thanks. I've now sent email to Frank and Stefan.

Wolfgang: You're right. The piccolo looks a lot like Tiny.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Jon W.
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:27 PM

13.5 inches is only a tiny bit shorter than standard scale length for mandolin (13.875) so I would vote for travel mandolin rather than piccolo. To me, piccolo would imply shorter scale and tuned up a fifth or maybe even an octave. But that's just my opinion.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:43 PM

Stephan Sobell INVENTED the instrument now known as a cittern - an oversized flat back bouzouki-style instrument with ten strings in pairs.

The name is pinched from a medieval instrument which seems to have disappeared into oblivion...

As to your little mandolin - treat it with love and attention, and people will come to realise you're decidedly strange...!! :)

Good luck with it!

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 04:30 PM

Frank, at frets.com, thinks it might be an early backpacker mandolin and is perhaps called a mandolinetto.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 04:42 PM

Just one mandolinetto...

Give it to me...

Delicious music...

From Italeeee...

(Sorry! Just HAD to!)

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: annamill
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 05:07 PM

I saw a travel Martin in Hamecher-Shlamacher(SP) and asked to see it. They brought it down and I sorta played it a little. Sounded terrible and I had them put it back. If what you have is a travel mandolin, how does it sound? Is the quality as good as an original size? Just curious.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Tony Burns
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 05:26 PM

Sound? I'm not the best person to ask. When looking for a, addmittedly cheap, full size mando I found a big difference in sound even in the same brand.

The sound of the mandolinetto is different. I like it.

If Rick shows up maybe he can offer a more educated evaluation.

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:22 AM

I was always fascinated by the "kits", those tiny fiddles that dancing masters carried with them when they visited young rich ladies. At first I thought this might be something similar (a lazy dancing master with bad pitch on the fiddle..invents mini-mandolin), but if it's from the 1920s it'd be a hundred years too late for that.

It has a very warm sound for something that small....loud too. I'd love one. I'd make a tiny elaborate leather case for it, and take it everywhere. When folks would ask "what's that?" I'd just say, "oh I play a little mandolin!"

Rick

Subject: RE: ID This Mando-thingy
From: WyoWoman
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:26 PM

Cute, Fielding. Very cute. I keep seeing this thread name and thinking it says, "Mandingo," and it creeps me out because I remember those icky books from the Sixties and Seventies ...

Just thought I'd share.

ww