HELP Identify this instrument.

Subject: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: allanwill
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:28 AM

Went to the local Trash and Treasure market this morning and, as usual, looked at all the old and beaten up guitars in case there was a Martin amongst them (fat chance!).

Didn't find one, but what I did come across was a guitar-like instrument that I can't work out. It's about 3/4 size, has 12 tuning pegs and the nut and bridge saddle are configured so that when strung there would be 4 "sets" of three strings (lll lll lll lll).

I thought it might be something out of a Mariachi band but I did a Google search and couldn't find anything.

Anyway, I bought it ($15), so if anyone can tell me what to do with it (politely) I would be grateful.

Allan

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:38 AM

Hmmm? Maybe a tiple? Check it out on google. Bob

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:44 AM

The configuration would be right for a twelve string mandolin-Could it be a twelve string mandola?Thats the best idea I can come up with.
Nut for fifteen dollars it would make a wall ornament if nothing else.

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:52 AM

Theres this on ebay just now 12string mandolin .
I think theres a South American instraument which has a guitar shaped body and rounded back sometimes made from an Armadillo but I ca't remember the name.

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:00 AM

The South American instrument is known as a Charanga. Even though it is supposedly illegal to kill armadillos for the purpose, an awful lot of the groups seem to have them. I don't know what the other is.

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Merritt
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:24 AM

That's "charango" with an O. Am sorry for all the armadillos who've given their lives, but that is a beautiful-sounding instrument.

Charangos, as far as I'm aware, have only 10 strings, so it's probably not the solution to the mystery instrument question.

- Merritt

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: allanwill
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:25 AM

Checking out Google, I would say it is a Tiple. One definition says "A small instrument of the guitar family, similar to a ukulele, with 12 strings in 4 sets. Associated with the Andean region of Colombia"

Tuning seems to be at varisnce. There's this:


Tiple Strings

The Spanish word for 'treble' or 'soprano,' often applied to specific instruments. A small guitar of Spain, Columbia, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. In Spain the tiple has fewer strings than the guitarra, and is strummed. The Colombian tiple is slightly smaller than the guitar, with four courses of metal strings tuned to the same pitches as the four upper strings of the guitar, but with the middle string of the three lowest courses tuned an octave lower. Courtesy of New Grove DMI © 1995.

and this:

The tiple (pronounced "Tee-Play") is a South American instrument, and comes in many shapes and sizes there, but C. F. Martin made only one size. This model is the bottom-of-the-line T-15, "just plain mahogany", with a rosewood fretboard. It is sometimes described as a "10-string Ukulele," but it's a lot more than that. It has four sets of strings, tuned left to right   F (high,low), Bb (high, low, high), D (high, low, high), G (high, high). That's a baritone tuning, but it has a thicker body than a Baritone, and a strong robust sound, like two or three ukes of various sizes playing together.   You can play it with finger or pick, depending on how much volume you want.

Bummer - the one I bought is not a Martin.

Anyway, thanks Deckman and others. All I've got to do now is work out how to incorporate it into the group.

Allan

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 05:16 PM

Yep, sure sounds like it's a tiple. Never seen one but I've heard a lot about them. Sounds like a real find. Congrats.

Check out this page for a couple of related instruments:

http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Guitars/LatinAmerican/Latin-page.html

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:06 PM

The apparent late Terry Wadsworth played one in the seattle days in the late 50's. And yes, his was a Martin, and it was all mahogany. Hey ... do I get a gold star for a lucky guess! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:15 PM

Im my experience a Tiple has Ten strings. At least the one I play has only ten. There is another instrument that it may be cal;led a Taropatch. About the same size and sold by catalog houses in the teens and twenties.

Don

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:18 PM

Hmmm? Maybe can I still get a star, maybe green, or blue? bob

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:19 PM

In a google search all the Taropatches I find are 8 strings, well search may well still be on.

Could it be a Banduria, from Portugal?

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:21 PM

Type Banduria into Ebay. Is that the instrument?

Don

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Benjamin
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:31 PM

It actually sounds somewhat like a filipino (sorry, I don't know how that's spelled) insturment a friend showed me. The one I saw is probably at least related a tiple as the instruments rootes would of Spanish as well. If nothing else, I agree that it would make a great ornament

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 12:35 AM

Where's our resident expert on Tiples?

HEY SPAW - WAKE UP.

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: Hrothgar
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 03:33 AM

I thought Spaw was an expert on tipples.

Subject: RE: HELP Identify this instrument.
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 04:31 AM

In light of his apparent somnolence, perhaps I could step in with an important message? Learn all about tiples, according to Spaw and other Great Minions of the Mudcat! Just mind your tea and click HERE!.