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Mandolin help...
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Mandolin help... |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 10 Jul 04 - 02:18 PM What's so difficult about waltzes on the mandolin Bruce? Graham's instruments look very nice indeed! Peace moo |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: Bruce from Bathurst Date: 10 Jul 04 - 12:18 PM I made the transition from guitar chord strummer to mandolin melody player about 25 years ago when our band's previous mandolinist made it obvious he was a drunken madman who should have been walled into his parents' house at birth. We were slow to realise his limitations, which was consistent with my ability to learn the new instrument. I bought an el-cheapo basic model and locked myself away with the first Planxty album until I could play the hornpipes without causing too much anguish to the rest of our band. The action on the thing was too high and the sound was kind of 'sour', but it took about two years for me to get better than it, then I bought a better one, a Washburn, which lasted another decade or so. Then I upgraded again to a custom made teardrop beauty made for me by Graham McDonald www.mcdonaldstrings.com and it's been all sweetness and light since then. ... unless you want to play waltzes! Then it's time to learn fiddle. The message is to aim to be a little better than your instrument, if you can. You'll know when you get there, and the joy of playing a better instrument makes you want to go one step further. Bruce |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 09 Jul 04 - 06:15 PM Jimmy Moon's website is linked from The Mandolin Cafe. Sorry about messing up my html. Loss of neurons problem! moo |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 09 Jul 04 - 06:14 PM Whoops-a-daisy! Lost a bit of my post there! Paul Hathway who works from Stratford in East London. Peace moo |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 09 Jul 04 - 06:10 PM If you're in the UK, a Paul Hathway model would also be good value like the Oakwood. Jimmy Moon The Clecky place I know has a good selection too. Peace moo |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: GUEST,CT Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:44 PM The Oakwood teardrop special... I'll look out for that, thanks Spot, and chat to Steve and/or Alastair. I'm in LIncoln, UK - not too far from Cleckheaton to just drive up and check it out. This is a pretty forgiving instrument, that isn't overkill for a new recruit to the favoured band of mandolin players (is there a special name?) I hope? I agree about the lerts, Amos - CT |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: Amos Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:37 PM Very best of luck to ya!! The world needs more of two things -- mandolin players and lerts. And anybody can be alert! A |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: Spot Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:29 PM Right, guest CT...hopefully you in UK...!! Contact www.themusicroom.co.uk in Cleckheaton nr Leeds, ask for Steve or Alastair, get 'em to locate an Oakwood teardrop special, buy it and start livin....wide fingerboard and power to spare..fabulous!!! Regards to all ....Spot |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: GUEST,CT Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:18 PM Greetings again - what a fund of wisdom and knowledge this site is... Aine, what's on my mind (in my dream?) is to be able to sit behind some musicians and add a fine descant/harmonic backing - the sort of line I'll whistle along to the radio country programmes. But to do this, I'd want to play also as an unaccompanied instrument so my 'practice' would have some theme... Does this lead me to any particular type / size / other at-present-unknown variant? Jon, thanks. I've heard/seen pictures of both these makes - Vintage, and Ozark - mostly in the wonderful descriptions in the Mandolin Cafe - so thanks again Mooh for that! Is this the sort of instrument one should never, never, buy unseen, unheard? Or would you buy from a picture on the Mandolin Cafe site? And is there a reliable second hand market, and what would be the dead-giveaways that it was duff kit? Any ideas gratefully received! CT |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: GUEST,Jon Date: 09 Jul 04 - 12:47 PM Instrument wise, I'd go down the route of the Romanian imports. Assuming UK, you will get something with good sound (actualy better than some more expensive models - or at least say some of these "beasties" can be loud) for under £100. The best example of one of these I have got my grubby mits on was one of the ones David Kilpatrick does (Troubador Travel Instruments) but you will find similar under the names Vintage (my own is one of those)and I think Ozark.
Blue clicky added by mudelf ;-) |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: Mooh Date: 09 Jul 04 - 11:47 AM I love the mandolin cafe! Be sure to check the resources, tunes, lessons, chat etc. Happy trails! Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: Áine Date: 09 Jul 04 - 11:24 AM Welcome to the wonderful world of Mando-idiocy! ;-) What kind of music do you want to play? That could be important in your choice of mandolin. And I can't agree more with mooman in recommending The Mandolin Cafe. Lots of great folks, lots of great advice, and lots of great music to be found there. All the best, Áine |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 09 Jul 04 - 11:14 AM At least four actually! (;>) Peace moo |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: GUEST,CT Date: 09 Jul 04 - 11:05 AM Hey - Learned two things already! Thanks! A valuable resource, the Cafe; and there are two sizes of mandolin (at least). I'll explore the site and find out more... |
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Subject: RE: Mandolin help... From: mooman Date: 09 Jul 04 - 10:52 AM Dear Guest, You can do no better than stop by at The Mandolin Cafe which has everything you wanted to know about the mandolin including tips on playing, builders, discussion forum, etc. Best of luck! Peace moo (player of small and big mandolins) |
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Subject: Mandolin help... From: GUEST Date: 09 Jul 04 - 10:45 AM A new year's resolution is to learn to play the mandolin. I know it's July, so it's time I learned about what sort of mandolins exist, where I get one, what it might cost, how I spot a good used model, whether it can at all be considered a solo instrument, what book will help me, etc... Any help gratefully received! |
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