mandola tunings

Subject: mandola tunings
From: GUEST,synbyn
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 06:34 AM

having googled this- and come up with several different answers- has anyone any experience of stringing octave mandolas to open tunings without bending the neck, and can recommend string weights for this, please? the conventional tuning as per mandolin but an octave lower gets a bit twangy when you take it down from GDAE to say GCGBb, and putting the capo on rather reduces the effect of it being an octave mandola! thanks in anticipation...

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: Zen
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:00 AM

You can work out string gauge tensions with this handy string tension calculator. Generally, one should aim for a relatively even tension across all strings. Enter the tuning you want and play with different gauges to see the tension generated and try to achieve something close to the "standard tuning" tension.

Hope this may help.

Zen

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: GUEST,Pete Sumner
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 10:48 AM

I often keep a mandolin in ADAD....combine two packets of strings, one light and one heavier....and use the lighter G string for the low A and the heavier E string for the high D...
This produces an open sound that is great for song accompaniment....
The same idea can be used for the mandola/octave mandolin....the string tension calculator is really the answer though.

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: mandotim
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 10:52 AM

It would help if you could measure the scale length; octave mandolas (or octave mandolins, depending on where you live) vary enormously in this respect. Generally speaking the clue is in the name; an octave mandolin is intended to be tuned an octave below the mandolin, and therefore GDAE. Some people like to play more chords than melody, and often tune to GDAD, which is a common bouzouki tuning. Post the scale length, and I'm sure some of the luthier types on here will help out.
Tim

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: Zen
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 11:05 AM

I'm a repair person myself (or more accurately was a full-time one once). The string gauge calculator I linked to above lets you fine tune the present values with different scale lenghts, tunings, etc. for a variety of different instrument, hence its usefulness when calculating gauges when departing from the norm.

Zen

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: Zen
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 11:07 AM

preset values!

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 02:35 PM

thanks- i'll have a good look. the scale length is 20 1/2 " and it does have a truss rod, looks pretty stable. i too use a mandolin tuned GCGC, very useful!
cheers
Bob

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: GUEST,SYNBYN
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 01:21 PM

had a look- very helpful, thanks, Zen- think I can safely use D.012/C.014/ G.020/ C.032 which give figures quite like the 11/17/28/44 of conventional EADG tuning- i'll give it a go- may be a bit twangy ! i'll post how i get on...

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 02:02 PM

What is an Octave Mandola? I assume that since an octave mandolin is an octave below a mandolin (GDAE) that an octave mandola would be an octave below a mandola (CGDA), but some of the posts above make me think I'm wrong.
I own an octave mandolin and tune it GDAD. I use d'Adderio mandola strings.

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: mandotim
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 07:30 PM

The instrument tuned an octave below a mandola (CGDA) is in fact a mandocello. The confusion arises because the octave mandolin (tuned GDAE an octave below the mandolin)is often referred to as a mandola in the UK and Ireland. A 'true' mandola is tuned CGDA, a fifth below a mandolin, and usually has a much shorter scale than the 'octave' mandolin or 'mandola'. It's helpful to imagine the violin family; violin, viola, cello and double bass; the mandolin family follows these tunings; again the odd one out is the octave mandolin, which as far as I know doesn't have an equivalent violin type instrument.
Hope this helps; don't get me started on citterns!
Tim

Subject: RE: mandola tunings
From: GUEST,synbyn
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 04:04 AM

yup, you're right, Tim, i think what i have is therefore an octave mandolin, my confusion arose because it came up in the mandola section of shopping lists, probably because it's easier for UK customers to find it there... either way, it's a nice instrument with much more tone than an opentuned mandolin...