Fretless Mandolin??

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 10:26 AM

I play an 8 string fiddle - but 4 of them are resonators.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 09:56 AM

quick answer after 2 minutes googling - Yes....

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 09:52 AM

.. thinking along the lines of what could be even more ear screaching than a psaltery..

bowed mandolin ???

Which leads to the serious question - are there double course 8 string violins ???

Any audio links ??

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,jonathan
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 08:24 AM

I'm thinking of picking up a slide thing like they use on the steel guitar. Any thoughrs?

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 06:36 AM

Bottle neck on a mandolin has be en done by Bill Caddick. See youtube.

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 05:21 AM

I posted this already but my message disappeared: check out the South Indian classical electric mandolinist U Srinivas. He's adapted the instrument to use five single courses in an alternating-fifths-and-fourths tuning. He's made quite a few recordings and there is lots on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 03:17 AM

Has anyone tried a bottle neck on a mandolin?
FloraG

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,jonathan
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 07:16 PM

I just finished my project. It's a mandolin with a viola fingerboard. I raised the fingerboard off of the top to try to get more volume. It has a nice mellow sound but little sustain. I love being able to slide up and down the neck freely.

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,Sorcha
Date: 19 May 03 - 09:44 AM

1) I have a mando, but it belonged to a friend who died and I don't want to mutilate that one.
2) Pizzacato on a fiddle just doesn't have the same 'carry volume' that a mando has.
3) Yes, the double strings kinda mess me up too.
4) Even tho we have 2 mando players, sometimes neither of them show up and some tunes just really need a mando break.
5) Want to try just for kicks and giggles.
6) Wish to hell my cookie would come back.

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 May 03 - 09:13 AM

Try a gourdalin and defret that-- it's a mando made on a gourd body, single-strung, and very easy action. They're pretty cheap-- see Elderly. Sweet tone.

And you want a mandolin.... why?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: mooman
Date: 19 May 03 - 08:23 AM

I suspect the high string tension and string break angle from the neck, as John explains above, will somewhat limit the possibilities.

I have, however, seen and heard quite nice-sounding results with fretless 6-string (i.e. not bass) guitars.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,Rex on the work 'puter
Date: 19 May 03 - 08:12 AM

Hey Sorcha, I have one that was modified by a fiddler that wanted the same feel as on his fiddle. So he put a fiddle fingerboard and bridge on it. It works best with just the single set or four strings. You can pluck it alright but it's sort of limited. You don't get any sustain. Just a plunky sound. Works better when you bow it but that's getting away from your idea. Good luck,

Rex

Subject: RE: Fretless Mandolin??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 May 03 - 08:26 PM

Why not just use the fiddle - plucked or strummed.

The main difference is that the mando is built a little "heavier" to accept the steel strings, and then the strings are "doubled" so that you don't slice up your fingers - which of course requires that it be made even a little heavier, which means you need the double strings because, compared to a fiddle, it's a pretty "dead" box.

Fingering "to the note" on a normal mando is going to require a lot more finger strength than on the fiddle you're used to. Get an old/cheap fiddle and try a flat topped bridge on it and see if you like it.(?)

If you do decide to try a "real fretless mando" you should expect to have to raise the action significantly, so that the string "breaks away" from the fingerboard sufficiently sharply to avoid muffling by the finger. Note that string tension with normal mando setup is very high - compared to most fretless instruments, so I wouldn't expect it to be very easy to play.

John

Subject: Fretless Mandolin??
From: GUEST,Sorcha
Date: 18 May 03 - 07:41 PM

Does anybody know if a mando would still be playable if I took out the frets and filled the grooves with epoxy? I have said for years that I could play the damn thing but the frets get in the way. BTW, adding frets to the fiddle to get used to them is NOT an option. (Although I have seen fretted fiddles in mariachi bands)