Tipple information anyone?

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 02:27 PM

Addd this to the mix, Sometimes the southern cats will run into a Tarropatch which is like a basstipple. And there is a tippleish instrument used by Mariachis. I don't know what it is called. And I have seen photos in SingOut of an instrument made of Armadillo shell that fits these descriptions.

Don

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 02:20 PM

My Tipple is a Stradlimer, its a secondary type, like a Harmony or better, an Alvarez. The other we used was a Martin.

Listen to Sloop John B, Coplas, stuff like that. Also watch TKT Reunion concert Video with all those guys and Mary Travers. Should see one there. Tipples were Portuguese originally, I think. Could be wrong there.

Don

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 02:20 PM

well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to give you guys a road map, but for more on South American instruments, including the tipple, please see the one I started on "Ronrocos, Chabangas, & Tipples". I didn't post it here because I didn't want it getting lost! sorry if it seems too repetitive!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 01:41 PM

I know you must be telling the truth Don and I've learned you are often spot on....Kingston Trio? No Kiddin?

Glad you like them.....I still think it sounds like a tinny bari. uke...sorry. ALSO...Did you have one and was it a Martin? Kinda' a quest we're all on here.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Don Meixner
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 01:26 PM

Years ago I played the tipple (Tee-play) in a local Syracuse band, In fact we had two. They are great for Calypso stuff. Dave Guard with the Kingston Trio played one alot. It has the high brittle tone you hear on some of their recordings that might be mistaken for a mandolin. I don't recall how it was tuned exactly except with the four courses of strings fretted like a tenor guitar "C" chords sounded in "F".

I don't play the Tipple any more because of a saw injury but I would if I could. It may be just the "diference" you are searching fore for the elusive sound in a band.

Don

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: j0_77
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 02:43 AM

Besides a *****in thing a 'tipple' is a drink usually alchoholic - usage is Blighty or Ireland If you asked for a f*** tipple in a bar there they'd probably serve up a large Scotch on the rocks and turn off the juke box - figurin you were in some sort of pain. :)

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 01:09 AM

Probably Chile ... probably heading for Toronto.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Elliott
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:56 AM

I saw one sticking out of a backpack in the airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. The backpack was attached to a young man in a group of five or six young men who were speaking a language that I did not recognize. Since I speak only one language the possibilities are immense. I supposed that the bearer of the tipple was from Latin America or South America. I have heard that they are actually played there.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:35 AM

OK, let's go to the horse's mouth on this one. I am a believer in the old (or new ) adage: "If you ask them, they will answer." Some mudcatter must know someone at Martin. Ask them to get Chris the 4th or 5th or whatever to come on the mudcat and explain who wants and plays the tipple. There have been two in Toronto for years now and they DON'T SELL! What's the deal Martin?

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Ronn
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:27 AM

If anyone is interested, there was a black vocal group of the 30's & 40's called THE CATS & A FIDDLE that did Mills Brothers-Ink Spots-type material and recorded quite a bit for the Bluebird label. Their instrumental line-up was string bass, guitar, & two tipples. Tiny Grimes played guitar in this band for a time. Last time I checked, their recordings were still available. Not exactly standard Mudcat fare (if anything about Mudcats can be considered standard), but interesting none-the-less.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:06 AM

Okay BK, I'll fess up first...Many moons ago in the music store where I worked parttime, we had a tipple, and yes it was a Martin...and no, we never sold it. Years later I'd just stop in to BS and the thing was still there. And it was still being referred to by the official company name...The Fuckin'Thing. Swear to God, it got that name because that was what the "lookers" called it! I hate to be extremely vulgar, but it was the TRUTH!!! Customers would ask, "What is THAT fuckin' thing?"-- (a Tipple) -- "What does the fuckin' thing sound like?" (You hand it to them, tuned like a uke)--"This fuckin' thing sounds like shit." --(well,uh...) -- "What do you do with the fuckin' thing?" (Dunno)-- "Why would somebody want one of these fuckin' things?" --(Dunno) -- "How many of these fuckin' things have you sold?" -- (none) -- "Can you play the fuckin' thing?" --(sorta'...you play "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune"...It was all any of us knew) -- "Hey, Far Out Man! That's a weird fuckin' thing alright." --(Yeah) -- "I gotta' bring So & So in to see that fuckin' thing." -- (Great)--------

Outside of that "usage" I have NEVER seen one played or used anywhere. And to the best of my knowledge, the "Fuckin' Thing" was NEVER sold. I saw it in the store in 1980 or 81 and Jim sold out soon thereafter. Probably took it with him..........

catspaw...who apologizes for the verbage but it was just that way!!!

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: BK
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 11:23 PM

Incredible! the mudcat strikes again; Years ago when I was a starry-eyed adoring Martin-can-do-no-wrong fan, I would visit the factory every time I came home on leave. There I would always see Tipples being made & was always amazed, cuz I'd been stationed on both coasts & travelled a lot, always browsing in any store that had musical instruments & going to hear whatever local folkie gigs I could find, etc.. I was always flabergasted at Tipples; I'd never, never, never, ever, ever seen one ANYWHERE except the factory (or the catalog). I'd been told they are tuned something like a mandolin -but didn't play the mandolin then..

I used to joke that they were not made for human beings, but rather for some sentient species from another star system who'd heard abt Martin's legendary quality and secretly commissioned their construction. So: a VERY few of the 'catters know of Tipples; Martin must've made a lot of 'em cuz I ALWAYS saw them on my factory visits, 'n where could they be going???

Therefore, I'm still wondering abt the alien species hypothesis (or maybe they're for leprechaun's - their equivalent of a 12-string??) They could easily leave a few of those many tipples around to allay any suspicians. But: what's next, gang?? Are they now breeding super aliens, large enough to play a dreadnaught? Will there be an invasion, in which they steal all the D-28's & D-18's, leaving the nation bereft?? What will become of us? Oh, Woe is us..

Cheers, BK

ps; Ok, for real now. As a group, 'catters have a LOT of expertise & experience. HOW MANY of us have actually seen Tipples being used??? Replies, PLEASE! Inquiring minds want to know... The National Enquirer wants to know, even Elvis wants to know - just before he leaves he building. Again.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 06:14 PM

Dave you could replace the Brazilian rosewood body with that of a dead armadillo, and the Chilean band would hire you.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 05:40 PM

Hi Dave!

If you don't own a Brazilian rosewood guitar, you may not be interested in a Brazilian rosewood tiple (such as are at Elderly). Here are a couple of tiples in stock at Mandolin Brothers. 83-1681 C F Martin 1975 T-18 Tiple, 370411, near mint, OH. A late model tiple in wonderfully clean condition, the T-18 has high quality mahogany back and sides, wide grained Sitka spruce top, multiply bound in black but with a tiny tortoise type guard (not made from Timothy Turtle). Head plate overlay is Indian rosewood, and it is blessed with three entire fretboard dot inlays of declining size. The tuners (5-on-a-plank strip) are nickel plated with white buttons. The condition is utterly stunning, looking almost as if it was born yesterday. On this instrument you can play your favorite rag: The St. Louis Tiple. **$1134

83-1122 C F Martin 1955 T-15 Tiple, 145580, vg+, OC. The all mahogany body 10 string Argentinean folk instrument, strung in four courses of 2-3-3-2 and tuned to A D F# B. This is a clean old thing. **$644

This might serve as a aid to you in gauging the price of the one you're looking at.

All the best, Dan

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 03:06 PM

Yeah...makes sense to me.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 02:10 PM

I suppose that Rick has answered the WHY question. They were invented for Chilean Bands whoplay in Toronto.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 01:10 PM

Bert,

I really don't know why and I'm a bit of the musicologist. I build dulcimers as you know, and I love instrument histories...but some instruments truly elude me. More portable pianos damn near killed the Hammered Dulcimer. That I can understand. I can even understand and enjoy autoharps (technically an automatically chorded Zither, remember). But sometimes things just elude me. I suppose there is some tipple player out there who will come along to sing the praises of the thing, and more power to them. Personally, who would want, and for what purpose, a jangly, tinny sounding uke?

On a brighter side, it's probably one of the instruments of choice at the "Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed."

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 01:08 PM

To Dave. Be forwarned, once you purchase the tipple (I of course have owned one) you will be forever known as a tippler. There are several books on Martin instruments and I've read a couple of accounts of the tipple's history. Although they don't say so, I suspect that it's nick name is "Martin's Folly". I've seen one used by a Chilean band in Toronto.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 12:47 PM

Catspaw,

When I read your post I thought you were in your normal joking mode. Which made it even funnier when I followed those links to the real thing.

Of course the stuttering comes from all those extra strings. Doi-oi-oi-oi-oing.

Although I'm a Mechanical Engineer my main subject was structures so I don't know too much about BTUs. In my younger days I would have found it fun to calculate the stress in that neck though. Too lazy now.

I do have one question though --- WHY???? --- The damned thing must sound like a bicycle wheel.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 11:30 AM

Tiple info here~~

Pictures of 1971 Martin T-28 Tiple for sale at Elderly

Pictures of 1927 Regal Tiple

(when you search for tipple, you get stuff about coal tipples, but that's interesting, too)

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 11:16 AM

If the stuttering is caused by way too much in-breeding, the answer is yes. Bert...try to imagine Baritone Ukelele mates with 12 string guitar. It has 10 strings, but only 4 courses. Take a great honking 12 string neck and put it on a baritone Uke. Add one more string to each string of the uke and an additional one on the two inside ones. Actually Martin made a number of these and as collector pieces they have some serious value. I'm not real sure of what the musical value is.

Hey...go to Elderly's vintage section under miscellaneous and they got some...WITH PICTURES!!! Elderly seems to have calculated the collector value. As an engineer Bert, see if you can count the BTU value.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 09:55 AM

What is a tipple? It wouldn't be something that makes one repeat ones self would it :-)

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tipple information anyone?
From:
Date: 12 Mar 99 - 09:53 AM

I recently saw a C.F. Martin tipple in a used instrument store, and I'm considering buying it. Before I do, however, I 'd like to find some information about it, how it's tuned, origin, type of music it's used for, etc. Can anyone help me?