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31 Jul 03 - 09:40 AM (#994131) Subject: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Den cookieless I just wondered if anyone had any advice on these instruments. How they play, what should I be willing to pay for one. Does anyone know where I could buy one in Canada? I can order one through a local music store here but they want $1000. Sounds on the high side to me. Any help from catters who play this instrument or can help me track one down at a better price would be appreciated. Thanks Den. |
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31 Jul 03 - 10:26 AM (#994169) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: John P They play OK, and sound OK. I've not seen any instruments of lesser quality and price that were functional in my opinion. Elderly Instruments has one listed right now for $450 US. (Type Trinity College into the search box at the top of their page). John Peekstok |
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31 Jul 03 - 10:31 AM (#994178) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Den Thanks John. Do you play the instrument? What are the main differences between their Octave Mandolin and their Bouzouki? |
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31 Jul 03 - 10:38 AM (#994180) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: John P Yes, I play. I don't have a Trinity College, although I've played on lots of their instruments over the years (I've taught octave mandolin classes a lot and spent a long time working in a music store that carried them). The big difference between the octave mandolin and the bouzouki is scale length. The octave mandolin is close to too short, and the bouzouki is close to too long. If I had to pick one, I'd definitely go with the octave mandolin. It is a lot easier t play and has a more solid and snappier sound. They also come with the bass courses strung with unison strings. The bouzouki comes with octave strings on the bass courses, which I think gives it a whimpy and somewhat indistinct sound. This could be changed on either instrument, of course, with a new nut and saddle. John |
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31 Jul 03 - 11:00 AM (#994195) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Den Thanks again John. I'm still trying to track one down closer to home. As a matter of interest, and as you sound like you have a lot of experience, how do you rate the Weber Octave Mandolin? How do you think they compare? Thanks again, D. |
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31 Jul 03 - 11:17 AM (#994203) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Wesley S Den - John gives great advise. He's a very talented player. I have one of his CD's to prove it. If I can chime in here I've played a few of the Trinity College and Weber OM's and I prefer the Weber. More of a solid sound to my ear. Your mileage may vary. If you have time to wait { about a year } you might consider a Davy Stewart. An excellent instrument for the money. As I recall I only paid a little over 800.00 US for mine - and it had all the bells and whistles. |
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31 Jul 03 - 12:07 PM (#994245) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Den Thanks Wesley. I've been to the folk of the wood site and listened to sound clips on both instruments and I kind of preferred the Trinity. Probably just my ear. |
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31 Jul 03 - 04:21 PM (#994459) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Wesley S It's tough to judge those things from a sound clip. If you have a chance you need to hear them in person of course. |
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31 Jul 03 - 07:52 PM (#994623) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: michaelr I bought and sold one last year (a Trinity OM, that is). Didn't like the sound -- too thin, no tonal character. Wesley has it right about Davy Stuart, a builder of excellent instruments. I bought one of his bouzoukis and love it, and since he's in New Zealand I got it for half or less of what a US-made instrument would cost (exchange rate works in our favor). Here is his website. There's an online marketplace for these kinds of instruments here. Cheers, Michael |
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01 Aug 03 - 09:06 AM (#994956) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: John P I agree about the Davy Stuart. I've played on a couple of his instruments and they were as good a deal as I've seen for the money. Good playing, rich sound, great looks, amazingly inexpensive. Another builder from that end of the world I've been impressed with is Graham MacDonald. I think he's from Australia. Fine instruments, probably a bit more money. I also agree that the Webers have a more solid sound and are better built, but I don't like them for a couple of other reasons: they are ugly to my eye, and they are alittle hard to play, much like the old Flatirons that the Weber folks used to make. Very well built, beautiful craftsmanship, great sound, stiff action. I used to play a Flatiron and still recommend them if you have strong fingers or are willing to lose a bit of tone quality by lightening the strings and lowering the action. I've been spoiled by my Sobell. John |
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01 Aug 03 - 09:24 AM (#994977) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: curmudgeon Den - Don't know what part of Canada you're in, but not too far to the South in New Hampshire, we have Bob Abrams, a master builder of these instruments.Check out his website here. Bob's instruments are almost exclusively played by all the regulars at our sessions. Good luck in your quest -- Tom |
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01 Aug 03 - 09:48 AM (#994992) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: John P Ah yes, Bob Abrams builds the Trillium insruments. VERY nice. A great value for the money, but probably more than a beginner will want to spend. The one that I played on was great. JP |
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01 Aug 03 - 11:13 AM (#995045) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Den Thanks, great info guys. I checked out the links kindly provided by Michael and they look like beautiful instruments. I was really hoping to keep the price to about $1000 Canadian as this is a new venture for me. Am I way off base here? Of the intruments mentioned above that you guys have played/owned could you list them in order of preference by make and model number. I'm really pushing my luck here but thank you again to everyone who responded. Its great to get the low-down from guys who know what they're talking about. |
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02 Aug 03 - 12:26 AM (#995393) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: John P I don't know model numbers. Preferences, of instrument mentioned in this thread, in order, with favorites at top: Sobell Trillium Graham MacDonald Davy Stewart Flatiron Weber Trinity College octave mandolin Trinity College bouzouki JP |
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02 Aug 03 - 10:23 AM (#995532) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Den Thanks again John. Am I being unrealistic as far as price is concerned? Thanks Den. |
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05 Aug 03 - 02:17 PM (#997289) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Den I've doen some checking and the only Octaves I can get in Canada are The Trinity College (which is on back order form the supplier till October), the Webber Sage (which at $1600 is out of my price range) and a Gold Tone. Has anyone played the Gold Tone or is that one to stay clear of? Thanks for the help. Den |
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17 Dec 08 - 01:35 PM (#2518059) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: PeadarOfPortsmouth I wanted to learn octave mandolin, so I ordered a Trinity College thru a local retailer. It's been a few months, however, and they still haven't gotten it from the distributor. For some reason, they don't seem to be able to find out when it will actually arrive. So I'm thinking of moving on... Any 'catters familiar with Gypsy Music mandos/OMs made by Walt Kuhlman (sp?) in AZ? They're in a similar price range (slightly more expensive, but handmade), and the opinions at mandolincafe seem very positive...but I thought I'd ask if there are any dissenters here before considering buying one. I'm not comfortable buying one without playing it first...but there aren't any around here... Thanks, Peter Peter |
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17 Dec 08 - 04:27 PM (#2518252) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Desert Dancer Gypsy's Music octave mandoline, from Walt Kuhlman, Scottsdale, Arizona. More stuff. ~ Becky in Tucson |
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17 Dec 08 - 04:32 PM (#2518257) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: JedMarum The Trinity College instrument is surprisingly good. I can't imagine why you should wait weeks, let alone months. I'd cancel and take my order to Elderly Music http://elderly.com/ I've bought from them several times and use their website regularly for research. They are good folks. Can;t say about the Gypsy Music mandos - but can vouch for the good quality of the Trinity College and the service at Elderly. Lots of folks have a string opinion about price, and the Trinity instrument is definitely low cost - but it is a truly good instrument. I have expertise in this subject and can vouch for both the instrument and Elderly. |
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18 Dec 08 - 12:46 AM (#2518589) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,astro I was over to McCabes guitar shop looking at a new Collings oval holed mandolin (looked great and sounded great too) and was talking to a gent who was also eyeballing it, then who started playing a trinity octave mandolin (black top) which sounded nice and which had a rich sound. I looked at the cover of Fretboard Journal while talking and listening to him play and saw the same individual with Ben Harper on the cover. Turned out to be David Lindley. Was a nice instrument and quite cheap (roughly $800). David was a nice guy too... astro |
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18 Dec 08 - 12:48 AM (#2518590) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,astro What was funny too, in my pocket are two tickets to see David along with a friend of mine (guitarist) who will play in January...a small world...Desert Dancer is in for a nice surprise... Astro in Los Angeles.... |
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18 Dec 08 - 01:32 AM (#2518594) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: open mike speaking of Davids, David Grisman plays http://gilchristmandolins.com/ |
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18 Dec 08 - 09:29 AM (#2518833) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Charmion I have an octave mandolin built by Peter Cox of Midland, Ontario. Doesn't look like much -- Cox often goes for the minimalist look -- but it has a firm, resonant sound with lots of snap. It's made with cherry back and sides, red cedar top, and mahogany (of course) neck, with a maple fretboard. It cost me $750, tax included, out of PC's tent at the 2005 Celtic Roots Festival in Goderich, Ontario. |
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18 Dec 08 - 04:24 PM (#2519217) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: PeadarOfPortsmouth well...I gambled. I won an eBay auction for a Gypsy...I'll give a report once it arrives. Fingers crossed. |
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18 Dec 08 - 07:10 PM (#2519356) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Jim Den, If you live near Toronto, you can try out TC OMs at the Twelfth Fret up on the Danforth. They also have other OMs and bouzoukis in stock. I think they're around $600Cdn. I have one of the old TC OMs, back when they had the fleur-de-lis on the headstock. I've been quite happy with it. I've seen pictures of their brand new ones, with a triangular sound hole, arched top and stylized TC on the peg-head. |
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18 Dec 08 - 07:14 PM (#2519361) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Jim I hope this link works to the new TC OM: http://www.themandolinstore.com/scri...idProduct=8700 |
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18 Dec 08 - 07:17 PM (#2519362) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,Jim Sorry, try this one: http://mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46313 |
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18 Dec 08 - 07:30 PM (#2519373) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: Desert Dancer Here's the Mandolin Store link: click. |
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08 Aug 10 - 07:33 AM (#2960507) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,metoo This thread is a bit old. But I would say go for the Trinity as a beginner. You can't go wrong on the playability/sound/price ratios. I picked one up at 12th fret in Toronto for $600 + case a 4 years back. Still sounds & plays good. I've used it in performances etc. suits me fine. |
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08 Aug 10 - 07:35 AM (#2960510) Subject: RE: Trinity College Octave Mandolins From: GUEST,me too Clarify: + case means case included in that price. |