Mandola vs Octave Mandolin
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 03:12:46 -0700
Subject: Folk of the Wood's Acoustic Online Store Feedback
What the heck is the diff between an octave mandolin and a mandola?
The main difference is the scale length of the neck. The longer neck accommodates a thicker gauge string and lower tuning. It's the opposite with the shorter scale of the mandola. Hence the tuning on the Octave is exactly one octave lower than mandolin: G D A E. The tuning on the Mandola is one fourth lower than mandolin: C G D A. Both are still tuned in fifths...so, you're given the same intervals as the mandolin or violin family. If you're looking for a full voice, or an instrument to play with one guitar or by itself, the Octave is the way to go...the Mandola makes for a better ensemble instrument. Both work well within Celtic settings.
Is the tuning and strings of a tenor banjo the same as a mandola?
The tuning is the same...the strings are different...and the scale length is also different. The Tenor banjo only requires 4 strings...the Mandola requires 8 strings. Because there are only 4 strings on the Tenor, the scale length can be slightly longer without any added tension...the 8 strings increases the tension on the neck twofold...therefore, the shorter scale length allows the higher tuning of C G D A without too much more added stress on the neck.
I just discovered your website and am very impressed. We should do business in the future
Thanx, Big Frank
Thanks...please stay tuned with us...Mickey
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 15:09:55 EDT
Subject: Help
Greetings Chas,
Your home page has been extremely helpfull and possibly you can help me in my ignorance.
I'd be glad to assist if I can:
I play tenor banjo CGDA , last year I had a ten minute intruduction to what was called a Mandola although it was tuned differently from my banjo it was in fifths and felt good.
A mandola should be the same tuning as the tenor: C G D A You might have been playing another type of mandolin family instrument...such as the octave mandolin...
I have been looking at Mandolas and am getting thouroughly confused. It appears that all the instruments shown in the pictures are really just mandolins.
I'm not sure which ones you're looking at...unless it's the Weber section...all mandolas are slightly larger than mandolins with a longer neck scale length...so, yes, they're entirely different than a mandolin in dimension and scale length...
I understand that a Mandola and the Octave mandolin are the same instrument, the Mandocello also has the tuning I want but in various pictures it is difficult to judge the compartive sizes.
I believe pictures can be deceiving...if you put them side by side, it's very obvious that there's a stair-step in size from the mandolin, to the mandola, to the octave mandolin.
== Let me put it this way, a tenor banjo Nut width 1.1/8 -- lenth of nut to first fret 1.1/8 distance from nut to 12th fret 11" . My total playable fingerboar (19 Frets) is 15.25" == I specifically mention the length from nut to 1st wire fret for as a fingerboard gets longer the frets get further apart and a Plectrum or 5 string banjo is too long a "stretch" for me when playing in the first position==
My question:- what would you recommend as a Mandola type instrument that would have fingering sizes closest to the tenor banjo. I realise and of require that the width at the nut is greater to allow for the double string fingering. I would also prefer if it tuned CGDA == Hope I sound clear and thank you in advance for letting me pick your braid,
If you prefer the CGDA tuning, I'd have to recommend the mandola itself...and yes, the frets are not as far apart as on a tenor...however, it should still come somewhat close and out of all of the mandolin family, I would say the mandola comes closest to being similar to the traditional tenor banjo. I personally play the tenor banjo, mandola, octave and mandocello...and really do not have any problem crossing over from instrument to instrument...
On the other side, if you're looking for the longer fret spacing and the wider neck feel, and you don't mind working in another tuning, then the octave may serve you well....it's also tuned in fifths: G D A E...an octave lower than standard mandolin...
You might check with our online lessons section and our video samplers to gain an idea of the tonal ranges and application...
Mickey
regards Chas
Subject: Mandola Versus Octave Mandolin
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 11:31:03 +0000
Mickey,
Greetings Michael,
I am considering buying either a mandola or an Octave Mandolin.
Do you think it is easier to reach chords on the mandola or the octave mandolin?
or is there not much in it.
I believe it's easier to reach chored on the mandola...in fact, some of the very same chords on mandolin are easily reached on mandola and have to be reconverted on octave...be sure to check out our free chord charts on octave mandolin...
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm
Also, when accompanying one singer, with no other instruments involved, which of the two instruments would be better?
The octave would be better as a solo instrument...its lower voicing adds much more support...be sure to check out our video samplers on mandola and octave...of which both offer their own distinct solo voice.
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page319.htm
Or, which of the two are more popular, for folk/celtic music, are they also effective for ordinary/contemporary/popular music, (Are they versatile)?
I believe the octave is far more popular than the mandola...at least we sell quite a few more octaves...I own both myself...and find that they both offer me a longer tonal range...I feel I would be at a loss without one or the other...Mickey
Great website!
Regards
Michael.
Subject: Re: octave mando question Johnson MA-450 vs 550
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 15:23:08 -0500
mickey,
thanks for the quick reply.
i have one more question about octave mandolas. i cruised your site looking for this answer, and it's probably there, but i couldn't find it. sorry.
if the johnson and trinity college octave mandolas have a 20" scale, why couldn't a person get hold of any mandola with a 20" scale and string it GDAE instead of CDGA?
cj
Greetings CJ,
Trinity College Octave Scale Length: 20 3/8" Scale
Trinity College Mandola Sacle Length: 17" Scale
The Octaves and Mandolas have two separate scale lengths...this allows the Mandola to be tuned to a higher pitch without any added stress to the neck.
There may be a Mandola out there with a 20" scale...and if so, it certainly should be easy enough to tune to Octave tuning without any rattling...however, I can't imagine the CGDA tuning on a scale length of 20" since the tension would be immense to get it up to pitch.
Hope this answers the question for you...sorry if there's any typos on scale lengths on our site...
At your disposal, Mickey
Subject: octave mandolin as a mandola
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 19:34:53 -0500
I'm a pretty active mandolin player in the San Antonio area, and I've been wanting to get some other mandolin family instruments, especially for recording purposes. I've looked at a lot of mandolas and octave mandolins on the web, and it has occurred to me that an octave could easily double as a mandola simply by using a capo. How does the tone of an octave (say a Trinity College instrument) that has been capoed to C compare to a mandola by the same maker? We don't have any stores stocking these types of instruments in our area, so I can't claim to have tried this conversion, but theoretically it makes sense.
What are your thoughts? Steve
Greetings Steve,
Yes, this is true...by placing the capo at the fifth fret, you would essentially have a Mandola tuning. And, in your case, where you're looking for versatility in one instrument, as a utility recording artist, this would fill your needs well.
However, there is a slight difference in tonality that happens when adding a capo...to the average listener it would be inaudible...to the seasoned player, there would be a difference just the same.
The body size of the Trinity College is the same on both the Octave and the Mandola. If you do try this, please report back to me your results. I'm sure many of our readers would be interested in how well this works out for you.
At your disposal, Mickey
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 15:47:29 EST
Hi, Mickey
what is the difference between the TC octave mandolin model 325 and the TC mandola model 275....same price....
but what about size, sound and range????
Vince
Greetings Vince,
Glad to assist...
The TC Octave and the TC Mandola differs as follows:
They both have an entirely different scale length which is really the only difference between the two instruments structurally. The scale length also will affect the distance between frets...The body size and neck dimensions are completely equal otherwise. Scale length is determined by distance from the saddle to the nut. Because the Octave has a longer scale length, the instrument can be tuned lower giving it a deeper voicing than the mandola. The mandola's scale length falls between a mandolin and an octave giving it a deeper voice than the mandolin and a higher voice than the octave.
The tuning for the mandola is CGDA; whereas, the tuning for octave is GDAE (an octave lower than mandolin)...if you're already accustomed to playing guitar, my recommendation would be to first try the octave mandolin. The frets have more distance between each other (especially at the first positions)...offering you more of a guitar feel. And, if you're looking for the higher pitch of a mandolin at a later date, mandolin will fall into place since the tuning is the same other than being an octave higher. In other words, once you learn all the chording and fretting for certain keys on the octave, you'll find the transition to the mandolin even easier (even though the neck and distance between frets are smaller). This would be more of a stair-step process as opposed to jumping directly into mandolin after years of playing guitar. Additionally, you'll find yourself a multi-instrumentalist with a variety of voicings to choose from after following this stair-step process.
Hope the above helps...Mickey
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