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Board index » Mandolin - Mandola - Ukulele Forum

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nyazzip
 Post subject: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:33 pm 
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Location: chicagoland, illinois
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long time guitar picker here....i was very recently given a junky mandolin(fret-out, cheap tuners, composite body, etc) and i really enjoy playing it. now i'd like to have a better one. just wondering what a 4 string mandolin would sound like? too quiet? the reason i ask is because i figure it could be built much lighter if there are only half as many strings trying to pull it to pieces....
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the Padma
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:08 pm 
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Mandos and soprano ukes have approx the same sting length...so me would think they would sound similar. But then me still learning how to think. laughing6-hehe

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nyazzip
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:43 pm 
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hmm i never even considered a soprano uke....maybe i should. but aren't they designed for nylon strings?
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the Padma
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:47 pm 
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Ya so?

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unkabob
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:47 pm 
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String tension for an ukulele runs at about 40 pounds. If you check the back of the mando-string package, they should list the individual string tensions. Add up the tensions to get an idea of the forces involved. check this string choice calculator http://www.strothers.com/stringchoice . Dial in the tuning and scale-length to find the string choice.


Bob :ugeek:
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cphanna
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:00 pm 
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Some of the finest improvisational stringed instrument jazz licks I have ever heard were played on a four string (amplified) mandolin. You go for it, my man! Might be a little thin acoustically, or... maybe not! I think it'll depend on how you build it and how you string it up. But go for it. You can always mic it!
Patrick
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FishtownMike
 Post subject: Re: 4 string mandolin?
PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:18 pm 
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I have seen many electric mandolins that are only four stringers. They work out well sound wise because of the amplification. I have played a four sting acoustic mandolin and it was pretty cool. The four stings open you up to different techniques that don't work well on and eight string like bending and vibrato. It's hard to nail those techniques on the double strings. I found this website where a guy built a pretty cool four stringer. He actually did two of them. I put the links below....Mike
http://www.thewidgetforge.com/projects/ ... index.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Buildin ... in-No-002/

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