beautiful instrument the wood for the back is amazing, really wish the USD wasnt in the can so badly otherwise I would probably look into having one of those made.
noticed you had 5courses, do you have it tuned CGDAE?
I am curious about the body size. Except for a few Loar period instruments at Gibson that were built on what appeared to be an L5 body, it seems that mandocellos are typically built with a body size which is considerably smaller than the pitch range would require. One would expect the body to be larger than a guitar. It is especially strange to me when comparing to a mandolin (Gibson type) which has a comparatively large body size for its pitch range (compare it to a fiddle).
But I wonder why it seems to work this way. Have you ever built or seen anyone build a large bodied mandocello? Why is it that they tend to have small bodies?
@vibratingstring Very good point. I have often wondered about that too. I am converting a 1950 Epiphone (25.5" scale and 17" lower bout) to a mandocello for just that reason -- to get a larger cavity.
hello Gary. im 17 and string instruments really are my passion. i want to be a luthier and ive actually built a classical guitar and i'm working on a 7 string electric guitar. whats the situation on the neck of the mandocello because im very intrigued. i want to know if its simalar to a bass, buitar or whatever. please help me
I've never actually heard of a mandocello until just a few days ago, and was considering trying to build one. Are blueprints available or did you come up with your own design? Do you know if stringing up your standard acoustic guitar with x bracing would work as a mandocello? I was considering trying to build a normal OM or Dread style acoustic and setting it up for 8 strings and tuners. Although if specific building procedures are needed to get the signiture sound, then maybe not.
The mandocello design is mine and is essentially based on my flat-top mandolin. I think that using a standard guitar design would be ok but it might just sound like a 12 string. I would recommend you read The Bouzouki Book by Graham McDonald as a starting point.
The answers to your questions are yes and yes! The vast majority of my instruments are built as commissions but I am passionate about building instruments (some might say obsessed!) and cant think of anything else that Id rather do.
beautiful instrument the wood for the back is amazing, really wish the USD wasnt in the can so badly otherwise I would probably look into having one of those made.
noticed you had 5courses, do you have it tuned CGDAE?
whomad1215 11 months ago
@whomad1215 Glad that you like the instruments the 5 course is GDGDG
NavaGuitars 11 months ago
Very nice!
I am curious about the body size. Except for a few Loar period instruments at Gibson that were built on what appeared to be an L5 body, it seems that mandocellos are typically built with a body size which is considerably smaller than the pitch range would require. One would expect the body to be larger than a guitar. It is especially strange to me when comparing to a mandolin (Gibson type) which has a comparatively large body size for its pitch range (compare it to a fiddle).
vibratingstring 1 year ago
I can assure you that it works and responds extremely well!
NavaGuitars 1 year ago
@NavaGuitars
Yes, I agree--it sounds beautiful!
But I wonder why it seems to work this way. Have you ever built or seen anyone build a large bodied mandocello? Why is it that they tend to have small bodies?
vibratingstring 1 year ago
@vibratingstring Very good point. I have often wondered about that too. I am converting a 1950 Epiphone (25.5" scale and 17" lower bout) to a mandocello for just that reason -- to get a larger cavity.
Mandolin1944 10 months ago
hello Gary. im 17 and string instruments really are my passion. i want to be a luthier and ive actually built a classical guitar and i'm working on a 7 string electric guitar. whats the situation on the neck of the mandocello because im very intrigued. i want to know if its simalar to a bass, buitar or whatever. please help me
ThatRandomGuy325 1 year ago
Hi, if you'd like to tell me what intrigues you about the neck, I'll be happy to help.
Cheers Gary
NavaGuitars 1 year ago
@NavaGuitars thanks so much for responding. its not so much the neck that i want to know about its the scale on the mandocello really.
ThatRandomGuy325 1 year ago
The scale length is 635mm, as a rule of thumb, the lower the instrument is tuned, the longer the scale.
All the best Gary
NavaGuitars 1 year ago
@NavaGuitars thank you so much.
ThatRandomGuy325 1 year ago
Hey Gary,
I've never actually heard of a mandocello until just a few days ago, and was considering trying to build one. Are blueprints available or did you come up with your own design? Do you know if stringing up your standard acoustic guitar with x bracing would work as a mandocello? I was considering trying to build a normal OM or Dread style acoustic and setting it up for 8 strings and tuners. Although if specific building procedures are needed to get the signiture sound, then maybe not.
dirtin28 2 years ago
The mandocello design is mine and is essentially based on my flat-top mandolin. I think that using a standard guitar design would be ok but it might just sound like a 12 string. I would recommend you read The Bouzouki Book by Graham McDonald as a starting point.
NavaGuitars 2 years ago
very beautiful instrument.
weable1 2 years ago
Many thanks!
NavaGuitars 2 years ago
are just the same string for a cello o are diferent?
leuchis34 2 years ago
I use ball-end guitar strings
NavaGuitars 2 years ago
very nice like the double point cutaways
Raylj318 2 years ago
How much does a mandocello like that cost?
SuperWaffleNinja 2 years ago
How much? i need it
h1lleard 2 years ago
Wonderful instrument. Very nice work Gary.
corkkyle 3 years ago
Loveley. I'd be proud to own an instrument like that.
magnetite66 3 years ago
Glad you like it.
Cheers Gary
NavaGuitars 3 years ago
A beautiful instrument. It sounds wonderful. Do you build custom for buyers, or is it just a passion of yours?
crossmusic7 3 years ago 2
Many thanks for the nice comment.
The answers to your questions are yes and yes! The vast majority of my instruments are built as commissions but I am passionate about building instruments (some might say obsessed!) and cant think of anything else that Id rather do.
Cheers Gary
NavaGuitars 3 years ago
Excellent Gary - I wish that more luthiers would post here on UTOOB.
Mandopete 3 years ago
Cheers Pete, glad you liked it: watch this space for my new cittern.
NavaGuitars 3 years ago
Looks wonderful; sounds wonderful. A lucky owner.
MandolinJackFlatt 3 years ago
Cheers Jack Flatt! If you're ever driving that truck of yours down that ol' A316, drop in for a long over due beer!
NavaGuitars 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I really liked the video, I think you have done an awesome job on it. Please watch mine as well!
Michaeltanase 3 years ago