It is sometimes played in Irish traditional music, but the instruments octave mandolin, Irish bouzouki and modern cittern are more commonly used. He contacted me in February the following year for some additional funds and I paid it out at the end of May and the instrument it was in my hands in early June. What is the difference between a mandolin and a bouzouki? This emphasizes treble, and creates a "zing" sort of sound. We are a family business headed by seasoned musician Steve Noon. We know that choosing the right instrument can be a difficult decision, so much choice and so many contributing factors to the right instrument for you. The disadvantage with octave strings is a compensated bridge to take into account the different gauges of strings  is pretty well a must to achieve good intonation. Mandolin is a musical instrument with a 14-inch scale that is tuned GDAE, all paired in double courses. Top: solid spruce. The "giant" (also known as "Blarge" for "Bouzouki, This page is intended for tenor mandolas tuned CGDA (like a viola) and mandocellos tuned one octave lower in CGDA (like a violincello).If you are searching for mandolas in GDAE tuning (one octave lower than a mandolin) please see octave mandolins/mandolas page. We also offer the full range of Tanglewood, Ozark, Crafter, Countryman, plus many more highest value factory made brands. The mandola, though now rarer, is an ancestor of the mandolin. You are more likely to find an off the shelf Octave Mandolin than an Irish Bouzouki. what tone woods are you looking for, etc?. There are lots of options for Irish Bouzoukis as well. In this section we share our knowledge to help you get the best out of your instrument. Also do you want flat top? The names of the mandolin family instruments vary between Europe and the United States. Of course ball end strings is the way to go. Still there are some Celtic musicians, Alec Fin comes to mind,  who uses the Greek instrument. The tuning of Irish bouzouki is usually lower one octave than the mandolin. The scale length is easy enough to master when playing tunes, but equally it’s a great sound for chord backing. You will be made most welcome if you visit our shop & showrooms. Up for bid this delightful miniature Bouzouki Mandola Music Box which plays Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago. I also build smaller bodied octave mandolins and citterns; these share body dimensions with my mandola. Still for its age it is in great vintage condition. While both mandolins and bouzoukis have pairs of strings, a bouzouki is more similar to the octave mandolin. Its eight strings are in four paired courses, with the strings in each course tuned in unison. There are more tuning options that can be used (eg. At the time Irish musicians were beginning to play Greek bouzoukis, and UK luthier Peter Abnett had built Donal Lunny a semi-round back bouzouki. That's highest to lowest. His instruments will cost significant dollars (around $4000 +) but it is the old story – you get what you pay for. The whole body is made of solid wood! I can recommend Lawrence without any reservations. The Tenor Mandola (or Mandola) is tuned as a Viola, CGDA, one fifth below a mandolin. This irish bouzouki has an additional top class integrated pickup. There is some paint lose and a paint smudge under the six string. The scale length is usually around the 24-25″ but again that depends on the builder. Home; About Us; Service; Products; Custom Duct Work; Recent Projects How I almost accidentally came to build my first octave mandolin is described here. HAWAII or INTERNATIONALLY(including Canada) so please do not ask for an exception. Octave mandolins are tuned an octave lower than mandolins and have a scale length of 20–22″ (they vary). Bouzouki, Mandola & Cittern Mandola The big brother of the Mandolin, the Mandola retains the high-tension stringing but allows lower parts to be played. A mandola (like a viola) is tuned a fifth lower than a mandolin (or violin). Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, © 2021 Eagle Music Shop. Your email address will not be published. pl. Also check out our Blog pages for mandolin advise and technical information. So if you can find an Octave Mandolin that uses ball end strings like a steel string guitar that would be a wiser choice. A couple of years later I had a problem with the bridge and after very brief discussions with Lawrence I had a luthier up in the Crows Nest pass build me a new bridge and invoice Lawrence for the cost of the replacement. Also, octave mandola is sometimes applied to what in the U.S. is a mandocello. I've been playing Mandolin and Banjo in a Celtic (with a touch of bluegrass) group for a while. Bouzouki, Mandola & Cittern Mandola The big brother of the Mandolin, the Mandola retains the high-tension stringing but allows lower parts to be played. Each hand built instrument is designed and constructed to provide the most demanding musician with excellent playability, superior tone and volume and unfailing reliability through excellent design. Mandola. mandola, considerably bigger than a gibson mandolin. Lawrence Nyberg on Hornby Island builds superb instruments that he ships all over the world. carved top? We describe instruments with a … The mandola is commonly used in folk music—particularly Italian folk music. Although I play an arch top Fylde from Britain you don’t have to go all that way to get a good bouzouki. Always wanted to try the lower range, finally ready to purchase something, and while I know the technical differences between the two instruments (tuning, etc) I just don't know much about the differences betweeen Mandola and Octave Mando in terms of playability, functionality, etc. Please also check out our superb range of high value Mandolin Starter Packs. Particularly when using a capo. Whether you are just starting to learn to play the mandolin and are looking for an ideal starter model or are an experienced player looking for a top quality hand built mandolin. That would be an octave mandolin or bouzouki. Octave Mandolas (also known as Octave Mandolins in America) are popular because of their suitability for Irish music, being tuned GDAE an octave below a Mandolin. Octave Mandolin Octave Mandolas (also known as Octave Mandolins in America) are popular because of their suitability for Acoustic and Celtic music, being tuned GDAE, an octave below a Mandolin. He is very professional in his approach and his products are top class. It is tuned a fifth lower than the mandolin, typically to C, G, D, and A. Materials and designs that affect the tonality of bouzoukia Stringed instruments like bouzoukis, baglamas, mandolas, and mandolins are made of different types of wood. I recently ordered a "Trinity College TC375 Bouzouki." We are very proud to be able to offer custom models from Davidson, Agnew, and other top UK luthiers. Here are some points that were kicked around. Our choice of mandolins at Eagle Music Shop is second to none and probably the finest in the UK, we offer an excellent range of mandolins from the world's most respected mandolin makers. ASIS Measures 22.5 inches long and 9 inches at widest part Please See Photo's Fo r Details Now the fine print. A few pieces missing but still charming with an aged older vintage look. Buying Guides for Mandolin & Bouzouki, we're here to help! Terminology. The neck length (scale length) is way shorter (maybe around 22″ depending on the builder) than the Irish Bouzouki and that gives the instrument the tight punchy sound of … It was a pleasure to deal with some one who was so thoroughly professional and I would do it again in a heart beat. http://www.nyberginstruments.com/    check out his excellent web site for images, options and sound bites. If you want to learn to play the mandolin we have a great choice of mandolin & bouzouki starter packs at amazing value, each item in the packs is hand picked by our experienced specialists. Mandolins, Mandolas and Banjos tend to use loop end strings that are in my opinion  (1) are fiddly and a pain in the ass when changing strings and (2) loop ends limit options in the choice of strings you may want to use. If I understand correctly the top (four) are tuned in sets, and the bottom (four) are tuned in octaves. Shipping: WE DO NOT DELIVER TO ALASKA. If I had the funds I would get Lawrence to build me an Irish Bouzouki with octave bass strings. Mail order continues to operate as normal, order online or by phone. Close WebDeals4Less Description Offered Here: Vintage 8 String Bouzouki Mandola Music Instrument 22 in Long Mandolin? Read the full buying guide here. Of course there are other considerations with custom instruments that are dependent  on how much you actually want to spend. For bouzouki, it is a 25 scaled instrument tuned with just an octave below the mandolin. If you are a fiddle player or mandolin player you might lean in the direction of an Octave Mandolin. The Mandola retains the high-tension stringing but allows lower parts to be played. Bouzouki music is especially loved by Greek people, and the instrument plays an important role in their contemporary culture. These were made for the mandolin orchestra craze of the 1920s, and those instruments are still around. | Tel 01484 661460, By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Ben compares a mandolin, a mandola, an octave mandolin, a bouzouki, and a mandocelloOn our website at:http://www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com body width: 13 5/8 or 345mm body depth at tail 80mm or 3 3/16 body depth at heel 73mm or 2 7/8 Our video section features snippets from Eagle Music events, award presentations, instrument demonstrations and technical advice. Looks like it has lovely cut outs attached to top. Some of our most popular categories within Mandolin & Bouzouki. Dimensions: nut width: 38 mm or 1 1/2 scale length,nut to bridge: 564mm or 22 3/8. Models from Eastman, Erin, Agnew, Phil Davidson, Tanglewood, Buchanan, Crafter, Ozark, Countryman, plus other quality makers. Now, possibly, with strings you have two options on the Octave Mandolin. And its standard tuning is G2, D3, A3, and D4. A "large" will create a big bass sound, a lot of resonance, and more sustain. Vintage Bouzouki/ Mandola 6 string music box. Phone lines open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm. All rights reserved. The octave mandola is a good compromise between mandolin and bouzouki. Do you want a flat top or carved top? This instrument has 8 strings. ITEM Up for your consideration is a ECORDA VINTAGE GREEK 8 STRING ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC MANDOLA/BOUZOUKI in used condition without strings. I would avoid loop end strings like poison. The instruments that are known in the US as the mandola and the octave mandolin tend to be known in Great Britain and Ireland as the tenor mandola, the octave mandola (or the "Irish bouzouki"). We are extremely excited to be appointed Eastman Super Dealership status and offer this world class brand of handcrafted mandolins. GDAE, GDAD, ADAD low to high). It is larger than the mandolin, and is the baritone instrument of the mandolin family. The mandola (US and Canada) or tenor mandola (Ireland and UK) is a fretted, stringed musical instrument.It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola (C-G-D-A low-to-high), a fifth lower than a mandolin. The mandocello (Italian: mandoloncello, Liuto cantabile, liuto moderno) is a plucked string instrument of the mandolin family. Re: Mandocello vs Irish Bouzouki It’s true that Gibson made a family of instruments patterned on the violin family, but modelled on the mandolin instead of the violin. Eagle Music Shop is based in the tranquil setting of Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield. It is playable but needs to be tuned. That is just personal choice. The bouzouki can be strung in unison like the mandolin or the bass strings can be tuned in octaves like a 12 string guitar. After some initial discussions about the specifications I wanted I placed a deposit in August of the year. The neck length (scale length) is way shorter (maybe around 22″ depending on the builder) than the Irish Bouzouki and that gives the instrument the tight punchy sound of a mandolin. Octave Mandolins have some favor with bluegrass musicians so in North America you may have a better chance of finding one. In this guide we explain the differences between each. A physical USA address must be provided by the winning bidder. Order online or by phone and get our same low prices, our specialist sales team are here to help. La Cafamore String Quartet with Nina Horvath, Elena Yeung and the Clinch Mountain Backstep, Warne Marsh – Lee Konitz – Lennie Tristano. More information, Mandolin, Octave Mandola, Mando Guitar Etc, Tailpieces, Tailguts, End Pins, Mutes & Fine Tuners, Amps, Pickups, Cables Etc for Mandolin Family, Mandolin Care & Maintenance – A guide to looking after your instrument, Changing the strings on your Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Ukulele etc, A guide to Plectrums, Flat Picks, Finger and Thumb Picks. S hows a a bit of age on the under side and top popping out a bit. Need some guidance here.....found an awesome … The MANDOLA is to the Mandolin what the viola is to the violin. Due to Government legislation our showroom in Armitage Bridge is temporarily closed during this latest lockdown. Double coursed too, bouzouki has the bottom two string pairs in octaves like a … A really long scale length adds a significant amount of sustain to the sound. Over the past 20 years, bouzouki has become one of the well-known musical instrument in the music world. We are also the UK's exclusive supplier of Erin mandolins hand-built by Steve Agnew. Octave Mandolas (also known as Octave Mandolins in America) are popular because of their suitability for Irish music, being tuned GDAE an octave below a Mandolin. The longer scale length tends to give a “looser” sound that an octave mandolin. True, although the term mandola is often used in Britain to refer to an octave mandolin. The job was done and Lawrence absorbed the cost. They are very similar but in reality with either instrument you end up with a different sound. Which has been developed especially for it. The mandolin family consists of the mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, cittern and mando-cello. Nice piece to add to your collection. So here we provide our in depth knowledge to help your decision. With the octave strings (my preference) you can get a nice droning effect that is particularly suited to Celtic tunes. Required fields are marked *. Unfortunately when it arrived two of the strings were broken. As the name implies the Octave Mandolin is tuned like a mandolin (G D A E low to high unison strings) but an octave lower. I had him build me a five string Cittern (tuned DGDAD) with a Headway bridge pickup installed (in retrospect I would stick with K&K contact pickups). Eagle Music can provide you with all the expert advice you will ever need, alongside an exceptional after sales service, including spares and repairs. Check out our extensive range of hand built instruments from the UKs finest makers. Selection of correct gauge strings is paramount for intonation and instrument stability. The mandolin family consists of the mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, cittern and mando-cello. I hear and read a lot of differents wordings for the instruments I build. Your email address will not be published. Ball end strings gives you a greater choice in the availability and variety of strings you may want to use. There are many other ‘modal’ ways that you can tune a mandola. Recently I had some discussions with friends about Octave Mandolins and Irish Bouzoukis. As the name implies the Octave Mandolin is tuned like a mandolin (G D A E  low to high unison strings) but an octave lower. Normally bouzouki consists of 8 strings and the length of scales varies from 24 to 25 inches. It is larger with a 17 inch scale length, a body width of 11 1/8th inches and an overall length of 31 3/4th inches. The bouzouki is tuned like a mandolin or a fiddle G-D-A-E(G- and D-strings are octaved) But there are a lot of tunings possible. The bouzouki (/ b uː ˈ z uː k i, b ʊ ˈ-/, also US: / b ə ˈ-/; Greek: μπουζούκι; alt. The Greek Bouzouki is in a completely different bag with wildly different construction methods,  tuning, playing style etc. We're passionate about music, we're also highly experienced in all technical matters for the musical instruments we provide. The scale length is now generally a little shorter than Greek bouzoukis, and the distinction between Bouzouki and Octave Mandola (also known in America as Octave Mandolin) has become blurred, as the neck length is the only difference. and what tone woods would you want to select? In this guide we explain the differences between each. Payment& Shipping We will gladly … bouzoukia, from Greek μπουζούκια), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece.It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and a long neck with a fretted fingerboard. There  was no hassle or problems. The music box works but I have no idea what the song is. Hey All - Been playing mandolin for about 25 yrs. • Heating • Ventilation • Cooling • Refrigeration • Toggle navigation. Mandolins, bouzoukis, octave mandolas, citterns, tenor mandolas and all other types in the mandolin family plus accessories, books and music.