| mandolin is an eight stringed instrument that is tuned like | | | | the recording, I heard a range of good and not so |
| a violin. So there are four notes, meaning that two | | | | good musical qualities from the various instruments. |
| strings of each note are tuned the same, similar to a | | | | This surprised me, as I thought a Gibson F five was |
| twelve string guitar. | | | | the crème de le crème of mandolins. |
| The mandolin is popular, actually pivotal in the bluegrass | | | | The truth is that the look and style of the great ones |
| genre of music. You may find mandolins rarely in | | | | may be consistent, but the quality of the sound |
| classical orchestral music ensembles, probably more in | | | | produced can vary significantly. |
| baroque type chamber music, and widely used in | | | | So very many factors can affect the sound of an |
| many ethnic musical orchestras. There are even | | | | instrument from the nut, to the bridge, to the tail piece, |
| orchestras made up completely of mandolins. Pretty | | | | to the strings, to the amount of humidity in the wood |
| intense if you are new to the sound of mandolin music. | | | | when it was made even the type of pick used. Most |
| There are actually two distinct styles of mandolins. The | | | | mandolins have spruce tops, and any of a variety of |
| first being the "A" style. This style has either a round | | | | woods for the backs and sides. Rosewoods, Maples, |
| sound hole like a guitar or two F holes like a violin. The | | | | Mahoganies, etc. The same woods are used in making |
| older models have a rounded back and a round sound | | | | guitars generally speaking. It is believed that certain |
| hole. These were the first mandolins and the bluegrass | | | | woods produce certain sound qualities, from deep rich |
| folk call these 'tater bugs'. The later versions called the | | | | tones to sweeter highs and so on and so on. The very |
| "F" style were invented much later on. The type of | | | | truth is that two mandolins manufactured one after the |
| music played on the mandolin usually determines the | | | | other using the same wood and all other variables the |
| style of instrument one selects. | | | | same, will likely not have identical sound. |
| It is recommended that you select an inexpensive | | | | If you are going to spend a significant amount of |
| instrument when beginning lessons for the first time. As | | | | money on a really fine instrument, I recommend that |
| you progress with your playing you will develop an 'ear' | | | | you play the very instrument that you will be |
| for the instruments nuances. For example, you will | | | | purchasing. Whether it is an old turn of the century |
| eventually know in an instant when a string is even | | | | antique, or one fresh from the luthier, it will be played |
| slightly out of tune. Until you progress to this level it | | | | by you and only you can identify the acoustic qualities |
| would not be wise to buy an expensive instrument. | | | | that make your instrument sound the way you think it |
| Buying a mandolin by brand name and style alone is | | | | should sound. |
| probably not a great idea. Though there are many | | | | If you are purchasing an instrument new from the |
| reputable manufacturers, and many very popular | | | | manufacturer, I advise you to have an expert 'set up' |
| brands, each instrument is unique. I have a recording of | | | | the instrument for you. That is to have it aligned, |
| eight of the greatest bluegrass contemporaries all | | | | cleaned up, have all the frets leveled, etc., to make the |
| playing the same style mandolin, a Gibson F five all | | | | instrument playable. You will notice a big difference in |
| made in the same year, 1937. This was supposed to | | | | the ease of producing quality music. This same method |
| be a phenomenal instrument, the one that the father of | | | | would be appropriate for guitar, violin, and any of a |
| bluegrass himself, Bill Munroe, utilized. As I listened to | | | | multitude of acoustic instruments. |