Is your octave mandolin too quiet for the session?

[Rob Sharer]

Well, here you go!





Rob

[s1m0n]

Angry eyes.

[Rob Sharer]

Harlequin eyes! Laughing clown eyes!





Rob

[Thomaston]

Is this a new National model?!? Or an antique?

[s1m0n]

Or your build, Rob? It looks delicious, apart from them eyes.

[Rob Sharer]

My build indeed. You like F holes better?





Rob

[Thomaston]

Ah, could've sworn that was a National logo on the head. Nice craftsmanship!

[Feadoggie]

Very interesting! That looks like something I'd like to get my hands on, Rob. Although I tend towards spider bridge resonators.

Is that a full 9.5" cone? Scale length?

Thanks.

Feadoggie

[s1m0n]

Ah, could've sworn that was a National logo on the head. Nice craftsmanship!

True, dat.

The ironclad looks good, apart from the dingy tremclad paint job. It ain't not good enough for good and not punk enuf for punk. They must be aiming at a sunburst but the attainment is pea soup fog.

How do these things sound?

[Feadoggie]

This might give you a sense of how a national polychrome tenor sounds. The octave mando obviously has the double courses of strings and would sound fuller still. The biscuit bridge mandolins can be bright and sweet when set up nicely. Haven't ever heard an octave mandolin on a biscuit bridge cone. Could be real interesting.

Maybe Rob could give us a sample?

Feadoggie

[Rob Sharer]

Hey man, it's authentic. That's what color they were in 1930. The one in the pic with the wheat has been to lots of swing parties (music, people!), so it's starting to show a few battle scars.

Might get a sound sample together soon. Meanwhile, here's a sunburst you may like better:

[Rob Sharer]

This might give you a sense of how a national polychrome tenor sounds. The octave mando obviously has the double courses of strings and would sound fuller still. The biscuit bridge mandolins can be bright and sweet when set up nicely. Haven't ever heard an octave mandolin on a biscuit bridge cone. Could be real interesting.

For the record, the OM above is essentially the love-child of a 1930 National Triolian wood-body tenor (22-7/8" scale) and a Trinity College octave mandolin (20-3/8"). The scale is right between at 21-3/4", so is comfortable without sacrificing a strong G. And strong it is!

Sound-wise, there is plenty of bite to accompany the wood-body warmth, but with none of the crashiness of the metal-body Nationals. It sounds more like a mature arch-top OM than a resonator instrument. I feel the same way about the OM as I do about the four-strings: where has this sound been all my life?

I have taken one of everything plectral to a session at one time or another; even fancy OMs have trouble being heard once the louder instruments cut loose, especially if you're playing the melody. After my experience with the tenor guitar, I can safely say that this Reso-OM will put the plectralist on an even footing down the pub.


Rob

[crookedtune]

Dan sure made his sound good at Pat & Cathy's show last week.

BTW, I play a National resonator (RM-1) mando. IMHO the tone fits very well in session context. Use a light touch until you absolutely, positively want to offend. Then damn the torpedoes!

[Rob Sharer]

Here's Dan in action - he hasn't been seen in public with a tenor banjo since....

[fearfaoin]

Here's Dan in action - he hasn't been seen in public with a tenor banjo since...

Thank god, I always find I want to hear Dan better.