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| Site last updated . This particular page was created 01/04/2004 and last updated 13/11/2005 Site updates |
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Instruments
Here's a selection of octave mandos available on the market today. Most of the comments here are from a discussion at the COMANDO maillist (sorry I've lost track of who said what, so I can't give credit to the individual contributors).I've split the instruments into four price categories:
- Budget priced octave mandolas (< $150)
- Affordable octave mandolas ($150-500)
- Mid-priced octave mandolas ($500-1000)
- High end octave mandolas ($1000-2000)
- Top range octave mandolas (> $2000)
Important factors to consider
- Scale length
- The scale length (that is the distance from the bridge to the nut) varies a lot on octave mandolas and is a very important factor to how the instrument sounds and plays.
- Short scale instruments are easier to play
- Long scale instruments have more power
- If you play another instrument as well you may want to choose a scale length as close to it as possible
- The top
- The most important thing here (for all kinds of strigned instuments) is to make sure it's got a solid wood top. Instruments with a laminate top are only recommended if you're desperately short on money! This is seldom a problem when it comes to the octave mando though. Nearly all of them have a top of solid spruce or solid cedar. Both these are excellent choices. You may come over other kinds of wood from time to time and if you do, ask the seller about it. There may be good reasons for an unusual choice.
- Style
- Most octave mandolas on the market today are "Celtic style" designs - relatively light flat top, flat bottom instruments with a open, percussive tone. There are some other designs though, all with their own pros and cons.