The French mandolin

Main page The instruments Buyer's guide Handbook Lessons Message board Links Site map Site last updated . This particular page was created 12/12/2004 and last updated 15/03/2006 Site updates		Picture from Apollo's Axes Data: Body shape: Lute Top: Flat Back: Flat Frets: Fixed Strings: 8 Courses: 4 ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Scale: 332 - 365 mm The French mandolin is the oldest of the flat/ached back mandolins. As early as the 17th Century French musicians in Paris began calling their citterns "mandolins" in a (succesful) attempt to compete with the Neapolitan musicians with Neapolitan mandolins that was all the rage in Paris at that time. The modern French mandolin still bears a striking similarity to the renaissance cittern with a simple flat top and back. Both when it comes to looks and sound it falls somewhere between the Celtic and the Portuguese mandolin.   Web www.mandolin-player.com