orgmorg Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Here's something ya don't see everyday: I mentioned this project briefly in another post regarding string gauges, and a couple people expressed interest in it, so here is what I have so far. A mandocello, for those who don't know, is a member of the mandolin family in the range of a cello, with 8 strings grouped in pairs, like a mandolin. My version is a bit different, with octave strings instead of unison pairs, ( kinda like the lower strings of a 12 string guitar ) and a slightly longer scale length ( 26.25" ) And, as you can see, it is electric. It will be tuned in fifths, Cc-Gg-Dd-Aa The body is 1 piece of Kentucky Coffetree, hollowed out in the middle, and the neck is hard maple, with a scarf jointed headstock, and Mesquite fingerboard. The pickguard is padauk. Here's a pic without the pickguard: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/orgmorg/mcello3.jpg And a closer one with it: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/orgmorg/mcello2.jpg The bridge will be made of mesquite, with 8 movable brass saddles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 i like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Great concept, great design. Can't wait to see the progress on this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted January 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Thanks. Ya, I think this one will be a lot of fun, both to build and to play. We do a lot of celtic-influenced stuff in our group, and this will fit in quite nicely with that. It also gives me something to do with this pickup, which is a Dearmond turbo jet bass pickup. I got it, and a few others a while back, and later realised the pole piece spacing was too narrow for a standard bass. I don't know what they were made for, probably something like the old Hagstrom basses, but the string spacing works out just right for this. The neck will be set, with the fretboard ending just past the top edge of the pickguard ( which will be cut to fit it later ) and the neck shaft extending underneath the guard, ending just before the hollowed out area. There are 24 fret slots now, but I am going to trim it back to 22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Very cool. I really like the entire concept of the build, but more than that, I truly love that design. I would love to see a slightly tweaked version for a solid body with a cool carved top. I really look forward to seeing this build progress, please keep posting and snappin' pics, great stuff. Best of luck. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Preston Swift Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 that actually sounds like a fun idea. I'd personally love one cause i used to play cello for 7 years, it got boring so i switched to guitar, crossing the two worlds with a hint of mando sounds pretty sweet. And it looks good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I have those bass pup's on a build - I love 'em. I've heard some folks have redone them fender style, with magnet pole pieces instead of steel slugs and the magnet below and like them even more. This is cool - I'm really looking foward to seeing the finished build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted January 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I would love to see a slightly tweaked version for a solid body with a cool carved top. Soon come, mon. soon come. I have those bass pup's on a build - I love 'em. Cool, what sort of bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Finished shaping the edges and sanding the body, here's a pic with a coat of danish oil on it. I'd personally love one cause i used to play cello for 7 years I think this would sound good bowed with a cello. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trynyty Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 That is the most 'evil' looking mandocello I've seen. I dig it. Having that low C tuned as an octave pair might be a very good idea. Those low Cs can get awfully loose when tuned in unison. I'll be really interested in hearing this thing when finished. I don't think I've ever heard a mandocello tuned in octave pairs. Is it possible for you to post sound files? Great project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Thanks! I have no idea how to even begin to post a sound file, but if I can figure out how, I certainly will. I have a Tascam digital 8 track recorder, and I will be recording stuff with this instrument anyway, when I get it done, so I guess that is something to work with. I am anxious to hear this thing as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 (edited) More progress: Neck is done, and attached to body. The pocket ended up a hair too wide, so I had to set the neck 1/8" forward to get a good fit, hence the gap at the heel. It will get covered by the pickguard, but I'm wondering if I ought to fill it anyway. Here it is with several coats of tru-oil, and 2 coats of wipe-on poly: back view Edit: changed pic to link Edited March 7, 2008 by orgmorg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezer2112 Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 (edited) Nice to know I'm not the only one! Here's a shot of the mandocello I built a few years ago. And this was my second one, but with 10 strings, to extend the range, CGDAE. These instruments are a blast to play! Edited March 5, 2008 by weezer2112 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted March 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Cool! Nice work! Yep, theres plenty of us wackos out there That's the fun part about building instruments- you can make whatever the heck you can dream up. Are yours tuned in unison, or octaves? What scale lengths? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezer2112 Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Thanks, glad you like 'em! On both instruments the 3 lower courses are tuned in octaves, the 8 was 24.75 scale length, the 10 was 25.5". On the 10 as well I built it with humbuckers and a transducer in the bridge, with stereo outputs. It sounded HUGE!! I was sad to see it go, but I've got more insanity in the works. Currently working on an 8 string electric classical, and a fanned fret 9 string electric! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foil1more Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 that's freakin' awesome. My next project is going to be an electric cello. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a mandocello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 Orgmorg, this looks like a cool project and I can't wait to see it finished. Not sure if it will be a mandocello, but at some point I would like to build some small scale type of instrument. Weezer2112, cool projects too. And that first one is AMAZING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Cool, thanks for bumping this back up again, I really need to get back on tis project one of these days. Got so much other stuff going on at the moment, though. Trying to get at least 4 guitars done in the next month for a show I have coming up, so it will be a while before I can finish this one up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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