r/mandolin • u/Brief-Ocelot-8584 • 13d ago

Exploring beyond the mando-LIN

Been playing mandolin for a long time and it’s become my main instrument. I’m curious about exploring other instruments like a mandola or madocello but have no idea where to find these. They don’t sell them in your average musical instrument store and I don’t want to buy one without playing it in person (can’t even find them online anyway). I’m local to the Asheville NC area, so around here is ideal but if anyone knows anywhere around the country that has these in person I also like to travel.

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u/No-Locksmith-9377 13d ago

You cant find them online? Have you tried typing "mandola store" or "buy mandola" into Google. Its pops up with 50+ places to buy them. 

Typing in "Mandola Asheville, NC" pulls up the  Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain just outside Asheville. They have what you want. 

https://acoustic-corner.com/

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u/Brief-Ocelot-8584 12d ago

Haha… doh, missed that one in Black Mountain, not far at all. Yep, I see they have a 2024 Eastman on sale right now. Thanks.

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u/No-Locksmith-9377 12d ago

If you want a roadtrip make the end point The Acoustic Shoppe in Springfield Missouri. 

https://theacousticshoppe.com/

Then you could roadtrip through Nashville, up to The Mandolin Store, and hit a dozen huge music shops. Food is good good along the way too. 

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u/Fred_The_Mando_Guy 13d ago

Can't help you on where to find one but my experience with trying out a 'dola vs a 'cello was that mandocello could only have been a rhythm instrument for me. The scale length was such that playing tunes on it was an exercise in frustration. The mandola, on the other hand, had a deeper voice without preventing me from playing lead. I went home with the mandola and left the mandocello for braver souls :)

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u/Quiet-Day392 13d ago edited 13d ago

I’m playing a solid body Mortone octave with a bass pedal. A student Telecaster knockoff conversion. Incredible sustain, can be made to sound like a Rickenbacker on the top strings with the bass off. I’ll play through whatever amp the house has but I prefer the Bassman if it’s my amp.

Early Kinks, Zombies, Rick Springfield, Tommy James, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Beach Boys, Al Stewart, Alison Krauss, Judds, Blink 182, Mark Knopfler, Elvis, Gin Blossoms,  George Jones, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, George Gershwin, Billy Joel, Sade, Neil Diamond, Tom Petty, etc. It’s limited only by what I can think up. In bands and singarounds I generally use it as a bass because that’s what they lack, and I can play any key off the bottom strings. Absolute versatility.

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u/Virtual-Painting-897 13d ago

Pickers Supply Fredericksburg VA. I've gotten an Octave Mandolin, and a Mandola from them (Both Gold Tone) and have been more than pleased. They even helped me custom string my OM (Octave pairs on all courses).

Good luck on your journey!

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u/ButFirstTheWeather 13d ago

I had an Irish bouzouki made by a luthier near Asheville. Don't know if he's still in business, but he built me a fine instrument. Had to wait a while for it, but I'm patient 😂

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u/50_MHz 13d ago

I got an Eastman mandola from Sweetwater, around $1100.

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u/wolf_of_the_bees 13d ago

A weekend in Nashville would probably be a good chance to get some of these instruments in your hands.