The Mandola
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Usually tuned a fifth below the mandolin (C,G,D,A) this instrument is now very popular in the traditional music scene as a melody/rhythm instrument, due to it's deep, rich tone and versatility in use.
Various combinations of scale length,tuning and string gauge can be specified to suit your own playing style. Some players prefer all courses to be tuned in unison pairs, others prefer the lower two courses to be tuned in octaves.
Above is pictured a spruce/rosewood version but I have made mandolas with backs and sides of walnut, mahogany, maple and lacewood, (see below)
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Kevin Adams of the dance group " Stocai " plays one of my mandolas strung with octave pairs on the two lower courses. The instrument is featured strongly on the group's excellent CD " After the Brawl " available from the Stocai web site :-
http://www.gre.ac.uk/~c.walshaw/Stocai/
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Kevin is also a very skilled violin repairman and has his own web site at :-
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