mandolin specs

Hi Gregory,

Try posting this question to Mandolin Cafe as they are more familiar with mandolins than we are. I know a little about mandolins like they have a short scale length of about 14" and they have 8 strings organized into 4 courses of paired strings. The inter-string spacing is probably an important consideration. I know that the space between the paired strings is 1/8", but I don't know what the space is between the courses. I also don't know the space between the outer strings and the edges of the neck. I believe the neck is tapered, but I don't know those dimensions. I do know eight strings will require a large headstock to hold all those tuners, and that with all those tuners (once strung up), you will need a very strong neck, preferably with a built-in truss rod. The instrument is tuned like a violin with each string within a course tuned the same. A violin is "G-D-A-E", so a mandolin is tuned "GG-DD-AA-EE". You can buy mandolin tuners which are smaller than guitar tuners and come with four tuners on a side -- two "1x4 tuners". They also sell special strings for mandolins which may be better optimized to get that unique mandolin sound. Much more than this, and you'll need to ask a mandolin expert. If you are a novice builder, you might try building a short scale 4-stringer first, and tune it like a violin to get some building experience. Some CBG builders have built CBMs (Cigar Box Mandolins), but they usually have built other instruments before starting on their mandolin projects.

-Rand.

Replies

Rand Moore December 27, 2012 at 11:34pm

Hi Gregory,

Try posting this question to Mandolin Cafe as they are more familiar with mandolins than we are. I know a little about mandolins like they have a short scale length of about 14" and they have 8 strings organized into 4 courses of paired strings. The inter-string spacing is probably an important consideration. I know that the space between the paired strings is 1/8", but I don't know what the space is between the courses. I also don't know the space between the outer strings and the edges of the neck. I believe the neck is tapered, but I don't know those dimensions. I do know eight strings will require a large headstock to hold all those tuners, and that with all those tuners (once strung up), you will need a very strong neck, preferably with a built-in truss rod. The instrument is tuned like a violin with each string within a course tuned the same. A violin is "G-D-A-E", so a mandolin is tuned "GG-DD-AA-EE". You can buy mandolin tuners which are smaller than guitar tuners and come with four tuners on a side -- two "1x4 tuners". They also sell special strings for mandolins which may be better optimized to get that unique mandolin sound. Much more than this, and you'll need to ask a mandolin expert. If you are a novice builder, you might try building a short scale 4-stringer first, and tune it like a violin to get some building experience. Some CBG builders have built CBMs (Cigar Box Mandolins), but they usually have built other instruments before starting on their mandolin projects.

-Rand.
- Gregory belle > Rand Moore December 28, 2012 at 12:15am
  
  Thank you so much!!!
- Rand Moore > Rand Moore December 27, 2012 at 11:54pm
  
  Turns out there is a discussion group on Cigar Box Nation dedicated to the topic of building Cigar Box Mandolins. The group is called "Smokin' Mandolins". There is probably more information you can "mine" from there.
  
  -Rand.
  - Gregory belle > Rand Moore December 28, 2012 at 12:19am
    
    Also, a mbg, lol.. Not an actual mandolin, but a cigar box build

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