software

yes, I'm still around

I'm just a little superstitious, because I haven't received this yet, and don't want to jinx the deal, and embarrass myself, but I can't help sharing ...

I've mentioned before in the quot;listeningquot; threads that I've always listened to all kinds of music, and some of that is Folk, Bluegrass, and Celtic music.

a few weeks ago, I went to see Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch. It was a great concert in an intimate setting in a Methodist Church; just two guys and two mics.
Kieran was switching off between an old small bodied Guild, a Kay 5 string banjo, and another instrument that I didn't really know. I got home, looked at the liner notes of their CD, and found out it was an octave mandolin.

(actually, I was familiar with bouzoukis being used in Irish groups, and this instrument can be called a bouzouki, or octave mandolin, depending on the tuning)

the point is that I loved the sound of this instrument - it's tuned like a mandolin, an octave down, so it's similar in range to a guitar, but has its own unique sound

after several weeks of looking, I managed to find an instrument like Kieran's. I played a couple similar quot;zouksquot; locally, but they left me flat.

So anyway, here's my latest ax:
Flatiron quot;Zoukquot;

I shall henceforth be known as Curly the Zoukist

Peace, out

hmmm.... its interesting!! The back wood is very pretty. How does it sound?


Originally Posted by theodieHow does it sound?

Kieran's sounded full and resonant .. his was flamed maple, so I expect mine to sound very similar when I get it next week

here's a pic of Kieran playing his:
from : localhost/deadreckoners.com/artists/kieran_kane.html

Looks like a lute with steel strings... hehe.

what kind of duncans are you gonna put in it?


Originally Posted by Boneswhat kind of duncans are you gonna put in it?

and can you play smoke on the water with it?

can you put a floyd in there?

Looks nice Gary. Its always cool to try and expand one's horizons. Trying out new stuff is good for the soul . . . and the fingers.


Originally Posted by Boneswhat kind of duncans are you gonna put in it?

invader.

That's awesome! Mandolins are so high pitched, that it'd sound better to have one an octave down, like yours! I'll check the website, but what kind of money do these go for? You should make it your livingroom instrument, to play while you watch TV.

Wow! I'd sooo tune it EADG, though.

Or maybe ADGB

Damn curly, I tihnk you're well on your way to becoming a Druid. I hope it's a killer ax

Aw that looks great, those things sounds great when they are made right.
Congrats Curly

Cool. My brother has a bouzouki or two. And yes, you can play Smoke On The Water with it.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserThat's awesome! Mandolins are so high pitched, that it'd sound better to have one an octave down, like yours! I'll check the website, but what kind of money do these go for? You should make it your livingroom instrument, to play while you watch TV.

Joneser,
the octave mandolin was $1150

here's the original listing:
from : localhost/I was happy just to find one ... I looked for several weeks, played a couple Webers I didn't really care for, and only found quot;soldquot; Flatirons. This one had just been bought at a guitar show

although I love mandolins, I agree that they sometimes have a high, plinky voice. I like Mandolin Brothers description of an octave mandolin:
quot;This is the mysterious voice you have heard at those moments of intense déjà vu but never known what instrument was supplying the soundtrack.quot;

regarding the tuning, quot;an Octave Mandolin differs from a bouzouki in many ways, but one of them is that the strings are tuned in unisons, GDAE, same notes as a mandolin but an octave lower.quot; (A bouzouki is strung in octaves, like a 12 string guitar.)

and for a pickup, I'd only use a quot;PAFquot; type Duncan

Curly the Zoukistologist!
That's a beautiful piece of wood. Congrats on the new axe.. I'd really like to hear it

that's very nice Curly!!! i'd sooo love to learn how to play something like that?!

Very cool and unique instrument, now go and make some beautiful music with it

Cool. Enjoy it, Gary!