Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Off-Topic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
Veteran
OP Online Happy
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
A few nights ago there was a musical special on television about Ringo Starr playing a show at Nashville, Tennessee's Ryman Auditorium to celebrate the release of his latest recording, an album of original country songs. The show was called +++ Ringo & Friends at the Ryman +++. The show had many country acts singing songs released by the Beatles as well as past Ringo Starr singles.

The line up of songs and artists was terrific. One of the artists played a mandolin with a parlor size acoustic guitar body. After a little research I found out the instrument can be called a +++ Guitar-bodied Bouzouki Mandolin +++ or Mandola.

I just thought it was neat and wanted to share it with you.


Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,563
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,563
Yes, that is a cool instrument. A year or so ago I was looking for a mandola but I couldn't justify the cost so I grabbed a $70 (USD) mandolin. I still can't play it but it looks good hanging on my wall!


If you ever get an email about pork, ham, salt, and preservatives, don't open it. It's spam!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,568
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,568
Nobody calls it a bouzouki-mandolin except for Gold Tone. It’s a guitar shaped Irish Bouzouki. These have a shorter scale than the more familiar Greek Bouzouki

It’s not a mandola. That’s a 15” scale instrument tuned like a viola. Very popular in mandolin orchestras 120 years ago, very few made today. My Gibson H-2 was made in 1911 and my Martin AA-K in 1927. Eastman still makes them and I sell one of these every three years or so.
Trinity College Mandola

Full disclosure: I’m an authorized dealer for Saga (Trinity College), The Music Link/AXL (Recording King & Loar) and Gold Tone.

The most popular folk variant is the octave mandolin. I have been looking for the owner of one identical to this Flatiron Octave Mandolin that used to belong to Jethro Burns—I helped him pick it out when he lived nearby. I sold it and most of my other mandolins to a local store after my stroke but couldn’t find the paperwork verifying provenance signed by his brother-in-law Chet Atkins (Jethro and Chet married twin sisters). My wife found the letter in a box a couple years ago and I’d like to reunite it with the mandolin. I recorded one of the Beethoven Sonatinas on it around 1999—other three were played on regular mandolins.

I still own my 1916 Gibson A-1 and 1900 Washburn and hope to pass them on to a grand child if I ever have any. I have some heirloom banjos as well.


BIAB 2024 Audiophile, 24Core/60CoreGPU Core M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP/color]
[color=#FF0040]Digital Performer11, LogicPro

Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Off-Topic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
Veteran
OP Online Happy
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
Mike,

Thank you for the input. The Gold Tone BZ-1000 link was the only link I could find of a mandolin with a guitar body. Nice to know you represent them.

The television show didn't show the head stock well enough to see the brand. According to the +++ concert set list +++ the artists sung a cover of the Beatles "What Goes On" with Billy Strings on guitar and singing backing vocal and Molly Tuttle singing lead. I'm pretty sure she was playing the mandolin with acoustic guitar body instrument on this song.

The acoustic guitar body with Martin style head stock with four strings per side was what caught my eye even before they started playing. The acoustic body shape seems pretty rare.

The credits for the backing band ran by so fast on the screen I couldn't see who the musicians were. Dennis Crouch, Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Jim Keltner (drums), David Mansfield, Mike Rojas, Daniel Tashian.

Homer and Jethro were great comedians that were also serious jazz musicians. As a child I enjoyed their humor and as I grew older I learned to enjoy their music.


Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,568
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,568
There are two Martin dreadnaught guitars in that configuration, both owned by the same guy. We’ve been in touch. He tunes Chicago aka same as an 8 string baritone uke—like the top 4 of a guitar with the D and G in octaves. He’s a Nick Reynolds (Kingston Trio) fan who tuned his Martin tenor the same way.

Santa Cruz and many others make a guitar shaped Mando-Cello with a 24”–28” scale. There was one Lloyd Loar K-5 built in the early 1920s. Any of these can be strung the same. I wouldn’t because the MCs must have thicker tops.

I miss playing, big time. About 50% of my gigs were bass, elec and upright, while the rest were mandolin/guitar/banjo. Nowadays, the only instrument I play live is tapping on the glass of an iPad. I still record my other instruments through the strategic use of capos, tunings and recording technology.


BIAB 2024 Audiophile, 24Core/60CoreGPU Core M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP/color]
[color=#FF0040]Digital Performer11, LogicPro

Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Off-Topic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
Veteran
OP Online Happy
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,718
Growing up my main focus was drums. I learned a few guitar chords to play along with family or friends but was never that interested in it. I found out I liked bass and learned to play bass by using the top four strings of the guitar. Carrying around a guitar was a whole lot easier than carrying drums. smile

While I was in the military I discovered a family owned guitar factory that made $99 electric guitar Christmas special kits for Montgomery Ward and JC Penny. Off season the elder went to Russia, Canada and South America buying exotic wood for his personal line of guitars. He made good money making custom instruments for American GI's. He made a Fender Jazz bass clone with hand wound pickups and Japanese audio grade electrical components, a 12-string acoustic dreadnought and a six string acoustic dreadnought for me. I still have the 12-string but sold the other two when money was needed worse than the instruments. Even though I don't play guitar well I love to pick-up the 12 string and listen to it sing.


Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update to RealBand® 2025 Build 5 Windows Today!

Already using RealBand® 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 5 now from our Support Page to ensure you have the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.

Get the latest update today!

PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 is here! This new version introduces many features, including VST3 support, the ability to load or import a .FLAC file, a reset option for track height in the Tracks window, a taller Timeline on the Notation window toolbar, new freeze buttons in the Tracks window, three toolbar modes (two rows, single row, and none), the improved Select Patch dialog with text-based search and numeric patch display, a new button in the DirectX/VST window to copy an effects group, and more!

First-time packages start at only $49. Already a PowerTracks Pro Audio user? Upgrade for as little as $29!

www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm

Video: Summary of the New Band-in-a-Box® App for iOS®

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new Band-in-a-Box® app for iOS®! Designed for musicians, singer-songwriters, and educators, this powerful tool lets you create, play, and transfer songs effortlessly on your iPhone® or iPad®—anytime, anywhere.

Band-in-a-Box® for iOS® :Summary video.

Check out the forum post for more information.

Introducing the New Band-in-a-Box iOS App!

We’re excited to introduce the new Band-in-a-Box iOS app, designed to enhance your music creation. The Band-in-a-Box iOS app is the perfect companion to your desktop version, giving you the freedom to sketch out ideas wherever you are and develop them further when you're back at your workstation. Now, you can create, play, generate, and transfer songs seamlessly between your iOS device, and desktop.

Key Features:

- Easily Create and Play Songs – Build and play songs effortlessly on your device.
- MIDI and RealTracks/RealStyles Support – Generate MIDI tracks and RealTracks/RealStyles right on your iPhone or iPad (RealTracks/RealStyles require an internet connection).
- Notation Support – View chord sheets, professional notation, tab, and drum notation for all tracks.
...and more!

Watch the Band-in-a-Box iOS Overview Video.

Visit the Band-in-a-Box for iOS support page for more information and to listen to demos of our RealStyles catalogue.

Download the Band-in-a-Box iOS App from the Apple App Store today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!

If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.

Discover everything included in this free update and download it now at https://www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1124

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator

With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.

Check out the forum post for more information.

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins

Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins

Join the conversation on our forum.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics83,629
Posts768,033
Members39,372
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Ellis Heights, keeskr, ClaireF, Gary So, Jon Rambo
39,372 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 222
DC Ron 146
Al-David 122
rsdean 96
WaoBand 92
Today's Birthdays
Bob Hunt, C J Lane, freeman, Philsaxophone
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5