kyleb - Posted - 08/05/2016:  06:58:41

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check this out, but there were very few made, a gibson bass mandolin.

shopgoodwill.com/viewitem.asp?...=31961456

Arkansas Mark - Posted - 08/05/2016:  08:06:16

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The correct name is a Mandocello.

Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 08/05/2016:  08:09:14

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quote:

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Originally posted by Arkansas Mark

The correct name is a Mandocello.

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No, this is a mandobass. A mandocello has eight strings and is roughly the size of a small guitar.

Andy

kyleb - Posted - 08/05/2016:  08:31:09

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this is certainly a bass its 5.5 feet tall!

revellfa - Posted - 08/05/2016:  08:46:05

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That's awesome!

Arkansas Mark - Posted - 08/05/2016:  09:47:49

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I see. Oooops. My mistake. Sorry about that

jhko - Posted - 08/05/2016:  10:23:49

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Too bad they don't have a picture with someone standing next to it. It's hard to judge the size from the pics. Could be 15 inches or 6 feet for all you can tell from the pictures alone. But obviously from the measurements and what you can see, it is a bass. Very cool!

mutantmoose - Posted - 08/05/2016:  10:36:47

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What a treat that would be to work on! (Price is quite a lot, though I'm sure it is fair.)

 

Thanks for sharing. 

mikehalloran - Posted - 08/05/2016:  10:51:54

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It's missing the arm rest and end pin but otherwise appears to be functional. 

Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 08/05/2016:  12:28:21

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I'm sure it will go higher before it's done.  That's quite something to see.

Zach

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 08/05/2016:  12:47:31

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Mike, that's a great photo, especially for mandolin lovers.

jhko - Posted - 08/05/2016:  13:35:03

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quote:

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Originally posted by mikehalloran

 

It's missing the arm rest and end pin but otherwise appears to be functional. 

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It looks like it has a serious crack in the heal, and some separations around the body. But it certainly could (and should) be fixed up. Wonderful item!

 

jwold - Posted - 08/05/2016:  14:23:18

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Local now retired luthier (Salem area) Ken Cartwright repaired and fixed up one of those a few years ago.

kyleb - Posted - 08/05/2016:  15:01:28

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jhko - Posted - 08/05/2016:  17:55:02

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quote:

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Originally posted by bargrasspicker

 

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Not sure of the exact date, but if the bass sold for $150. (as per the ad) in 1925, inflation adjusted it would be $2,066. today. Not a bad price. 

rmcdow - Posted - 08/05/2016:  19:03:51

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From the archive of serial numbers of known mandobasses, and Spann's guide, this one appears to be in the 1913 production. Not many of these were made, estimates from 200 - 400.

jhko - Posted - 08/05/2016:  19:52:26

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Pushing the date back to 1913, based on the $150. catalog price, the current price would be $3,652.09

Arkansas Mark - Posted - 08/05/2016:  21:08:54

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I wonder why they call it a mandolin bass. In my opinion, it doesn't look like it has anything to do with a mandolin. I understand that it looks like a large overgrown mandolin, but that's just the shape. That is where the similarities end.Just looks like a giant acoustic bass to me. It just doesn't look like it would function like a mandolin at all. I guess they just call it that because it looks like a mandolin. Does anyone know of any recorded music that we can hear online to get a idea what this instrument sounds like. i'm curious.

Arkansas Mark - Posted - 08/05/2016:  21:12:37

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I would've thought a mandocello would've worked as a good bass. But again I have not heard one of those either.

Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 08/06/2016:  05:37:49

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quote:

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Originally posted by Arkansas Mark

I would've thought a mandocello would've worked as a good bass. But again I have not heard one of those either.

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Mandolin clubs and orchestras were hot at the time. Gibson wanted to offer a "full line" of instruments to outfit an entire mandolin band, but did not offer a standard upright bass during those years. Hence, the mando bass.

A mandocello is about the size of a guitar, and has a similar scale length. Too small to take the place of an upright bass in an orchestra. It takes the place of the cello, which is where it's name comes from, obviously.

Andy

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 08/06/2016:  07:04:02

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With the shape, and with frets, it still probably would function more as a mandolin, and not an acoustic bass, despite the single strings. Also, this mando-bass could not be bowed, as a regular bass could.

The lack of paired strings shouldn't fool anyone. In those low registers; they would be a nuisance; nearly impossible to fret (one's fingers would have to be like locomotive pistons), nearly impossible to tune together, and also nearly impossible to pick in unison. A bass string generally has a larger amplitude than upper notes, so double strings would probably rattle against each other. 

mikehalloran - Posted - 08/06/2016:  12:25:22

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quote:

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Originally posted by G Edward Porgie

 

With the shape, and with frets, it still probably would function more as a mandolin, and not an acoustic bass, despite the single strings. Also, this mando-bass could not be bowed, as a regular bass could.

The lack of paired strings shouldn't fool anyone. In those low registers; they would be a nuisance; nearly impossible to fret (one's fingers would have to be like locomotive pistons), nearly impossible to tune together, and also nearly impossible to pick in unison. A bass string generally has a larger amplitude than upper notes, so double strings would probably rattle against each other. 

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Add to that, the fact that the strings were gut. No way would you want paired courses.

Spitzer's in Hayward used to have one of these on display. I wanted one till I played it and heard nothing that didn't sound better on one of my upright basses.

These take upright bass strings. Although gut is available, it is very expensive and frets cause wear. I would think that metal wound over nylon core would work best. A number of makers have these including La Bella and Thomastic. I would avoid metal cored strings—not sure what they'd do to the top and am pretty certain that no one wants to find out.

cebracher - Posted - 08/06/2016:  13:23:34

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Wow...! Not that I have anything against Goodwill as I like shopping there, but what possesses a person to leave something so obviously unique at a thrift store....?!?!

I like this guys version...

banjohangout.org/photo/215239

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Edited by - cebracher on 08/06/2016 13:25:29

eljimb0 - Posted - 08/06/2016:  16:22:25

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I had my hands on one in Portland,Oregon  ...about 20 years ago. What I remember most is the sound it made. It sounded like the low notes on a piano, Not warm or full,   just note. It was loud enough to work in a small string band, but disappointingly cold sounding.

mikehalloran - Posted - 08/06/2016:  16:29:52

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quote:

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Originally posted by eljimb0

 

I had my hands on one in Portland,Oregon  ...about 20 years ago. What I remember most is the sound it made. It sounded like the low notes on a piano, Not warm or full,   just note. It was loud enough to work in a small string band, but disappointingly cold sounding.

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I didn't try to describe the tone of the one in Hayward but I've no disagreement with your observations. 

rmcdow - Posted - 08/06/2016:  16:57:32

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Those look like copper wound piano strings that are on it now, not gut.

kyleb - Posted - 08/06/2016:  19:14:03

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quote:

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Originally posted by rmcdow

 

Those look like copper wound piano strings that are on it now, not gut.

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might explain the heel crack..

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 08/06/2016:  19:44:22

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quote:

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Originally posted by rmcdow

 

Those look like copper wound piano strings that are on it now, not gut.

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Wound piano strings are made differently. The winding on a piano string stops just before the bridge and there is a stretch of plain wire before a loop is formed. The loop in most cases is rather long, too. Piano strings wound their entire length went out before the American Civil War.

The strings on this mandobass may be wrapped with copper, but they certainly aren't piano strings.

One of my earliest jobs was the making of piano bass strings, and I've since worked on probably a thousands more pianos, so I know what I'm talking about here.

 

mikehalloran - Posted - 08/07/2016:  07:32:42

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quote:

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Originally posted by rmcdow

 

Those look like copper wound piano strings that are on it now, not gut.

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I don't think so. Those look to me like silver plated copper wound La Bella gut. Both the silver plate and copper alloy underneath oxidize to a dark near black. I could be wrong,the focus isn't clear.

Not my favorite strings but I've owned a number of basses with those over the years. They were the stock strings on Kay basses. Still available and pretty expensive. 

D'Addario makes copper plated steel wound bass strings but they are not nearly long enough. 

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Edited by - mikehalloran on 08/07/2016 07:34:17

Dan Gellert - Posted - 08/08/2016:  08:33:11

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I don't think they were ever meant to be strung with gut, though I can imagine someone trying a set of gut double-bass strings on one in an effort to improve its tone. 

D'addario and LaBella still make string sets for the mando-bass--  bronze-wound on steel cores, like their standard strings for the rest of the mandolin family.

rmcdow - Posted - 08/09/2016:  19:11:49

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Went for $2561.00.

kyleb - Posted - 08/10/2016:  07:11:08

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anyone here pick it up? I would have been interested at that price if i had the skills and equipment to fix it, these sell for 10 to 15k restored. 

bobdenver1961 - Posted - 08/10/2016:  19:27:35

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Can't believe somebody just donated it. I guess it's better than getting thrown in the trash since it was broken.

Muskrat - Posted - 01/03/2017:  14:27:27

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quote:

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Originally posted by Arkansas Mark



I wonder why they call it a mandolin bass. In my opinion, it doesn't look like it has anything to do with a mandolin.…

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I'm guessing it was in a Mandolin type tuning. In fifths, not fourths like an upright bass.

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Edited by - Muskrat on 01/03/2017 14:28:37