Mandolins

Martin 2-15

The mandolin is older than the modern guitar and is tuned differently. For at least 400 years, the mandolin has endured as an instrument with eight strings in four courses. Each of the two strings of a course are tuned in unison. The interval between courses is a fifth (guitars are tuned to fourths), like a violin. The standard tuning (from the top) is G, D, A, and E.

Orville Gibson was responsible for the greatest change in the design of the mandolin in the last 4oo years. It was probably sometime in the 1880s that Orville decided that the mandolin should not only be tuned like a violin, but should also be built with the same construction techniques. By 1896, Mr. Gibson was operating a shop at 114 South Burdick in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he constructed and sold his carved mandolins, guitars, harp guitars, and at least one zither. In February of 1898, Orville Gibson was issued a patent (# 598,245) for his design of a mandolin with carved top, back, and sides (Yes, the sides were carved, not bent).

`Rique is always interested to gather additional information about these instruments and their manufacturers, and is eager to correspond with other collectors. Please forward your comments/questions.

The mandolins are:

There's more about Orville Gibson, his life, his innovations and the company that bears his name in Gibson: 100 Years of an American Icon by Walter Carter. This book covers the history of the Gibson company from the earliest days of Orville Gibson's shop on Burdick Street to the modern factory in Nashville, Tennessee. The 100 years in the title refer to the centennial that was celebrated in 1994, marking 100 years from the founding of Orville Gibson's shop. The 312 pages of this book cover not only Gibson's guitars, but also contain a great deal of information about the mandolins and banjos that bear the Gibson name.

Got a mandolin? Need more information? Join the fun at these great sites:

• Mandolin Cafe has classified ads, articles, lessons, tablature and a wealth of links to other sites.
• MandoZine also has lots of tablature, excellent articles, and features profiles of mandolinists and some great screen savers.
• Co-Mando sponsored by Mandozine, more tablature, instructional articles, a discussion list and midi files.
• Mando Mark's site maintains a list of mandolinists (add yourself), and discussion groups. Also has a very nice, on-line chord book and some tablature.

Want a(nuther) mandolin? Compare the inventories of leading dealers at `Rique's Mandolin Shopper. We've got more vintage Gibson and Martin mandolins at `Rique's Classic Mandolins. And, of course, don't forget to check my list of items for sale.

If you're looking for a guitar, or just want to check out inventories of the leading vintage guitar dealers, visit `Rique's vintage guitar shopper, or, if it's a new instrument you're after, you can find and compare retailers at GearSearch. And, of course, don't forget to check my list of instruments for sale.