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  #1  
Old 09-04-2016, 08:33 AM
35' Sunburst 35' Sunburst is offline
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Default Sarah Jorosz - Octave Tuning and string???

It looks like she has octaves on the 3rd string & 4th or (bass side)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpd9QgQEQ2E

Anyone know her tuning and string gauges??
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Old 09-04-2016, 11:24 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is online now
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I had an old Hofner Archtop converted to one of these. Scale length a bit too long , but we could still use standard mandolin gauges - 11-50.

Ms Jarosz is remarkable isn't she?
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Old 09-04-2016, 11:38 AM
SolidSpruceTop SolidSpruceTop is offline
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Use a string tension calculator online. I prefer to have my plain steel strings about 21-23 lbs of tension, but in that configuration you may want more like 25-27
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Old 09-04-2016, 11:48 AM
gruuv gruuv is offline
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This is such a great song. I'd love to get one of them there instruments!
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Old 09-04-2016, 02:30 PM
35' Sunburst 35' Sunburst is offline
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I'm converting an old parlor guitar to one of these just to see how it works out.
The scale is 24.3 but I'm still going to give it a try.
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Old 09-04-2016, 03:38 PM
gruuv gruuv is offline
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After some Googling, this isn't a possibility after all... at least for the time being.

http://www.fletcherbrock.com/Octaves.html

Last edited by gruuv; 09-04-2016 at 04:06 PM.
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Old 09-04-2016, 04:21 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is online now
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Of course you could look for them in "probably"the best mandolin shop in the world :

www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/

Then put octave in the search box.
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  #8  
Old 09-04-2016, 11:53 PM
midwinter midwinter is offline
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Everything I've ever heard/seen is her just playing in a standard mandolin tuning (GDAE) just an octave lower on the OM. I'd have to check the gauges on my OM strings to see, but they're the same strings tuned in unison, just like a regular mandolin.
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Old 09-04-2016, 11:56 PM
midwinter midwinter is offline
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Those Brock OMs are incredible. But there are other OM options. I have a Phil Crump on order.... If that's still outside your price range, there are Trinity ones for about $700.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gruuv View Post
After some Googling, this isn't a possibility after all... at least for the time being.

http://www.fletcherbrock.com/Octaves.html
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  #10  
Old 09-05-2016, 04:24 AM
Maryc-k Maryc-k is offline
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Many octave player will string the G and the D strings as an octave pair. The nut on the instrument might need an adjustment to prevent buzzing or other issues. I think people need to experiment with string gauges and find what is right for their style of playing and their music.
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Old 09-05-2016, 08:17 AM
Jim_G Jim_G is offline
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Yes Octave Mandolins can be expensive. I ordered a Northfield back in late April. Talked to Peter out there just last week and hopefully I'll have it in early October. They are less expensive than the Fletcher Brock Sarah plays, mine set me back $3500 which is still alot of money. Luckily I'm in my 'peak earning years' so it's not a problem.

Getting back to the OP, it says here that Sarah uses regular medium gauge guitar strings instead of octave mandolin stings on hers:

https://americansongwriter.com/2012/...ring-garden/3/
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Old 09-05-2016, 05:50 PM
35' Sunburst 35' Sunburst is offline
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I've been doing a lot reading on these and yes I'm a Bit long on the scale, but I really want to try and see if I can make an Octave Mando out of a Parlor.

I'll be replacing the tuners with 2 sets on 4 inline from a set of 2 sets of 6 in line (with 2 tuners cut off on each side) from a Slot head 12 string set.

I'll put a Mando tailpiece at the heal.
It's worth a shot and effort to me - may not turn out to be the ultimate Octrave Mando by any means but if it works at all it's a good starting point.

For any interested I'll post the transformation.

Here's what I'm starting with. One of these:

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