sample selection ... for Mandolin


As usual of the Crane web site, regular mandolins are not the ones dealt here. This section is limited to geeks and concentrates on mandolino and Milanese mandolin :-)

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[mandolino tuning]

A=440Hz L=310mm, all unison
g-b-e'-a'-d"-g" tuning.
2.7kg for 1st course only (actually 2.5kg), 1.8kg for 2-4 courses, 2.0kg for 5 and 6 courses.

1st course g2 : Gut 0.324mm, nylon 0.36mm, or fluorocarbon 0.277mm (2.5 gauge : 0.260mm)
2nd course d2 : Gut 0.36mm, nylon 0.40mm, or fluorocarbon 0.308mm (3 gauge : 0.285mm)
3rd course a1 : Gut 0.48mm, nylon 0.54mm, or fluorocarbon 0.41mm (6 gauge)
4th course e1 : Gut 0.64mm, nylon 0.70mm, or fluorocarbon 0.79mm (12 gauge)
5th course b : Gut 0.91mm, metal wound VN5091, nylon 1.00mm, or fluorocarbon 0.74mm (20 gauge)
6th course g : Gut 1.16mm or metal wound VN5116


[Lute tuning case] not standared

A=440Hz L=310mm, all unison
g-c'-f'-a'-d"-g" tuning.
2.7kg for 1st course only (actually 2.5kg), 1.8kg for 2-4 courses, 2.0kg for 5 and 6 courses.

1st course g2 : Gut 0.324mm, nylon 0.36mm, or fluorocarbon 0.277mm (2.5 gauge : 0.260mm)
2nd course d2 : Gut 0.36mm, nylon 0.40mm, or fluorocarbon 0.308mm (3 gauge : 0.285mm)
3rd course a1 : Gut 0.48mm, nylon 0.54mm, or fluorocarbon 0.41mm (6 gauge)
4th course f1 : Gut 0.62mm, nylon 0.68mm, or fluorocarbon 0.68mm (10 gauge)
5th course c1 : Gut 0.85mm, metal wound VN5085, nylon 0.94mm, or fluorocarbon 0.74mm (20 gauge)
6th course g : Gut 1.16mm, or metal wound VN5116

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[Milanese mandolin tuning]

Milanese mandolin, a 6 single stringed one, was popular in Italy. It had a long history and seemed to have already existed in late 1600. Antonio Monzino of Milan born in 1725 was a renowned maker of Milanese mandolins for 6 generations and some said that he is the one who invented this mandolin. In late 19th century, Cassino Co. in Italy introduced a 6 course 12 metal string mandolin and Oscar Schmidt and others had built them. But both single and double stringed 6 course mandolins disappeared from the musical scene soon afterwards. By the way, 12 string mandolins which has been introduced in early 20th century often adopt four courses of 3 strings each.

The following might be an extra, but all the enthusiasts and owners of Milanese 6 string mandolins (if there is any) should pay close attention.

Originally, gut strings are used for treble 3 strings, iron wire wound silk string for bass 3 strings, and they are tuned to (g-b- e'-a'-d"-g"). I will list a selection of strings that can be easily obtained, although iron wire wound silk strings are still distributed today. My impression while repairing one of these mandolin is that it did not sound well if gut string are used on 1st though 5th. I should rather say that it sound earthy instead of sounding bright or flashy. The impression may be enforced further when one compares it with modern steel stringed mandolins. It sounded better with fluorocarbon strings, but one need to pay attention on string selections.


A=440Hz L=305mm
2.0kg in average, except for 2.5kg on 1st.
g-b-e'-a'-d"-g" normal tuning

1st g2 : Gut 0.324mm, nylon 0.36mm, or fluorocarbon 0.277mm (3/2.5 gauge)
2nd d2 : Gut 0.40/0.36mm, nylon 0.44/0.42mm, or fluorocarbon 0.33mm (4 gauge)
3rd a1 : Gut 0.52mm, nylon 0.58mm, or fluorocarbon 0.44mm (7 gauge)
4th e1 : Gut 0.70mm, nylon 0.76mm, or fluorocarbon 0.57/0.62mm (12/14 gauge)
5th b : Gut 0.94mm, metal wound VN 5092, nylon 1.04mm, or fluorocarbon 0.79mm (22/24 gauge)
6th g : Gut 1.16mm or metal wound VN5116



Photo below shows a Milanese mandolin about to be strung with Aquila's nylgut after repairing it.








For those who want to tune like a guitar (one octave higher).

1st e2 : Gut 0.36mm, nylon 0.42mm, or fluorocarbon 0.33mm (4/3 gauge)
2nd b1 : Gut 0.50mm, nylon 0.54mm, or fluorocarbon 0.41/0.44mm (6/7 gauge)
3rd g1 : Gut 0.62mm, nylon 0.68mm, or fluorocarbon 0.52mm (10gauge)
4th d1 : Gut 0.82mm, nylon 0.88mm, or fluorocarbon 0.70mm (18gauge)
5th a : Gut 1.08mm or metal wound VN5108
6th e : Gut 1.45mm or metal wound VN5145

This seems to be a great chance to establish "Milanese Mandolin Society of Japan".
I would proudly declare it! Well, this is not the right place to do this, is this?







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