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bass in shape. The Pagani model was also one of the few eight-string mando-basses made in the US, with four double-strung courses like the
European tremolo bass. Vega produced both a flat-back and a humped-back mando-bass (known as a "cylinder back"), both with a generally mandolin-shape in outline, but with markedly pointed upper bouts. Other builders (H.F. Meyer; Prairie State; Wm. C. Stahl) produced instruments that were more guitar, lute, or cittern-shaped.
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orchestral double bass: E1 A1 D2 G2. This tuning was favored in both
America and also quite common in Europe. Smaller, shorter-scaled instruments were more usually tuned in fifths, two octaves below the mandolin: G1, D2 A2 E3. In Europe, especially, this tuning was sometimes preferred even for the larger instrument.
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that rests on the floor. The neck-scale length on a full-size mando-bass is similar to that of a standard orchestral double bass viol: about 43 inches (110 cm). The instrument is otherwise similar to the smaller, higher-pitched members of the mandolin family, having a fretted neck, a headstock
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At the Guild's next meeting in 1912, four companies displayed their versions of a mando-bass: Gibson, Leland, Vega, and Wm. C. Stahl. All four companies advertised extensively, but in contrast to its competitors, only Gibson promoted their mando-bass in photographs of musicians playing it in large
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By the late 1920s, the popularity of mandolin orchestras was waning, and demand for the mando-bass began to evaporate. Gibson ceased production in 1930, and by the mid-1930s most other companies had followed suit. No commercial mando-basses are known to have been manufactured after 1940, and none
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The eight-string instrument appears to always have been tuned in fifths, either two octaves below the mandolin: G1 D2 A2 E3, or two octaves below the mandola: C1, G1, D2 A2. There is scant information as to how common this lower tuning (lower-ranging than the orchestral double bass) was, or in
213:
Musical instrument makers produced mandobasses in a variety of sizes and shapes. Gibson models were mostly a scaled-up version of the traditional "A" style mandolin (teardrop shaped), with the exception of their limited-edition "O. Pagani" model, which more closely resembled an orchestral double
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were being organized in numbers, the members became aware of the problem of adding bass to their orchestras. In trying to play the bass range, many mandolin players were reluctant to switch to the contrabass, because they saw its bowed action as an intrusion into their plucked-string world. They
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Up until 1911, the mandolin family of instruments as known in the United States had no true bass member. Mandolins were relatively new to the United States, beginning to be known in the mid-1880s and reaching the peak of popularity before 1910. The
American public was mostly unaware of the few
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As noted earlier, several tunings were employed for the mando-bass, depending on the style and size of the individual instrument, player's preference, and the requirements of the music to be performed. Tuning on the full-sized 4-string instrument was commonly in fourths, and identical to the
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The small four-string mandobass is identical, but built on a smaller scale and usually tuned either GDAE, two octaves below the mandolin, or CGDA, two octaves below the mandola. Though not as resonant as the larger instrument, players often preferred it as easier to handle and more
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Gibson designed their mandobasses to play either upright or on their side (like a regular mandolin) by changing the position of the pins the instrument rests on. Gibson made
Mandobasses from 1912 to approximately 1930. Most mandobasses that survive from this era are Gibsons.
151:. It was popular in early 20th century American and European mandolin ensembles. Early examples had very large bodies and were often played in an upright position like a double bass. Later examples often have smaller bodies and are intended to be played guitar style.
181:. For those reasons, most mandolin orchestras preferred to use the ordinary contra-bass, rather than a specialized mandolin family instrument. The bow not only helps with volume for forte sections of music, but the contrabass has deeper notes available.
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As with tunings, right-hand playing methods varied. Photographs of the instrument in use show some players using a traditional mandolin technique with a plectrum (pick), while others play the instrument with bare fingers like
242:) for different pitches, in the same method as other stringed instruments. Given the scale of the neck and the presence of frets, the left-hand "feel" of the instrument is similar to a modern electric bass guitar.
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included an entry about bass mandolins developed in
Britain, and indicate that issues related to the mando-bass were among the first discussed at the meeting. It was at this meeting that George D. Laurian of the
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The eight-string mandobass, or "tremolo-bass", relatively rare, is built exactly like a mandolin but is much larger and tuned either GDAE, two octaves lower than the mandolin, or CGDA, two octaves below the
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are currently (2015) in production. An occasional instrument has been privately commissioned, however, such as that crafted in 1992 by
English luthier Robin Greenwood, for musician
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on the double bass. Tremolo is possible with either playing method, but somewhat more difficult that on higher pitched instruments due to the thickness of the bass strings.
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NMM 5910. Mando-bass by Gibson
Mandolin-Guitar Company, Kalamazoo, ca. 1923-1924. Style J. Serial number 76525 or 74563 (number faded). Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.
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groups, emphasizing the social aspects of playing their instrument. Ultimately, the two most successful instruments were those produced by Gibson and Vega.
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417:"NMM 2883. Mando-bass by Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company, Kalamazoo, 1916. Style J. Serial number 25936. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979"
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Gibson Melody Maids of
Kalamazoo, Michigan from a 1922 trade magazine. One of the musicians is playing a mandobass, center left.
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Marcuse, Sibyl; Musical
Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary; W. W. Norton & Company (1975). (see entries for
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with geared tuning machines, and a large resonating body often—but not always—shaped like other mandolins.
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faced the problem, however, that mandolin basses were too quiet; it was hard to get
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announced that his department had developed a bass member for the mandolin family.
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mando-basses being made in Europe. Published minutes from the 1911 meeting of the
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177:(loud sound) from them. Furthermore, they did not get the deep bass notes of the
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The large four-string mandobass has a much longer neck and is tuned EADG, like a
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Johnson, J. R.; "The
Mandolin Orchestra in America, Part 3: Other Instruments",
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Mandolin Clubs and Orchestras in the United States (1880-1920):
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A Gibson Mandobass (center rear), displayed for size comparison
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American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists
114:. It is so large that players usually hold it like a
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139:There are three main variants of the mandobass:
106:is the largest (and least common) member of the
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419:. The National Music Museum. Archived from
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305:, Oxford University Press, pages 205–206.
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322:Their Origin, History and Instruments
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452:A traditionally shaped mandobass.
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345:"American Mando-Bass History 101"
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192:Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company
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118:—upright and supported on an
813:Mandolin family instruments
434:The National Music Museum,
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50:Plucked string instrument
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522:Society (Peterborough)
406:Sparks, Chapters 2, 3.
303:The Classical Mandolin
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724:National Reso-Phonic
317:Johnson, Joseph R.;
280:Acoustic bass guitar
423:on 15 January 2016.
170:mandolin orchestras
112:mandolin orchestras
59:Related instruments
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628:Resonator mandolin
531:Family instruments
517:Playing traditions
226:Tuning and playing
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44:String instruments
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386:American Lutherie
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355:. Retrieved
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29:Hilary James
664:Del Vecchio
240:fingerboard
149:bass guitar
145:double bass
116:double bass
807:Categories
759:Tanglewood
583:Mandocello
286:References
275:Mandocello
179:contrabass
88:Mandocello
649:Breedlove
623:Orpharion
613:Mandriola
603:Mandolute
598:Mandolone
578:Mandobass
553:Bandurria
248:pizzicato
155:portable.
104:Mandobass
92:Mandobass
17:Mandobass
782:Category
719:National
674:Giannini
669:Epiphone
654:Collings
543:Bandolin
488:Mandolin
373:mandolin
357:19 April
260:Mandolin
254:See also
159:mandola.
127:Variants
73:Mandolin
792:Commons
764:Weymann
744:Seagull
734:Ovation
684:Harmony
644:Beltona
608:Mandore
588:Mandola
563:Gittern
558:Cittern
548:Bandora
538:Bandola
512:Players
502:History
265:Mandola
164:History
78:Mandola
754:Tacoma
709:Martin
699:Ibanez
689:Hohner
679:Gibson
573:Laouto
120:endpin
68:Family
749:Stagg
739:Regal
704:Levin
348:(PDF)
175:forte
168:When
694:Hora
659:Dean
359:2021
102:The
147:or
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