Resonator mandolins & mandolas by Topher Gayle
I build high quality custom resonator mandolins and mandolas. They're loud, sweet-sounding, and easier on the fingers than standard mandolins. Here's why:
Because Mandonators™ are so much louder than standard mandolins, single strings are all that's needed in order to produce the tone (although I also make Mandonators™ with the normal string arrangement.) Also, because the instrument has so much volume, light-gauge strings are quite adequate to make lovely tone. The result is that you can much more easily press the strings down - great if you have soft fingertips or tired fingers.
Yet I think the main joy of these instruments is their pure, sweet tone. The tone is a bit like a blend of an electric mandolin (think Tiny Moore with the Bob Wills Band), a resonator guitar, and a standard mandolin. I find it's exceptional for Celtic, swing, and blues playing, and quite functional in country, rock, and folk settings as well. And I've played bluegrass with it - why not? Scroll down a little on this page to find some sound files to listen to.
Typical Mandonator™ features are a spider bridge, a single cutaway, and 5 strings. A variety of woods, plated parts, and finish options are available. And of course, if you prefer 4, 7, or 8 strings, a biscuit bridge, or no cutaway, I'll be happy to build your dream Mandonator™ to your specifications.
Below are photos of serial #2, my second prototype. This is the instrument I've been playing steadily since early 2009
Click here for larger views.
Photos of serial #3, a 4-string rosewood model with koa binding and abalone inlays. Delivered in 2009.
Construction photos of serial #4, an 8-string walnut model with rosewood binding and gold hardware.
Construction photos of serial #5, a 4-string mahogany model with ebony binding, no cutaway, two round soundholes, banjo-style headstock and tuners.
Construction photos of serial #6, a 4-string mahogany model with rosewood binding.
Construction photos of serial #7, a 5-string bubinga model with curly maple binding and square position markers.
These five sound files were recorded using Mandonator™ serial #2. This instrument has solid mahogany neck, top, back and sides, Camatillo Rosewood binding, a Beard resonator cone and spider, and 5 strings tuned EADGC (high to low). The instrument is strung with light guage Elixir mandolin strings, plus a .053 Elixir guitar string for the low C.
All files were recorded in my little home studio. These files will sound best if played through decent stereo speakers or headphones. Laptop speakers or the like will most likely not sound so great.
I used no effects, compression, or equalization on any of the tracks (except one - I used a hint of compression on the guitar track for El Cumbanchero - I did this to get the guitar out of the way so that you could hear the Mandonator™ better.) My goal was to give you as true a sense of how the instrument really sounds as possible. I played all the instruments, and I worked pretty quickly. I left in some little mistakes, because the music isn't the point here - the sound of the instrument is the point. Besides, I want to get back into my shop and build!
1) Here I play three C major scales across all five strings. The first scale is picked near the end of the fingerboard for a mellow tone, the next is picked halfway to the bridge, and the third is picked about an inch from the bridge for a nice twangy sound. The middle tone is probably the tone I use the most, though I like the neck tone a lot, too.
2) The classic Irish tune My Darling Asleep. I play the melody and a harmony line on overdubbed Mandonator, and added a guitar backup. I think the Mandonator™ really shines for Celtic tunes.
3) A swingy little tune which I call Shopping. It features Mandonator™ on melody. Backup includes string bass, guitar, and finger pops. I think the tone is perfect for this kind of music - almost like an electric mandolin.
"That Mandonator™ has some exceptional tone, especially on that swing. Excellent job. Looks great too." - Don Grieser
4) El Cumbanchero with guitar and bass accompaniment.
5) My waltz, Rusty Bucket, played fingerstyle on solo Mandonator™. It's hard to play fingerstyle on a double-course instrument, but it works well on this single-course instrument! I use just the lower four strings in this tune; it's in mandola range.