Phil O'Keefe Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 What is an Octar? I found myself asking that very question while updating the HC News this morning, so after reading the press release about it, I then went in search of a YouTube video so I could hear what it sounded like... I think it sounds kind of cool - what do you think? [video=youtube;3tIhuApEnPk] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted October 1, 2015 Members Share Posted October 1, 2015 I know this is older thread, but a few weeks ago. I had the chance to strum one built buy a luthier in VT. I was also interested in a tenor guitar, or at least trying one. They are both tuned like a mandolin GDAE., or in the case of a tenor guitar CGDA Since I play a bit of mandolin. I knew some finger, but the scale felt weird to say the least. Not inexpensive stuff. very cool I saw Elenor Whitmore, who is the fiddle/ mandolin player with Steve Earle play a tenor guitar on stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted October 2, 2015 Members Share Posted October 2, 2015 Very Cool, and I am assuming gets the name from the 8 strings? D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 I assume the name is a portmanteau of octave and guitar. The instrument itself seems to combine various aspects of an archtop guitar and a mandocello, with an archtop's larger body, and the dual course / octave string configuration (and tuning?) of a mandocello. I'm going to try to check one out at Winter NAMM - it really sounds like an interesting combination to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted October 8, 2015 Members Share Posted October 8, 2015 I met a builder for VT that has a Octive Mandolin for sale that he built. The mandocello is tuned like a cello C G D A and is deep in tone like a cello. It also has the octaves thing happening with the 8 string. The octave mandolin is tuned like a mandolin but an octave down. Here's Chris Thile with and octave mandolin. You can hear the deep tone of the cello. [video=youtube;DooLKnS0ztw] Here's the Weber Octar in all it's glory. So beautiful. IMO [video=youtube;3tIhuApEnPk] Now the Tenor guitar can be tuned like a guitar, using the 4 bottom strings( D G B E). or in 5ths like a mandolin G D A E. The resonator Octar, Bruce Weber talks about how it's tuned here. and goes through the Octar too. Damn he does some nice work. I like his mandolins, but I like Gibson mandolins ever better. Someday I'll be digging a bit deeper in my pockets, but right now I can't do it or I shouldn't do it. Enjoy [video=youtube;OUblnz64FXg] Hope this helps. Kinda of what was cool about 100 years ago, is cool again.This is what folks sat around playing in there homes, before electricity. I'm not saying folks didn't have electricity in there house, but it was nothing like today. My grandfather used to tell me that when he and my grandmother were young, they would go out is see bands on Saturday nights. Brass was king, back then, and nothing was amplified. Just for kicks, I have down in my cellar the original electrical circuit break that was in this house. I was revamped a long time ago, but it's basically 2 fuses on a knife blade switch. When I came here the first thing I did was call in an electrician and replace for a second time the fuse box.The original isn't much more than this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 15, 2015 Author Share Posted October 15, 2015 I loved those videos - thanks for posting them. Of the two, the Octar and the Mandocello appealed to me the most - practically equally, even though they have different ranges and sounds to them. Wish I could afford one of each! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted October 20, 2015 Members Share Posted October 20, 2015 I loved those videos - thanks for posting them. Of the two' date=' the Octar and the Mandocello appealed to me the most - practically equally, even though they have different ranges and sounds to them. [b']Wish I could afford one of each![/b] Me and you. Life is espensive. And good gear ain't cheap either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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