Foo - I started playing the mandolin again...

now my fingers hurt.

Just wanted to let you all know.

:D

Thats very nice dear

I love playing my Mandolin.

yeah baby, mandolin players unite. :)

Now that you have started this thread you need to let us know what mandolin you play, what style of music you play and what strings (J74's for me) you use, what pick you like and last but not least, what hole you prefer?

Steven

Sorry for the fingertips ... but a pretty instrument to listen too ... :o

When I'm not using it as a conoe paddle, I play a Kentucky-el-cheapo. :) I don't recall the model; I bought it a long time ago when I thought I would actually play. I owned the damn thing for ten years and then about 3 years ago I fell in with some pot head bluegrass...er newgrass people and they taught me a little. I've only changed strings twice and the first time I got the strings I did because the music store I went to had mandolin strings. :D This last time I bought J62's cause I'm a wuss, and still a beginner. My major problem is that I'm not really sure how to pick and I live in a town where maybe 3 or 4 people know what an instrument is. :rolleyes:

I play whatever music I can get chords for, and I've started trying to pick using the Mandolin Pickers Fakebook. I'll get better and hopefully get a better instrument at some point, but right now I'm having fun with it (apart from the sore fingers ;)).

Try this site for some good reading and mandolin help...

http://www.mandolincafe.com/

They have a kind of forum/message board and a lot of other information.

And by the way, if you have the Kentucky K-1000 it may be the older version and worth a good bit, not like the later models. The early models were made in Korea I believe and the later versions are made in China and the earlier models are supposed to be the better model. And then again I could have it backwards. :)

I have an old Kay that I got for 15 bucks and it came in a box while in pieces. I epoxied it back together and it is one of the loudest mandolins I have heard and the sound is not bad either. My other mandolin is a real cheap Fender acoustic electric and sounds it.

Have fun.

Steven

P.S.

Try some Preparation H on the fingers, that will reduce the swelling and pain. Pickers of all kinds swear by it.

...and last but not least, what hole you prefer?


Oh my...

I prefer the round hole but I'm just starting out too. The F holes look better but I'm not sure it's worth the money just yet.

Try some Preparation H on the fingers, that will reduce the swelling and pain.

But not while playing! Your fretboard won't like that....

I've never heard of this, but it makes sense, I guess......I've heard of Prep-H used to reduce bags under the eyes....

Calluses will eventually build up and you should have less of a problem in a short time. Another trick to ease into it is to use lighter gauge strings and work up to the thicker stuff. You could also just tune down for the same effect. Of course, be careful with this as you could warp your neck if you mess with the tension too drastically.....

I have a 1903 Washburn mandolin but I don't get around to playing it too often. She's more of the A type which are louder then the F hole style but they are tonally very different in good ways. I never heard of the Preparation H trick, very interesting.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the hole...How could I have done that! I'll have to check out which Kentucky I have, thanks for the tip. She's an A-style. I love the look of the F, but people I've talked to say you can get a better sounding A for the same money. But those F's are sooooo sexy...

I was playing everyday last year, but up the calluses. It was pretty nice, but then crap happened and I haven't been into doing much lately. Stupid crap.

Both of my mandolins have F holes now, I did have a real cheap oval hole that sounded very nice. I gave it to a family member that is a Missionary in Papua New Guina so he can give it to some derserving soul. ;)

Preparation H really does work, I know of players that use it as they play if they play for extended sets at all. I have also heard of players using super glue to toughen up the fingers for a set if they need some help.

My dream mandolin is the Rigel G 110 or even the CT 110, named in honer of Chris Theily, a super super mandolin player.

Steven plays gospel, CCM, country, some classical and no rap. :)

I'd be careful about getting Prep-H all over your fretboard.....maybe if you apply and then wipe off all the excess.....I still wouldn't do it right before playing.