Piccolo Mandolin
by Gregg Miner, as part of www.minermusic.com)
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The label on this little guy says "The Brilliantone
Mando, L.H.
Leland". According to expert Michael Holmes, Leland was the builder and his
line of guitars and mandolin family instruments (from piccolo through bass!) was
distributed by Washburn in 1911*. This is a true
piccolo, with a scale length of 10-1/2". In the photo below, I lined up the
three bridges. Compare the scale length next to a
Gibson F4 (13-7/8") and the German "piccolo" (really
"pocket") mandolin (12-7/8"). With light mandolin strings, I was
able to tune this up to CGDA (an octave above a mandola). With Brazilian
rosewood back and sides, this guy sounds fantastic - rich
and loud! Much better than my Dyer. |
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