Just want to share an absolutely amazing YT video I stumbled upon (octave mando)

[Silence Dogood]

Can't remember how I stumbled upon this piece but it's otherworldly in its beauty.  Enjoy!

[BlueBowman]

That is beautiful. Thanks for posting. My ignorance showing: I didn't know those were actually "mandolins". Very lovely sound.

[William2]

What is the difference between the octave mandolin and a bouzouki?

[Silence Dogood]

What is the difference between the octave mandolin and a bouzouki?

The name. 

[mike in lytle]

The name. 

Curious. Why do you say that?
Mike

[Silence Dogood]

Curious. Why do you say that?
Mike

There is no difference between them, they are just called something different.  That's what I meant. 

[mike in lytle]

There is no difference between them, they are just called something different.  That's what I meant. 

Ok, fair enough.
Mike

[Riverbend]

Scale length is often significantly longer on an Irish bouzouki. Some folks tune them differently, as well, GDAD and GDAE being common. The longer scale makes them a good candidate for open tunings as traditional chord shapes are more difficult with the wider fret spacing. And then again, as Silence said, they can be tuned, and played, exactly the same. I have one of each. The YT piece, by the way, was beautiful!

[BlueBowman]

Scale length is often significantly longer on an Irish bouzouki. Some folks tune them differently, as well, GDAD and GDAE being common. The longer scale makes them a good candidate for open tunings as traditional chord shapes are more difficult with the wider fret spacing. And then again, as Silence said, they can be tuned, and played, exactly the same. I have one of each. The YT piece, by the way, was beautiful!

I could see myself playing one of those beauties! Quite alluring.

[mike in lytle]

Tijn Berends on the Irish Bouzouki ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbtV97MTiuA

If you were not having a wonderful day, this will fix you right up.
Mike

[Silence Dogood]

I had an octave mandolin made by Trinity College (Saga, Chinese import) years ago.  It sounded great but was pretty quiet, and got completely lost if played alongside a guitar (very similar range).  Also, even though I play guitar, I found the finger stretches to be a beast.  That's probably one of the reasons the fellow in the original video posted is capo'd. 

The Greek bouzoukis tend to have a more ancient sound.  I think they are constructed a bit differently.  But in the end they are all basically a mandolin down one octave.  The scale allows for some killer alternate tunings, as has been mentioned. 

My own experience with the octave was like a lot of folks' experience with a 12-string: they get all fired up to own one, only to rarely play it. 

[Riverbend]

Tijn Berends on the Irish Bouzouki ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbtV97MTiuA

If you were not having a wonderful day, this will fix you right up.
Mike

Very nice, and then when the accompaniment kicks in...oh boy, how nice is that!!???

[teh]

Thanks for sharing these videos. One of the benefits of this forum is the opportunity to expand our musical horizons.