Northfield Wavelength Short Scale Octave Mandola with Gig Bag

Northfield
Code: NFO-AT3
£2,599.00
Instrument Setup
Instrument Setup Included more info
Ukulele End Pin Fitting
Strap Pin Fitting more info
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Northfield Wavelength Short Scale Octave Mandola. For the mandolin player who wants that octave mandola tone without the stretch. Traditionally octaves usually have a scale length of around 21-22", the Northfield Wavelength is 19". This means the gauges are slightly heavier than normal to get the tension at that shorter scale length.

A truly unique instrument!

Choose from 2 colours -  Dark leatherburst or Ox amber.

Supplied with Airloom gig bag.

Full description

Key Features
All Solid
F Holes
Hand crafted
Highly flamed finish
Made in the U.S.A.
Made in the U.S.A
Supplied with Gig Bag

Description

More information from Northfield...

'The WaveLength'...One part adventure : one part homecoming.

Making more waves in music—catching more chances to create something new. Our Wavelength Octave is a welcoming invitation to the world of possibilities that the octave mandolin lays at your fingertips.  As the newcomer to the mandolin family gathers momentum, the whole mandolin community continues to approach music and songwriting differently and more openly. That’s the kind of opportunity we live for at Northfield. 

We’ve been thinking about this for a while. Making an A-style octave isn’t a new thing—but getting it right; with proper proportions, weight/balance, and the ratio, between the body chamber and the appropriate scale length, has all been harder to find in the market. Even strings for a shorter-scaled octave have been nearly impossible to find. So we went all the way …

Around the shop, we refer to this addition as “The mandolinist’s octave mandolin”.  The response and character of the lower octave register in the familiar teardrop shape. Fitting comfortably into your lap, your right arm hangs naturally over the edge—your left hand has the room it needs to access the frets, all the way up to the body and beyond. This allows for a much more natural feeling for a lot of players with the octave mandolin. At 19” the scale length is still a reach for 4-finger chord voicing, yet still a lot more accessible for playing those fiddle tunes we all learned first. One part adventure : one part homecoming. 

Stretch Out: It's not a 14” scaled mandolin, it's still a little bit more of a spread, but we feel that 19” is perfect. Going much shorter than 19” runs the risk of having issues with string tension and drive. Going longer than 19” like our GBOM at 22" requires that the instrument is held and played in a different way than many mandolinists are accustomed to.

The WaveLength is a different approach to the music that you know and love; leaning into accompanying dynamics with singing and songwriting, ensembles, textural contexts, and beyond… even as a lead instrument, this Octave truly performs.



Specification

Product Type
mandolin
Mandolin Type
Octave Mandola

Brand Specifics

Exclusivity
Exclusive UK Retailer

Body

Body Shape
A-Style (Teardrop)
Body Soundhole Shape
F-Holes
Build Type
All Solid
Instrument Top
West Virginian Red Spruce
Hand Carved
Yes
Body Binding
Yes
Tailpiece
Nickel-plated engraved Gilchrist/Northfield
Bridge
Striped ebony

Neck

Neck Material
Highly Figured Michigan Maple
Fretboard
Striped ebony
Nut Material
Bone
Nut Width
1 3/8" (35mm)
Truss Rod Fitted
Yes
Number of Frets
22
Scale Length
19" (483mm)

Headstock

Tuning Pegs
Gotoh
Tuner Buttons
Black Plastic

Finish

Colour
Dark Leatherburst, Ox Amber,
Finish
Satin Spirit Varnish

Other

Right or Left Handed
Right Handed
Supplied with Case/Gig Bag
Gig Bag
Manufacturers Warranty
Limited Lifetime Guarantee
Limited Lifetime
Country of Manufacture
USA

Related videos

Northfield Wavelength octave demo
Northfield Wavelength octave discussion with Adrian and Derek

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