An instrument of manhood?

Ask Captain Correlli.

Is playing the madolin masculine or does it degrade masculinity in your eyes?

If I enjoy an activity I could care LESS if anyone else thought it was "masculine" or not. Yeah, I'm secure in my manhood enough to say that and if someone worries about that then,well, that ain't masculine! keep playing, dude!

This isn't so much about my manhood. I am just curious about how others feel. If they see a man playing a mandolin does he look masculine with it? I would have bought one but I am low on funds. Saving up for a wedding is no picnic. I am hoping some others will poke in here and give their thoughts. I am always intrigued about how people respond. I am that guy who sits in the corner of a coffee shop just observing everyone else and what they are doing.

I echo the wise sage Shovelheat. Be secure and wail away!

I know this is an OLD post but thought I would give an update.

Just recently I was able to convince my 'then' fiance and my now wife to get a mandolin. Sadly it will be a few months because the one I want is on back order. On a positive note that seems to confirm it's a decent mandolin? I'll soon find out.

It's not the instrument, it's how you play it.

~Zoo

I've been watching video lessons on the instrument. I think I might be a little obsessed with it. hehe

Mandolins are awesome. After you get into the mandolin, it's time to move up the tenor guitar.

I miss my tenor guitar. Why does she have to be on the other side of the world from me? (:(

So my mandolin came in. It is definitely my new friend.

It's been two weeks since it came in. I have a pretty good set of callouses now. Sadly, I had to make some significant alterations to the bridge. I'm no instrument guru but I know that mandolin strings are not equally spaced on the bridge. They are in sets and spaced.

I'll see if I can take a picture of it. It might be camera shy. hehe

Well, I don't mean it in a bad way, but considering guitars, especially electric guitars, are usually related to manly men of rock by the Media, this instrument could be seen as not so manly by some. But like Shovelheat and Buddah Moskowitz said, it doesn't matter. It's what you think of it. Rock on dude. Play till your fingers bleed. I cry when I watch chick flicks and I'm not ashamed so, you do what you like.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Mandolin_player.jpg/450px-Mandolin_player.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Mandolin_player.jpg&h=600&w=450&sz=38&hl=en&start=91&um=1&tbnid=DWIB9sgPJBHhiM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmandolin%26start%3D80%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

From the picture on that link, I see nothing wrong with it. Looks like a pretty interesting instrument to me.

Which is why I posed the question.

Here's link of the same model as I have.

WWW Link

It's an inexpensive one but I got it for a SCREAMING deal.

It's kind of funny, my wife plays the guitar and I play the mandolin. Since I've gotten the mandolin she has spent more time on my mandolin then on her guitar.

Nice mandolin. I wouldn't be caught dead with one but hey, to each his own.

Just kidding. I saw this guy a few years ago:

F-style. Nice.

I always liked the look of the F-style better than the A. Maybe that's just me, but the asymmetrical look is cool.

Well, the A style was less expensive but for a few bucks more I got a mahogany back instead of NATO. I paid $120 for it which included a gig bag.

I'm really looking forward to taking it camping this summer .

Thanks.

I've recently found out that my grandfather and my wife's grandfather BOTH played the mandolin.

Hey, remember Jimmy Page played a mandolin and he also wrote some of the rockinest manly rock riffs ever.

I'm going to get myself a mandolin one day. I've got a banjo zither that needs some repair. Once it is finished, I'm going for a mandolin. I love 'em.

Any man who can play an instrument is manly in my book.

Didn't some guy in the Godfather that sang with Johnny (Nick I think?) play the mandolin?

At least it's not a banjo or a -- *SHIVER* -- ukulele.

Don't go dissing on my beautiful, all-mahogany uke.

Plays like a mother-lovin' charm, man. And just so, so pretty.

Plus, you'd be surprised what you can do with a ukulele if you start playing around with new chords, alternate tunings, etc. What is usually a boring 'beach' instrument can create some of the most hauntingly beautiful things you'll ever hear.

When I get home, I'll have to finish mastering the song the band recorded using the uke and get it posted. You'll change your tune.

Or is that just the tuning knob slipping? 

Seriously, I wish I still had the manual dexterity to play (and the musical ability to). 

Y'all don't knock the banjo, now, ya hear?  Given a halfway decent player, it can sound rather good.  Toss in a steel guitar and a fiddle and you're well on your way to a decent band. 

I think that is mostly the association with the uke.



Tova, that's cuz you posted my picture for LW's birthday! hehe