Sweet Mandolin Ensemble

Sweet Mandolin Ensemble by Deb Noyes

A vote was cast, and the string sextet formerly known as the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra is now permanently named the Sweet Mandolin Ensemble (SME)! 

We apologize for any confusion.  To explain, the group has gone through many changes as Adam Sweet has also moved his studio several times in the past six years.  But now that he's at his permanent location in Granby, it makes sense to make the name permanent as well.

Several names were put up to the vote:

• If It Ain't Baroque - (by Keith H.), got several votes mostly for it's entertaining aspect
• Dolce Ensemble - (by Mieko C.), got several votes
• Sweet Mandolin Ensemble - (by Nancy K.), ultimately got the most votes
• Mandolin New England - (by Will M.), is currently being used by the group comprised of area colleagues and members of Joshua Bell's L'Esperance Ensemble.  Even though we all liked it, it would be confusing to have both.
• There were other suggestions that didn't get into the running, so I'll not mention them here.

To celebrate the name change and Adam's new (and final) studio location, the ensemble will be performing the World's Premiere Performance of the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 for 2 Mandolas by a mandolin ensemble, AND Mozart's Dissonance Quartet at Porter Phelps Museum in Hadley, Mass. on Sunday, July 28 at 2:30pm.

Adam Sweet playing "The Whale" by Mando Mo Strings

The Ensemble will be performing on several Mando Mo Strings instruments including "The Whale", a hand-carved F5-style Mandocello.  

Hope you can make it!

Suzuki Mandocello

Suzuki MC836 Mandocello

$799.00 instrument $850.00 w/hard shell case $875.00 w/shipping

I take PayPal.  Simply send the amount to sweetmusic@protonmail.com make sure your SHIPPING address is included (not your billing address) so I send it to the right place.  I ship via FedEx Ground.  You can also pick one up at my studio in Granby, MA.  Use the Contact form on the sidebar to let me know what you'd like to do.

• Flat laminated rosewood body (Dalbergia sissoo)
• Solid spruce top
• Mahogany neck
• Rosewood fretboard (Dalbergia sissoo)
• Nickel plated machine heads

Introducing The Mendel Mandocello

New Mendel Mandocello. 

$2950.00 instrument $3000 w/hard shell case $3050.00 w/shipping
I take PayPal.  Simply send the amount to sweetmusic@protonmail.com make sure your SHIPPING address is included (not your billing address) so I send it to the right place.  I ship via FedEx Ground.  You can also pick one up at my studio in Granby, MA.  Use the Contact form on the sidebar to let me know what you'd like to do.

• Maple back and sides, 
• maple neck. 
• maple binding, 
• Adirondack top, 
• ebony bridge, 
• fingerboard & headstock veneer
• Grover nickel tuners, 
• Allen AR-2 tailpiece, 
• Superior Hardshell case (Dreadnought guitar case, fits perfectly.) 
• 1 5/16" at Nut, 
• String spacing at bridge 2", 
• scale 25"

Introducing The Mandocello

Today I want to tell you a little about mandocello.  The Mandocello is an instrument that is tuned exactly like the violincello.  I teach mandocello at Sweet Music Studio and I'm always looking for people that want to learn how to play.

It's an unusual instrument, it has 8 strings just like a mandolin, and tuned a 5th lower (low C, high A just like a mandola), and an octave lower than a mandola.

This instrument requires really big hands or long fingers because the distance between the frets is quite large, but unlike the guitar, which also has big gaps between the frets, the instrument is tuned in 5ths more like a mandolin.  So if you already play the mandolin or mandola, learning how to play the mandocello is not a big stretch.

A lot of sheet music for the mandocello has been converted to the alto or treble clefs, so if you already play the mandola or mandolin and read either (or both) of those clefs, you can play mandocello music.

Just about any style of music can be played on the mandocello: fiddle music, jazz music, bluegrass, folk music of any kind.

Learn more about the mandocello here:

Mandolin, mandola, mandocello lessons!

I am now offering mandola and mandocello lessons at the studio in addition to mandolin.  Mandola is the "viola" equivalent in the mandolin family of instruments.  Mandocello is the "cello" equivalent.

Mandola players often read the Treble Clef, only an octave higher and with different fingering.  Sometimes called the "Tenor Clef".  Many mandola players also play viola and therefore read the standard viola "Alto Clef".

Mandocello players read the Bass Clef.

The fingering on both instruments is identical to the fingering on the bowed-string counterpart, so viola and cello players could switch over to the fretted versions quite easily.  In fact, if you have a little guitar background, the transition is even easier as you will already have experience with frets and a pick.

To learn more about taking lessons, visit my website where you can check the schedule and contact me about lessons.  Thank you!  Adam Sweet

I buy mandolins! Any condition.

I buy mandolins, mandolas and mandocellos.

If you or someone you know has an old (or new) mandolin kicking around the place that nobody wants, send me some pictures of the front, sides and back, details of the scroll, endpin and any damage.  If you know the provenance of the instrument (where it was made, the brand, serial number), include that information.  If you don't know anything about it, that's fine also.

Why do I buy mandolins?

I am the founder and director of the Springfield Mandolin Orchestra, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit dedicated to providing educational performances and events throughout the Metro Springfield area.  I offer a program for beginners called "Play to Own", where people that would like to join the orchestra may borrow a mandolin, mandola or mandocello, and come to rehearsals and mandolin lessons.  At the end of the year if they are still playing, they may purchase it at my cost!  

South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra - 3rd Rehearsal

The Third Rehearsal of the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra is scheduled for Friday, April 18th at 7:30pm

To find out more and become a member, visit the website: http://www.mandolinorchestra.org 

We are expecting between 9 and 15 players (15 have RSVP'd, but people always change their minds at the last minute), including six mandolins, two mandolas and a mandocello.

Our first loaner instrument has arrived!  This is a mandocello that will be available for anyone who wishes to play mandocello in the orchestra to use while at rehearsals and during the concert.  Made in Taiwan, it is surprisingly decent.  It has a nice tone and is relatively easy to play.