Guitar or Mandolin?

[Elizabeth]

Firstly, my sincere apologies if this question has been asked before, I tried searching for but didn't find anything.

I really want to play guitar, partly because I've always like it but also Sean's influence has made more determined. However, I'm only 5ft, and so, have rather small hands, and after trying play a guitar for a trial, I found it rather hard to reach the top strings. This may be something that you get used to with time and practice. But it made me think about mandolin, it's smaller and still sounds really cool. But, I was wondering whether you can accompany yourself as well with a mandolin, as you can with guitar. I sing, and hoped to be able to accompany myself, mandolin just doesn't come across as something that you could play and sing with on your own. They sound great in a group (NC being a good example), but what about on their own?

And if anyone can suggest a good guitar/mandolin retailer in the UK that would be good too!

Any advice would be great!

Thanks
Elizabeth

[J. Marie Hall]

hi, elizabeth~

we're having a similar discussion over in the mando section if ya wanna hop over and join...

take care,
j. marie

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the suggestion of the other board, assuming you meant the thread title 'I got a Mandolin'?

I'd just like to ask if you feel it is possible to accompany yourself on a mandolin though, as that question doesn't seem to have come up on the other board?

Thanks again.

[mandoBob]

I think accompanying yourself with a mando is a little harder than guitar, but I'm sure it can be done well with some work. I thunk you'd have to be a better mando player than guitar player to pull it off. I like to sing hymns and such around the house, and I find that it sounds a little better when it's me and the guitar (and I'm not a good guitar player).

As for a good place to get a mando in the UK, one recommendation is David Freshwater in Scotland. His mandos look great, and from what I've learned, also sound great. And it's hard to beat his prices for a hand-made quality instrument. Plus, if you like celtic stuff, the knot he's got as an option on the sound hole is WAY cool.
http://www.inverness-online.com/fretted/product1.htm#1

[J. Marie Hall]

Thanks for the suggestion of the other board, assuming you meant the thread title 'I got a Mandolin'?

oops! it became this conversation after a whole lot of mario.

HTH,
j. marie