My son want's a 4-string electric

[fatt-dad]

I've yet to check on the prices for Fender 4-string electrics, but wanted to float this topic out there to the informed crowd. Is there a reasonable quality 4-string electric that is widely available in the new or used market? Any to stear toward or away from? All I know is he wants a solid body four string.

Thanks in advance.

fatt "turn-it-down" dad

[taboot]

The Epiphone Mandobird is pretty popular, and cheap as well. You shouldn't have to pay over $200 for one. Fender's offerings in the same price area aren't so hot, in my experience. Up from that you can look in Bluestar instruments (check www.elderly.com,) or if you have more money to spend, Schwab, Ryder and Earnest Instruments by Joel Eckhaus are all names you could look into.

C.

[Dfyngravity]

mandoblaster, mandobird are the two that come to mind.

Mandoblaster at elderly.com (http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BSMB4.htm)

mandobird at Musiciansfriend.com (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Other/Stringed/Instruments?sku=518027&src=3SOSWXXA)

There are quite a few people here on the cafe that own a mandobird that will probably weigh in. I personally own a Mann 5 string electric, but that might be a little expensive for what you are after. Here is a link anyhow, Manndolins.com (http://www.manndolins.com/electric_manndolins.htm)

[celtic_knut]

Mandocasters seem to be selling for $1000 - $1400 on the auction site, but there is a really cool cream-color Ryder 4-string Tele right now with only 1 bidder at $500.

[grandmainger]

The emando IV kit could be fun to make. There's been a few built here...

[mikeomando]

Not to sound like a broken record, or anything, but you can always take 4 strings off of an 8 string, and end up with a 4 string. It's probably easier to find a beater 8 string and do this than find a beater 4 string that has a good action. You could also temporarily do this just to see what playing a 4 string is like. "Reasonable quality" is where you get into trouble. I personally feel the Bluestar mandoblaster is the best bang for the buck, because it feels solid and has a good neckfeel and action. YMMV

[bluesmandolinman]

ha .... my son wants a mando too...

wondering if I can convince my old lady with that story ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[fatt-dad]

Not to sound like a broken record, or anything, but you can always take 4 strings off of an 8 string, and end up with a 4 string. #It's probably easier to find a beater 8 string and do this than find a beater 4 string that has a good action. #You could also temporarily do this just to see what playing a 4 string is like. #"Reasonable quality" is where you get into trouble. #I personally feel the Bluestar mandoblaster is the best bang for the buck, because it feels solid and has a good neckfeel and action. #YMMV
No doubt that he could really do just that, but I think it's partly the "look" of a solid-body electric, rather than a frumpy a/e with four strings missing.

Moving onto Mr. bluesmandolinman - that's just too clever. #What amazes me is that I've never tried this. . . . #When I bought my Martin Guitar (HD-28V), however, I did explain the virtue of buying new so that I could register it in his name and he would receive the benefit of a lifetime warrantee (yeah, like I let him rock out on my Martin). #No really, I let him play it and it's nice to have a good guitar in the house.

Thanks for you-all's feedback. #I doubt that we will advance to the Mandoblaster price point, but the Ephiphone may be an option. . .

f-d

[mikeyes]

fatt-dad,

I second the IV electric kit by Saga. It is cheap, very easy to build, you can color it anyway you want by looking for paint in an auto parts store, plus the product is pretty good. It has the same electronics as the Kentucky electric and basically screws together. Four hours of work tops if you don't paint it and your son can help. Check out the threads in the builder's area.

Did I mention cheap?

[fatt-dad]

Continuing on one of your suggestions. . . . .

If you were to take off four strings from an 8 string A/E mandolin, which 4 strings would you take off? Let's start by numbering the strings from the highest to the lowest, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Would you take off all the odds or all the evens? or would you take off 1, 3, 6, 8 or 2, 4, 5, 7? I'm sure somebody has thought through these details and come up with the final answer - ha.

f-d

p.s., where do you get an IV kit?

[wayfaringstranger]

Another vote for the Saga electric kit. I got mine from eBay (IV was sold out; the eBay seller is onlineguitar, based in Kentucky. They were prompt and professional), and it can be as easy or as difficult to put together as you like. I'm taking the hard road (painting-finishing, different pickup / wiring, and routing the strings through the top) because I can't resist the urge to tinker. It's still not anywhere NEAR rocket science.

It's cheap, it looks like a Tele, and when you're done, it'll be a one-of-a-kind.

[mad dawg]

Here is a red Mandobird IV (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7397166776&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1) at eBay, with a starting bid of 99 cents.

[mikeomando]

Fatt-Dad, First of all, I was suggesting taking off 4 strings to at least try playing a 4 string electric without having to buy one. There's no question that the cool factor is low. Second, if you are trying to get a 4 string emando on the cheap, you might already have an 8 stringer lying around that you could temporarily convert, then, if your son is still serious, you could skip the entry level one and move up to a better playing emando.
I personally would remove the even numbered strings, but the main reason to remove them is the direction you usually bend a note. I bend by pushing the strings upward, so removing the evens gives you more room to do this. I have seen guitarists that do their bends downwards, and if you play this way I would remove the odds. It never felt that comfortable to me, and I feel like I have less control when I bend downwards. Not to muddy the waters (Muddy Waters!) any further, but you don't have to remove just odds or just evens. It might help if you're having trouble cleanly fretting certain chords, but of course, if you got used to it it would screw up trying to play any regularly spaced mando.

[Ken Sager]

Continuing on one of your suggestions. . . . .

If you were to take off four strings from an 8 string A/E mandolin, which 4 strings would you take off? #Let's start by numbering the strings from the highest to the lowest, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. #Would you take off all the odds or all the evens? or would you take off 1, 3, 6, 8 #or 2, 4, 5, 7? #I'm sure somebody has thought through these details and come up with the final answer - ha.

f-d

p.s., where do you get an IV kit?
I played an F5 with 4 strings for awhile. I took off the bottom of each pair (the one closest to the floor?).

GG DD AA EE #became
Gx Dx Ax Ex

This felt most natural to me. The cool thing, though, you can take these off and if you don't like the way that feels just loosen each string (one at a time) and move it to the other slot on the nut and bridge. Try that for awhile, and move 'em back if not happier.

Have fun,
Ken